[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 Brilliant Works (31–40)
To the skyre fureru
Les Frères are Japan’s premier brother piano duo.
They specialize in cheerful pieces inspired by boogie-woogie, and because every work is arranged to be poppy and catchy, they enjoy strong support even from listeners not well-versed in piano.
Their famous piece “Sora e” (“To the Sky”) is memorable for a melody that sits between jazz and pop.
Despite its catchiness, it’s a highly demanding work that requires considerable practice, but once you achieve a tightly synchronized performance, you’ll be rewarded with an indescribable sense of accomplishment.
It’s recommended as a final duet piece to practice for those on the verge of the advanced level.
Slavonic Dance No. 8Antonin Dvořák
Are you looking for a classical piano duet piece for a recital? Antonín Dvořák’s Slavonic Dance No.
8, Op.
46-8, originally composed for piano four hands, is highly recommended.
From its intensely passionate introduction to its brilliant, driving dance melody, it captivates listeners.
The ensemble can feel like it might fall apart unless the duo breathes as one, so practice is essential to keep both players steady.
The music unfolds at a whirlwind pace, so be sure to maintain the tempo and not fall behind.
Pieces like this tend to rush, so take care not to egg each other on.
Although there is an orchestral version, the original is for piano duet, making it an excellent choice for those who want to perform or are searching for original piano four-hands repertoire in classical music.
Waltz from MasqueradeAram Khachaturian
Aram Khachaturian, a great composer representing the former Soviet Union.
An important figure who helped advance modern music, he created numerous masterpieces.
This time, we introduce the Waltz from Masquerade.
For those who have mastered basic techniques, it’s an easy piece to tackle, characterized by a brilliant yet slightly mysterious melody.
Despite its brisk tempo, it doesn’t contain particularly complex rhythms, so considering these points, it can be regarded overall as a piece suitable even for beginners.
I Want YouÉric Satie
A work by the French composer Erik Satie, with a strikingly romantic title that in French means “I want you.” It was originally composed as a French art song (chanson), but today it is performed in various forms—piano solo, piano four hands, violin, saxophone, and more—and is also used in commercials and video game soundtracks.
In the piano four-hands version, the added depth of sound makes the romantic, stylish atmosphere stand out even more.
Slavonic Dances, Book I, Op. 46, No. 7Antonin Dvořák
Slavonic Dances by the Czech composer Antonín Dvořák is a staple for piano four hands.
It’s a collection of pieces for piano duet with eight dances in each of the two sets, and it is also frequently performed in the orchestral version arranged by Dvořák himself.
Although these works are widely loved, playing them beautifully in perfect sync is no easy feat.
No.
7 from Op.
46 in the First Set is a piece that demands advanced technique, and it takes substantial practice to internalize its strongly folk-inflected, distinctive rhythms.
That said, the exhilaration you feel when you carry the piece through with lively flair to the very end is second to none!
[Intermediate] Recommended Piano Duets | A Curated Selection of Cool and Dazzling Pieces (41–50)
Suite “The Nutcracker,” Op. 71a, No. 8: Waltz of the FlowersPyotr Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece The Nutcracker is a famous opera that many people in Japan also know.
This time, I’d like to introduce No.
8 from the work, the Waltz of the Flowers.
As it closes the suite, it is characterized by being arranged as a highly dazzling waltz.
It’s by no means an easy piece to play, but since it’s frequently heard in commercials and elsewhere, it’s a must-listen for those who want to prioritize catchiness for a recital.
Hungarian Dances No. 1Johannes Brahms
Hungarian Dances, composed by the German Romantic composer Johannes Brahms using the music of the Hungarian Roma.
Consisting of a total of 21 pieces, the work was first published for piano four hands, after which Brahms wrote a solo piano version and even orchestrated it himself.
The strong personal attachment of the composer is evident, and No.
1, which opens the set, is among the most frequently performed of the 21.
It is a highly tense piece that conveys a sense of mounting unease.