Poignant and beautiful! A collection of recommended piano pieces

Among the many musical instruments, the piano is one of the most familiar, and it’s a quintessential instrument that makes you admire anyone who can play it.

Melancholic melodies can draw you into their world before you know it.

In this article, we’ll introduce popular piano pieces themed around “sadness.” In addition to classic standards, we’ve gathered a rich variety of poignantly beautiful, piano-centered works featured in soundtracks for films, anime, and video games.

If you love wistful piano music, this is a must-check!

Playlist

Poignant and beautiful! A collection of recommended piano pieces
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Memories of distant daysTenmon		Tenmon’s delicate composition expresses a poignant emotion.
2	River Flows in YouYIRUMA		Iruma’s gem of a song, a beautiful piece that symbolizes the maturation of love
3	Name of LifeHisaishi Joe		Joe Hisaishi’s film music expresses life and self-exploration
4	Gymnopédie No. 1Erikku Sati		Satie created easy listening
5	Mitsuha’s ThemeRADWIMPS		RADWIMPS's piano piece, the theme song of Your Name.
6	Pavane for a Newborn PrincessCharles-Henry		An elegant piano miniature expressing affection for a princess
7	Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 “Pathétique,” Second MovementRūtovihi Van Bētōven		Introducing Beethoven’s Pathétique Sonata
8	OpusSakamoto Ryuichi		A beautiful piano piece where silence and space resonate
9	The Name You Call — The Continuation of the DreamYoshimori Shin		The beautiful soundtrack of Natsume’s Book of Friends that portrays relationships with yokai
10	Rondo in A minor, K. 511Vorufuganggu Amadeusu Mōtsaruto		The allure of Mozart’s masterpiece, Rondo in A minor
11	Merry Christmas Mr. LawrenceSakamoto Ryuichi		Introducing Ryuichi Sakamoto’s classic song “Merry Christmas.”
12	Cherry Blossom ChapterTenmon		The soundtrack of 5 Centimeters per Second composed by Tenmon
13	Nocturne No. 20 in C-sharp minor (Posthumous)Furederikku Shopan		Chopin’s nocturnes express feelings of love
14	Pavane for a Dead PrincessMōrisu Raveru		Ravel’s masterpiece “Pavane for a Dead Princess”
15	Urban beachshuumaccha		Shuumaccha’s wistful healing music
16	Eyes On Me (Piano Collections Final Fantasy VIII)Uematsu Nobuo		Arranging Nobuo Uematsu’s masterpiece on piano
17	Kingdom Hearts Piano Collections – Dearly BelovedShimamura Yōko		Music composed by Yoko Shimomura for Kingdom Hearts
18	Aerith’s Theme – Final Fantasy VII Piano CollectionsUematsu Nobuo		Introducing famous compositions by Nobuo Uematsu from Final Fantasy
19	reverieClaude Debussy		Debussy’s unconventional compositions and beautiful melodies
20	Skycity Bhujerba – Final Fantasy XII Piano CollectionsSakimoto Hitoshi		Introduction to the iconic music of the sky city in FF12
21	Noble and Sentimental Waltzes: Waltz No. 2, Assez lent (fairly slow), G minorMaurice Ravel		Music that peers deep into the heart
22	Für EliseLudwig van Beethoven		Beethoven’s masterpiece “Für Elise”
23	The SacrificeMaikeru Naiman		The poignancy of piano lesson music
24	Playing Love / 愛を奏でてEnnio Morikōne		Introduction to Masterpieces of Morricone's Film Music
25	Name of Life from Spirited AwayHisaishi Joe		The Appeal and Impact of the Theme Song from Spirited Away
26	Sonatine in F-sharp minor, M. 40 — I. ModeratoMaurice Ravel		Ravel’s delicately melancholic masterpiece
27	At ZanarkandUematsu Nobuo		The piano pieces from Final Fantasy X are highly rated.
28	I stopped being alone.Yano Akiko		Expressing the warmth of everyday life through the piano
29	10 Pieces, Op. 24-9: RomanceJan Shiberiusu		Sibelius’s poignantly beautiful piano piece
30	Suite bergamasque, No. 3: Clair de LuneKurōdo Dobyushī		Debussy’s Clair de Lune is poignantly beautiful
31	Howl’s Moving Castle ‘Merry-Go-Round of Life’Hisaishi Joe		The theme song of Howl’s Moving Castle is captivating.
32	Fantasia Pieces: Prelude “The Bells,” Op. 3 No. 2 in C-sharp minorSergei Rakhmaninov		Rachmaninoff’s dark masterpiece piano piece
33	energy flowSakamoto Ryuichi		Ryuichi Sakamoto’s masterpiece “Energy Flow”
34	Sometimes, a tale from long ago — from Porco RossoKatō Tokiko		A warm song that nostalgically recalls youthful memories
35	Three Romances, Op. 11 No. 1Clara Schumann		An emotional piano piece imbued with hidden feelings for Clara
36	Melody Op. 4-2Fanny Mendelssohn		An emotionally rich, delicate miniature by Fanny
37	Dumka in C minor, Op. 59Pyotr Tchaikovsky		Expressive piano piece by Tchaikovsky
38	Seaside at Dusk, H.128: No. 3 “The Stormy Seashore”Bohuslav Martinů		Seaside Evening Piano Piece That Makes You Forget Summer
39	Moonlight, Movement IRūtovihi Van Bētōven		Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, first movement, is suitable for beginners.
40	On the journey: “Final Fantasy VII Piano Collections”Uematsu Nobuo		Piano tracks from FF7 are perfect for work BGM
41	Suite bergamasque, No. 3: Clair de LuneClaude Debussy		Debussy’s Clair de lune, dreamy and beautiful
42	Etude Op. 10 No. 3 “Farewell”Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s Farewell to the Piano is beautiful and accessible
43	Serenade from SchwanengesangFranz Schubert		The melancholy and beauty of Schubert's lieder
44	Six Pieces: “Nocturnes”Pyotr Tchaikovsky		A sentimental masterpiece that depicts the stillness of the night
45	Summer MorningHeino Kasuki		A refreshing piano piece for a summer morning
46	Sonatine in F-sharp minor, M. 40: II. MenuetMaurice Ravel		The beauty of Ravel’s piano piece “Sonatine”
47	Liebesträume No. 3Franz Liszt		Liszt's Liebesträume, a romantic masterpiece
48	Songs Without Words, Book V, Op. 62 No. 5, No. 3: “Venetian Boat Song”Felix Mendelssohn		Mendelssohn’s moving canal miniature
49	At the seaside at nightHeino Kasuki		A cool piano piece that makes you forget the summer heat
50	From ‘Requiem’ in ParadiseGabriel Fauré		A piano arrangement of a sacred piece. Gentle and soothing.
51	Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14Sergei Rachmaninov		Introducing Rachmaninoff’s masterpiece, Vocalise
52	dreamClaude Debussy		The serene beauty of fantastical Impressionist music
53	Etude-Tableaux, Op. 39 No. 2 in A minor “The Sea and the Seagull”Sergei Rachmaninov		A summer piano piece, a masterpiece by Rachmaninoff
54	A Whole New World (from “Aladdin”)Alan Menken		Aladdin’s signature ballad
55	Piano Sonata No. 2, Third Movement “Funeral March”Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s piano sonata, a movement of profound tragic beauty
56	Gaspard of the Night, M. 55: II. The GallowsMaurice Ravel		An eerie masterpiece with a repeating bell chime
57	“The Four Seasons” – 12 Characteristic Sketches, Op. 37bis: June “Barcarolle”Pyotr Tchaikovsky		A lyrical piano piece by a Russian composer
58	Burgmüller 25 Progressive Pieces, Op. 100, No. 19 “Ave Maria”Johann Burgmüller		A religious piece inspired by a cathedral church choir
59	Intermezzo, Op. 118 No. 2Johannes Brahms		An elegant piano piece composed in 1893
60	Kinderszenen, Op. 15, No. 7: “Träumerei”Robert Schumann		Schumann’s “Träumerei” is a masterpiece with a beautiful melody.
61	Nocturne No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2Frederic Chopin		Chopin's beautiful nocturnes, soothing to the soul
62	Farewell SongFrederic Chopin		Characteristics and Learning Value of Chopin's Farewell Etude
63	Gnossiennes No. 1 in Three PartsÉric Satie		Introduction to Satie’s Gnossienne No. 1
64	Amazing GraceSakkyokusha fumei		How to play Amazing Grace
65	MoonGeorge Winston		The characteristics and appeal of George Winston’s piece “Moon”
66	Scenes from Childhood, Op. 15, No. 7: DreamingRobert Schumann		Schumann’s “Kinderszenen” is a work in which delicate expressiveness is crucial.
67	Barcarolle No. 10 in A minor, Op. 104-2Gabriel Fauré		A delicate piano piece depicting the water’s surface of a gondola
68	New Cinema Paradiso ‘Love Theme’Ennio Morricone		An inspiring masterpiece from a 1988 Italian film
69	TraumereiRobert Schumann		A dreamy melody in F major envelops the heart
70	Nocturne No. 19 in E minor, Op. 72 No. 1, “Posthumous”Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s emotionally rich Nocturnes
71	Petite Suite: I. En bateauClaude Debussy		Debussy’s water scenes, with a cool, refreshing tone
72	music boxCharles-Henry		An elegant piece to soothe the soul with a music box-style piano
73	To a Wild Rose, Op. 51-1 (Forest Sketches)Edward MacDowell		A beautiful short piece by an American composer
74	Waltz No. 12 in F minorFrederic Chopin		A waltz published by a friend after Chopin’s death.
75	Waltz No. 7, Op. 64-2Frederic Chopin		Introducing Chopin’s dark work, Waltz No. 7
76	Sorrow of LoveKreisler=Rachmaninov		Love’s Sorrow, arranged by Rachmaninoff
77	6 Pieces, Op. 51: No. 6, Valse SentimentalePyotr Tchaikovsky		Tchaikovsky’s Sentimental Waltz
78	Fantasy Pieces: Elegy (Lament), Op. 3-1 in E-flat minorSergei Rakhmaninov		Introduction to Rachmaninoff’s tragic masterpiece, Elegy
79	Gaspard of the Night, No. 1: OndineMaurice Ravel		Introducing Ravel’s piano piece “Ondine”
80	Elegy in C minor, Op. 24Gabriel Fauré		A masterpiece of French modern music: a cello concerto
81	Gnossienne No. 1Erik Satie		Recommend Erik Satie’s Gnossienne No. 1
82	Consolation (Comfort) No. 3Franz Liszt		The Allure of Liszt’s Consolation No. 3
83	24 Preludes, Op. 28 No. 15 “Raindrop”Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s Raindrop is delicately beautiful
84	Piano Sonata No. 8 “Pathétique,” Second MovementLudwig van Beethoven		The beautiful melody of Beethoven’s Pathétique Sonata
85	Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 “Moonlight,” First MovementLudwig van Beethoven		The first movement of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata is sad and beautiful.
86	Piano Sonata No. 8 “Pathétique,” Second MovementLudwig van Beethoven		An emotional piece with a gentle melody
87	YELLikimonogakari		Depicting the courage and hope of boys and girls on a journey of self-discovery
88	Final Fantasy X “To Zanarkand” (Piano Collections ver.)Uematsu Nobuo		A poignant piano piece with a beautiful melody
89	Maurice Ravel: Pavane for a Dead PrincessFujita Mao		A masterful performance by Mao Fujita, marked by profound expressiveness
90	Lyric Pieces, Book X, Op. 71 No. 2: Summer EveningEdvard Grieg		Lyric Pieces by Grieg, Summer Evening
91	SummerHisaishi Joe		Joe Hisaishi’s masterpiece “Summer” on the piano
92	Fantasy Pieces, No. 1: ElegySerugei Rafumaninofu		The Charm of Rachmaninoff’s Fantaisie Pieces No. 1, “Élégie”