Songs to Listen to and Play on Halloween! A Selection of Recommended Piano Pieces

Ghost footprintsWilliam Gillock

[Gillock] Spooky Footsteps [Recommended for Recitals] – Classical Piano – CANACANA

A stealthy, tiptoeing presence—someone invisible drawing near.

Let me introduce a piano miniature by William Gillock that conjures a mysterious yet slightly comical scene.

It’s a storytelling-rich piece characteristic of the composer often called the “Schubert of educational music.” The staccato footsteps and heart-jolting dissonances perfectly capture Halloween’s uncanny atmosphere.

Published in 1970, the piece is also included in the Japanese album “Kira Kira Piano: Children’s Piano Masterpieces 1.” It has been selected as a required piece for the 2025 Burgmüller Competition, and it’s sure to be a hit if you perform it at a party.

The playing time is short, so try imagining the ending where the footsteps fade away, and perform as if narrating a story.

Main Theme from the film “Halloween”John Carpenter

Michael Myers – Halloween Theme Song (Piano Version)

A track that exudes a tension like something unknowable is closing in! This is the theme from the American film “Halloween,” which portrays a cruel killer who strikes again and again on Halloween night.

The composition itself is very simple, with the same rhythm and progression repeating throughout.

Yet the exquisite combination of chords creates an indescribable thrill.

By keeping the rhythm strictly precise and playing steadily without dynamics, you can conjure an even more eerie atmosphere.

Turn off all the lights and play it on the piano, and you’ll likely feel plenty of fear even when you’re alone…

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Hedwig’s Theme (Main Theme from the film “Harry Potter”)John Williams

Harry Potter – Hedwig’s Theme (Piano Version)

When you think of the Harry Potter films, this is the song that comes to mind! Named after Hedwig, the snowy owl who is the pet of the protagonist, Harry Potter, the piece is used in key scenes throughout the entire series and is widely loved as the “Harry Potter theme.” Incidentally, it’s said to be the only piece that appears in every installment of the series.

Its simple melody, which exudes a mysterious atmosphere that draws listeners into an otherworldly realm, pairs perfectly with the delicate tones of the piano.

Even just casually playing the opening bars is enough to spark a Halloween mood and get everyone excited!

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Suite “The Nutcracker,” Op. 71a, No. 3: “Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy”Pyotr Tchaikovsky

Piotr Tchaikovsky, Nutcracker – Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Opus 71), Piano Sheet music

The Nutcracker, a ballet score composed by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, a leading figure in Russian music.

Among its pieces, the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy depicts a banquet in the Land of Sweets and evokes a slightly mysterious world.

The delicate timbre of the celesta, a keyboard instrument, expresses the graceful dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Its light, dreamlike melody, which whisks listeners away to another realm, is perfect for Halloween too! Although it’s performed by ballet companies around the world during the Christmas season, why not give it a listen a bit early at Halloween? And if you’re intrigued, try playing it on the piano as well.

The Villains World (from the Tokyo DisneySea Halloween event)Marco Marinangeli

[TDS] The Villains World – Tokyo DisneySea Halloween [Kafune Piano Arrangement]

The music from the Halloween events at Tokyo Disney Resort really gets your heart racing with excitement, doesn’t it? Among them, the songs from “The Villains World,” held at Tokyo DisneySea from 2015 to 2018, are especially satisfying to play on the piano.

When performed on piano, the eerie Halloween atmosphere takes on a fresh new flavor.

Since it’s show music, it can be challenging, but Disney fans should be able to play while feeling the show’s vibe! It’s perfect as BGM for a Halloween party too, so be sure to listen, play, and enjoy.

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Totentanz, S.555 R.240Saint-Saëns=Liszt

Hayato Sumino / Saint-Saëns, arranged by Liszt: Danse macabre S.555 R.240 (42nd Prizewinner Commemorative Concert, Special Grade Grand Prix) Saint-Saëns–Liszt – Danse macabre S.555

Danse macabre, composed by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns, is based on a poem by the French poet Henri Cazalis and depicts skeletons dancing a sinister waltz to the violin played by Death.

A solo piano version was published by Franz Liszt, renowned for his many piano works that demand transcendental virtuosity.

While it isn’t specifically a Halloween-themed piece, judging by the characters—Death and skeletons—it could practically be made for Halloween! Its eerie mood is also perfect for a Halloween night.

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The Carnival of the Animals: AquariumCamille Saint-Saëns

Saint-Saëns – Aquarium

The suite The Carnival of the Animals by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns is known for its humorous depiction of a festival of animals.

One of its pieces adds a mysterious shimmer to Halloween night.

Rippling, wave-like piano arpeggios are overlaid with the glass harmonica’s transparent timbre, creating a fantastical, slightly eerie atmosphere—as if you’ve wandered into an otherworldly realm underwater.

There’s also a mysterious anecdote: at the composer’s request, the work was scarcely made public during his lifetime and was first performed publicly only in February 1922.

It has been praised as music that beautifully enhances visuals, even being used before official screenings at the Cannes Film Festival.

It’s the perfect piece when you want to stage a quiet, beautiful Halloween that still sends a little shiver down the spine.