Popular classical piano pieces. A collection of masterful performances by Japanese pianists.
Unless you’ve learned an instrument or had family who listened to it a lot, you might not have many chances to hear classical music.
For those of you who listen to rock and pop but not so much classical, we’ve put together a selection of must-hear piano masterpieces.
Classical piano includes many works that laid the foundations of modern music and are frequently quoted across different genres, so you might find yourself thinking, “Huh? I’ve heard this before.”
From among the many great performances, this time we’ve gathered recordings by Japanese artists!
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Popular Classical Piano Pieces: Masterful Performances by Japanese Pianists (21–30)
The Voice of Springpiano gokko
A splendid waltz by Johann Strauss II, this is a Viennese waltz composed by Johann Strauss II.
It is well known in Japan and has been used as the theme music for the long-running TV program “Imperial Family Album.” Although performed as a solo piece, it is also frequently played as a duet.
Suite bergamasque, No. 3: Clair de LuneClaude Debussy
Among Claude Debussy’s works, the most famous is Clair de Lune.
It is a dreamlike and beautiful piece that conjures up the image of a moon faintly floating in the quiet night sky and the mysterious space bathed in its light.
Although it is one of the pieces in the piano suite Suite bergamasque, it is often performed on its own, and many adults take up piano inspired by this piece.
While it is not particularly difficult from a technical standpoint, expressing the world of the music is extremely challenging.
Looking at photos of moonlit landscapes to expand your concrete imagery as you play is also recommended!
Popular classical piano pieces. Masterful performances by Japanese pianists (31–40)
Waltz No. 6 in D-flat major “Minute Waltz”pianisuto maiko
This charming piece by Chopin is said to have been composed in 1847 after he watched his lover’s dog chasing its tail.
It’s a behavior commonly seen in dogs, and while ordinary people might think, “What on earth is the dog doing?”, a genius turns it into a piece like this.
Piano Sonata No. 35, 1st movementMegu Yūmiko
This is the first movement of Haydn’s Piano Sonata No.
35, which begins in a concise manner.
The performance is by Yumiko Meguri, an artist whose repertoire spans from Renaissance to avant-garde and who is always engaged with new works.
Meguri consistently receives high praise from many quarters, and this performance as well is solid, with precise expression down to the finest details.
It is a compelling rendition to listen to.
HumoresqueWatanabe Izumi
Among Dvořák’s Eight Humoresques, the seventh piece—No.
7, “Poco Lento e grazioso” in G-flat major—has a tongue-twisting title, but this famous work, which evokes playfulness and curiosity, is often used as background music in games and on television.
Gondolier’s SongSuzuki Naomi
One of the pieces by the German pianist Burgmüller from his 18 Études is, as the title suggests, an image of the song sung while rowing a gondola in Venice, the Italian city of water, and it is a calm, beautiful piece.
The name Burgmüller is used directly for a set of piano study pieces; in older terms, after graduating from Beyer and getting through a fair amount of Czerny 100, students would move on to collections like Burgmüller’s 25 Études.
Of course, there are many different approaches, so this isn’t absolute, but it shows just how long the road to playing sonatas can be.
SerenadeTabe Kyoko
Famous as “Schubert’s Serenade,” this piece is the fourth song in Schwanengesang, a posthumous collection of his lieder assembled by publishers and friends after his death.
Originally a song, it is a beautiful ode to a beloved.
It evokes heartfelt music played at night beneath the window of a lover’s home—a romantic scene unfolding before your eyes.
In conclusion
How did you like these masterful performances of classical piano by Japanese artists? Perhaps you recognized some pieces or found a new favorite. I hope this inspires you to explore the timeless world of classical music.