[Intermediate] Recommended Piano Duets | A Curated Selection of Cool and Dazzling Pieces
Piano duet pieces performed with four hands simultaneously are all dazzling and cool! When choosing a piece to present at a recital, many people may wonder, “What kind of piece will make a big impression?” or feel stuck because “They all seem difficult, and I can’t decide…”.
So this time, from among luxurious and brilliant duet pieces, we’re introducing recommended works at the intermediate level! They all sound grand, but since the parts are shared between two players and there are many intermediate-level arrangements, these pieces are easy to try without feeling overwhelmed.
We hope this helps you choose your next duet piece.
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[Intermediate] Recommended Piano Duets | Carefully Selected Cool & Dazzling Works (71–80)
LibertangoÁstor Piazzolla
Astor Piazzolla, the great Argentine composer known worldwide as a bandoneon virtuoso.
His unique take on Argentine tango, inspired by classical music, continues to be loved not only in his homeland but across the globe.
Among his works, I especially recommend Libertango.
Although it ranks on the higher end of the intermediate difficulty level, it’s a brilliantly impressive piece that sounds fantastic—definitely give it a listen.
Parade of ClownsEmmanuel Chabrier
March of the Jester is a piano duet by the French composer Emmanuel Chabrier, published posthumously.
It’s a brilliant and varied work that seems to portray a jester bewildering onlookers with unpredictable moves.
The constantly shifting moods keep the audience engaged from start to finish, making it a perfect concert piece! Although the difficulty is high and it’s easy to focus on technique and ensemble, if the performers aren’t enjoying themselves, the charm of this piece won’t come across.
So take on the role of the jester who delights the crowd, and have fun performing it!
Italian PolkaSergei Rachmaninov
This piece is packed with the unique charm of piano four-hands, woven from brilliant tone colors and exquisitely nuanced breathing.
Marked by a cheerful polka rhythm and a friendly, memorable melody, it was composed for intimate performances with family and friends.
The lively interplay between primo and secondo creates a vibrant resonance that lifts the listener’s spirits.
Hallmarks of Romantic-era harmony appear throughout, and despite its brevity, the work conveys rich musicality.
Frequently used as background music in films and television, this light, spirited piece is perfect for piano enthusiasts who enjoy duet playing.
It is a gem I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone wishing to deepen bonds with loved ones through music.
agitato!Seizuka Shinya
Agitato!, composed by Shinya Kiyozuka—hugely popular and active in the media—and brought into the spotlight through his perfectly synchronized performance with office-worker pianist Rato Takai, is a piece that makes your excitement soar as you play.
It weaves in arrangements of masterpieces such as Franz Liszt’s Grandes études de Paganini No.
6, Rimsky-Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumblebee, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Turkish March.
It’s a luxurious work that lets you savor both classical elements and a rock flavor.
Little Suite: IV. BalletClaude Debussy
Composed between 1888 and 1889, this work for piano four hands captivates with its brilliant, flamboyant atmosphere.
Its lively rhythms and bright melodies evoke the elegant ballroom scenes enjoyed by the aristocracy of the Rococo era.
Though rhythmically energetic and full of vitality, the piece’s graceful expression is heightened by a clear awareness of rests and a steady tempo.
Later arranged for orchestra by Henri Büsser under the supervision of Claude Debussy, it gained new allure.
This work, which fully showcases the appeal of piano duet playing, is perfect for performance with close musical partners who can listen closely to each other, as it demands well-matched ensemble.
hundreds of millions of light-yearsOmoinotake
For a recommended piano duet piece, I suggest “Ikioku Kounen” by the Japanese three-piece band Omoinotake.
It was the theme song for the TBS Tuesday drama “Eye Love You,” which drew attention for being the first prime-time series on a commercial network to cast a Korean actor as the heroine’s counterpart, with Fumi Nikaido starring as the protagonist, Yuri Motomiya.
The piano duet arrangement is crafted to shine even more than the original in a duet setting, showcasing the full charm of the piano.
The climactic sections are arranged to sound more gorgeous, with plenty of embellishments that pianists will enjoy, offering a fully satisfying playability.
While it feels powerfully played, the sound holds its own like a band, giving the music a strong pull, yet fleeting moments of poignancy surface, evoking the drama’s love story.
As both a drama theme and a distinctly J-pop song, it promises to be impressive to play and compelling to listen to as a piano duet.
Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56Bartók Béla
A piano suite consisting of six short pieces that stands as a representative work by Béla Bartók, who was born in the Kingdom of Hungary and was active as a composer, pianist, and ethnomusicologist.
Composed using folk songs from the kingdom that once governed the region centered on present-day Hungary, it is a work with a strong folkloric character.
Bartók later arranged it himself for small orchestra, and both versions are frequently performed at various concerts and recitals.
It’s an ideal choice for those who want to play something with a different atmosphere from their usual practice pieces or the standard repertoire at a recital.