[Intermediate] Recommended Piano Duets | A Curated Selection of Cool and Dazzling Pieces

Pomp and Circumstance Marches, Op. 39 No. 1Edward Elgar

Reversal Orchestra 🎻 The Royal Road of Classical Music 👑 'Pomp and Circumstance' / Elgar [Piano Duet] Yamaha Print Sheet Music

Edward Elgar, a British composer, is renowned for his orchestral masterpiece Pomp and Circumstance Marches, Op.

39.

In fact, Pomp and Circumstance consists of six marches, from No.

1 to No.

6, and the melody most of us think of comes from No.

1.

It is the most famous of the six and is a masterpiece with the anecdote that it was encored twice at a concert three days after its premiere.

Imagine a valiant military parade and the honoring of heroes, and perform dynamically in perfect sync as a duo.

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A Trumpeter’s HolidayLeroy Anderson

[Piano Duet] Bugler’s Holiday / Leroy Anderson / Piano Duo Lumière / Bugler’s Holiday / Leroy Anderson / 4-hands piano

Composed by Leroy Anderson in 1954, this work is characterized by its lively and brilliant style.

Anderson was a gifted composer who studied music at Harvard University and further honed his craft at the New England Conservatory.

The original piece is a short work of about two minutes and forty seconds that highlights three trumpets, yet it is packed with musical richness that captivates listeners.

Depicting a trumpeter’s holiday, the piece combines strength with gentleness and delicacy—quintessential Anderson.

It’s also highly recommended for piano four hands! Perfect for those seeking sparkle or a dense musical experience in a short piece.

Rhapsody in BlueGeorge Gershwin

40th Prize Winners' Commemorative Concert, Piano Duet Advanced [Gold Prize] Ikumi Osamura & Takumi Osamura / Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue

Composed in 1924 by American musical innovator George Gershwin, this piece was a bold experiment that fused classical music with jazz, inscribing a new page in American music history.

It vividly portrays the vast American “melting pot” and the energy of the city through music, and it’s also fascinating that Gershwin completed it in just five weeks.

Although written for piano and orchestra, performing it as a piano duet reveals a different kind of appeal.

Showcasing Gershwin’s talents to the fullest, this masterpiece is highly recommended for both classical enthusiasts and jazz lovers.

Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: No. 3, “Anitra’s Dance”Edvard Grieg

PTNA 2014 Competition National Finals / Intermediate Duet Gold Prize Ikumi Nagamura & Takumi Nagamura Grieg / Anitra’s Dance

Peer Gynt is incidental music by the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg and one of his best-known works.

Two orchestral suites derived from it are widely loved, and several of the pieces were arranged and published by Grieg himself as piano solos and songs.

The music is also often performed as piano four-hands; in particular, Anitra’s Dance, the third piece of the First Suite, with its lively rhythms and enigmatic melody, is frequently featured at recitals and concerts.

Because there are many passages where the Primo and Secondo align rhythmically or engage in call-and-response, practice carefully so that not only note entries but also the timing of breaths to shape the pauses are perfectly coordinated.

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SenbonzakuraKurousa-P fiito. Hatsune Miku

[Piano Duet] We tried playing Senbonzakura as a sister-and-brother duo

A perfect piece for those who want to play a lively, flashy duet on the piano is the Vocaloid classic “Senbonzakura”! Composed by Kuro-usa P, this song—sung by VOCALOID’s Hatsune Miku—drew major attention, sparked a huge boom, and was even featured in mainstream media.

Blending freshness with a Japanese flair, it carries a distinctly modern charm and is hugely popular at piano recitals.

In the climactic chorus, both performers and listeners can’t help but get hyped.

It’s up-tempo with lots of notes and demands agile fingerwork, so be sure to build a solid technical foundation before you take it on.

Polovtsian Dances from the opera Prince IgorAlexander Borodin

BORODIN – POLOVTSIAN DANCES – PIANO DUET – SCOTT BROTHERS DUO

Alexander Borodin’s Polovtsian Dances from the opera Prince Igor is a famous classical piece often heard in commercials and elsewhere.

Its striking melody, passed from oboe to clarinet, also makes for a brilliantly colorful piano four-hands arrangement.

Though it makes a strong impression in performance, it doesn’t demand overly complex technique and is approachable for intermediate players, making it a great choice for recitals.

Enjoy the seamless ensemble that two performers can bring to this work.

Pavane for a Dead QueenMaurice Ravel

Ravel: Pavane for a Dead Princess (piano four hands) pf. Hiroshi Nagao; pf. Ami Fujiwara

Pavane for a Dead Princess, Maurice Ravel’s masterpiece, captivates many with its soul-cleansing, beautiful melody.

Composed in 1899 as a solo piano piece, it was later orchestrated by the composer himself.

While it is a popular work frequently performed at recitals, playing it as a piano duet expands the range; the music attains a grander scale while preserving its simple beauty.

Why not try performing and listening to both the solo and duet versions to compare?

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