[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 | A Curated Selection of Cool and Showy Pieces (1–10)
Tico-Tico no FubáZequinha Abreu
Tico-Tico no Fubá is a piece that has long been loved as a Latin standard number.
Composed in 1917, it is a representative work of choro, a genre of Brazilian popular music.
As a duet piece, it is relatively challenging, making it an ideal final intermediate piece for those preparing to tackle advanced repertoire.
Since the same scale is often played by both parts, coordinating timing is essential.
“Game” from the suite “Sunlight”Stoyanov Veselin
Here’s a cool piano duet piece that’s also great for intermediate players: “Game” from the suite Sun Rays by Vesselin Stoyanov.
As you can hear, it’s a duet with a slightly ethnic flavor and a driving feel.
Vesselin Stoyanov is a Bulgarian composer who doesn’t turn up much in searches and may not be very familiar in Japan.
In the Piano Duet Collection: Masterpieces for Piano Duet, it’s introduced as an intermediate-level duet.
The suite Sun Rays consists of eight pieces, so if you like “Game,” try playing the others as well.
Rather than “The Carnival Has Come,” it went, “There were two mischievous kittens.”Hirayoshi Takeshu
This is “There Were Two Mischievous Kittens,” an original piano duet by a Japanese composer from the collection “The Carnival Has Arrived.” In our videos for intermediate players, we’ve often featured fun, cool, and up-tempo pieces, but this one has many calm and beautiful passages and is easy to play, making it a great recommendation for intermediates.
As the title “There Were Two Mischievous Kittens” suggests, the character of the music reflects that image.
Because the musical expression is easy to grasp, intermediate players should be able to perform it comfortably.
It’s also recommended as an encore piece for concerts.
[Intermediate] Recommended Piano Duets | A Curated Selection of Cool and Dazzling Pieces (11–20)
Andante and the Brilliant AllegroFelix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn, known as the composer of the Songs Without Words, also wrote the duet piece Andante and Allegro Brillante.
Although it is not particularly mainstream among piano duets, it is a work that is often featured in concerts.
This elegant piece embodies Mendelssohn’s characteristic delicacy, beautiful flow, and refined brilliance of sound; however, it actually requires very advanced technique as a four-hand duet.
Practice carefully and steadily until you have enough command to sense each other’s breathing and play in true ensemble.
Disney FantalusionVarious Artists
This is a four-hand piano duet arrangement of a popular parade piece that was performed at Tokyo Disneyland from July 21, 1995 to May 15, 2001.
Bursting with energy from the fanfare to the finale, the many rapid notes depict characters and dancers performing in the illuminated parade.
The performance in the featured video seems relatively fast, but since it’s also a march, a more relaxed tempo can work as well—play at a tempo you can handle.
However, be careful: too slow and it will drag; too fast and it will fall apart.
Aim to play with the brilliance of a grand parade in mind.
Racing into the NightAyase
How about J-pop arranged for piano four hands? Here’s “Yoru ni Kakeru” by the popular duo YOASOBI.
It’s been arranged as a duet for intermediate players without losing the charm of the original.
With the catchy, dance-like groove and energetic melody, it captivates young listeners.
While J-pop is fun, it can be challenging to perform on classical instruments.
The backing phrases move quickly, and the melody line has complex rhythms, so it may take considerable time before it sounds song-like.
Even if you play the rhythms accurately, it might not sound like singing, so listen closely to the original and aim for a high level of fidelity.
typewriterLeroy Anderson
If you’re looking for a cheerful and amusing four-hand duet for intermediate players, how about The Typewriter by the American composer Leroy Anderson? A “typewriter” is a machine that predates word processors and modern computers, which prints letters on paper by striking type against it.
This piece cleverly treats the typing sounds—what we’d now associate with computer keyboard clicks—as percussion and incorporates them into the music.
Because the tempo is fast and there are many rapid runs, it’s a good idea to assign the more virtuosic passages with fast runs to the advanced player, and the lower accompaniment part to the intermediate player, and practice accordingly.
As you improve, you can switch parts; if that’s difficult, the advanced player can support the intermediate player.
It’s a delightful piece and perfect for an encore!