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)
Piano Sonata No. 17 “The Tempest,” Movement IIIIkeyama Yōko
Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No.
17 in D minor, Op.
31 No.
2, consists of three movements, with the third movement being particularly famous.
The nickname “Tempest” is said to originate from an anecdote in which, when a pupil asked Beethoven how to interpret the piece, he replied, “Read Shakespeare’s The Tempest.”
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.
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.
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.
FlightOkumura Tomomi
This is “Aufschwung” from Schumann’s Fantasiestücke, Op.
12.
It’s the second piece in the eight-piece suite, notable for its dynamic opening.
Technically, I’d place it among the more difficult works.
Tomomi Okumura’s performance holds its own against other pianists in terms of conveying power, and above all, her flowing interpretation of the piece makes it a pleasure to listen to.
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.