[Fauré] Lower Difficulty! Recommended Piano Pieces by a Master of French Music
Gabriel Fauré, the French composer whose style created original works while upholding classical formal beauty, had a profound influence on 20th-century classical composers.
Fauré’s works—ranging from orchestral and sacred music to pieces noted for their flowing beauty, elegance, delicacy, and warmth—have long been loved by classical music fans.
From Fauré’s wide-ranging output, we have selected some of his most popular piano pieces.
Here we introduce relatively accessible works that you can not only listen to but also enjoy performing to experience Fauré’s world for yourself.
If you are studying piano, please use this as a reference!
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[Fauré] Easier Pieces! Recommended Piano Works by the French Master of Music (21–30)
Impromptu No. 2 in F minor, Op. 31Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Fauré’s masterpiece, Impromptu No.
2 in F minor, Op.
31.
It’s a piece you fairly often hear at piano recitals.
Its difficulty level is intermediate.
To give a concrete comparison, if you can play Chopin’s Impromptu No.
1, you should basically be able to handle this piece without much trouble.
That said, the tempo marking is very fast and demands quick triplet passages.
For those who struggle with fast playing, it will make excellent practice.
Be sure to check it out.
Nocturne No. 6 in D-flat major, Op. 63Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Fauré, a composer who was active in France in Europe over the course of his 79-year life, wrote 13 nocturnes.
Nocturne No.
6 in D-flat major, Op.
63, composed when Fauré was 49, is a highly romantic work in which the character of Romantic music is strongly expressed among the thirteen.
Alongside Barcarolle No.
5 in F-sharp minor, Op.
66, it is considered a masterpiece, and its performance demands both delicacy and dynamism.
While it is relatively accessible among Fauré’s works, it is by no means easy to play.
However, once you can perform it, you will be able to fully savor its beauty.
Nine Preludes, Op. 103 No. 3Gabriel Fauré
One of the most important collections for understanding Gabriel Fauré’s late period is his Piano Pieces.
Among them, a particularly recommended, less demanding work is No.
3 from the Nine Preludes, Op.
103.
Its overall difficulty is intermediate, and the tempo itself is very slow.
However, there are many wide leaps in the left hand, and every note requires a delicate touch, so memorizing it may suit some players better.
Although the piece is dark and unhurried, it still makes a strong impression, so why not consider using it as a recital piece?
Song cycle “Three Songs,” Op. 7: No. 1, After a DreamGabriel Fauré
The first piece of Gabriel Fauré’s song set Trois mélodies, Op.
7—Après un rêve—has been performed on a variety of instruments, including piano, cello, violin, and flute.
It portrays a man who, having spent a dreamlike moment with a beautiful woman, awakens and laments, “Give me back that beautiful woman.” The heartrending melody, as if echoing the man’s lament, pairs exquisitely with the piano’s timbre.
While bringing the melody to the forefront, it’s best not to rely solely on its beauty; the accompaniment should also convey the surges of emotion with clarity.
Barcarolle No. 6 in E-flat major, Op. 70Gabriel Fauré
For intermediate players, I recommend Gabriel Fauré’s Barcarolle No.
6 in E-flat major, Op.
70.
While it wouldn’t be wrong to call it advanced in terms of difficulty, it’s on the easier side among advanced pieces suitable for intermediate learners to tackle.
Although it uses compound meter, it’s mostly in 6/8, so you likely won’t find the meter particularly challenging.
The rhythms themselves are simple as well, which makes it easier to focus on the harmonies—another reason this piece ranks lower in difficulty.
In conclusion
From among the beautiful piano works of the French composer Gabriel Fauré—who was both a pianist and an educator—I’ve introduced pieces that are relatively approachable and of lower difficulty.
Even so, Fauré’s piano music tends to be challenging overall in terms of harmony, phrasing, and interpretation, so careful practice is essential to play them well.
Enjoy the delicate expression, like colors slowly blending on a palette, and take your time getting to know your favorite pieces.