Difficult Piano Pieces: From Classical to Jazz Piano

For those with a deep appreciation for the piano, there often comes a time—once a certain level of knowledge and technique has been acquired—when they gravitate toward listening to more challenging pieces.

Among the many genres, classical and jazz piano in particular feature numerous highly demanding works that have long stood as formidable obstacles for many performers.

This time, we’ve picked out some especially difficult piano pieces.

From jazz piano that emphasizes rapid runs, to classical works with extreme leaps in the scale, and even contemporary classical pieces that combine both traits, we’ve selected from a wide range of styles—so be sure to check them out.

Playlist

Difficult Piano Pieces: From Classical to Jazz Piano
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	RailwaySharuru=Varantan Arukan		Alkan’s piece “Le chemin de fer” (The Railroad) is highly difficult.
2	ToccatinaNikorai Kapūsuchin		Toccattina of high difficulty composed by Kapustin
3	Transcendental Études No. 5 “Feux follets” (Will-o’-the-Wisps)Furantsu Risuto		An extremely difficult piece at the very top of the most important list for fingerwork
4	IslameyMirii Barakiefu		Balakirev’s fiendishly difficult piece, Islamey
5	Turkish MarchVorufuganggu Amadeusu Mōtsaruto		Mozart’s “Turkish March” is a difficult piece that requires dexterous fingerwork.
6	Grand Cadenza of Piano Concerto No. 3Serugei Rafumaninofu		Rachmaninoff’s notoriously difficult piano concerto
7	La CampanellaFurantsu Risuto		A masterpiece by Liszt that requires a high level of artistry
8	Mephisto WaltzFurantsu Risuto		Liszt’s difficult piece, Mephisto Waltz
9	12 Etudes, Op. 25 No. 6Furederikku Shopan		Chopin’s difficult piece, Etude Op. 25 No. 6
10	SpainChikku Koria		The allure of Chick Corea’s masterpiece, Spain
11	Transcendental Études No. 4 “Mazeppa”Furantsu Risuto		Liszt’s Transcendental Études, which demand high endurance
12	Piano Sonata No. 5Arekusandoru Sukuryābin		A highly difficult piano sonata composed by Scriabin
13	Three Movements from PetrushkaĪgoru Sutoavinsukī		Three Movements from Petrushka, Stravinsky’s challenging piece
14	Concerto for piano soloSharuru=Varantan Arukan		Highly difficult piano pieces composed by Alkan
15	Piano Concerto No. 2Serugei Purokofiefu		Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 2 is particularly difficult.
16	Wanderer FantasyFurantsu Shūberuto		Struggling to compose a difficult Schubert piece
17	Gaspard of the NightMōrisu Raveru		Ravel’s fiendishly difficult Gaspard de la nuit
18	Etude Collection for Piano, Volume 2, No. 13: “Devil’s Staircase”Rigeti Jeruju		Ligeti’s experimental piano piece
19	Chromatic Grand GallopFurantsu Risuto		Introduction of difficult piano pieces in the list
20	Revolutionary ÉtudeFurederikku Shopan		Technical Virtuosity and Artistic Expression in Chopin’s Revolutionary Étude
21	Concert Paraphrase on Rigoletto, S.434Franz Liszt		Rigoletto Concert Paraphrase
22	Years of Pilgrimage, Book II: Italy, S.161 — No. 7 “Après une lecture de Dante – Fantasia quasi Sonata”Franz Liszt		Liszt: Années de pèlerinage – Italy. For a recital.
23	4 Etudes No. 4, Op. 7-4 in F-sharp majorIgor Stravinsky		A lively and innovative short musical piece that captivates listeners
24	Twelve Etudes in All Minor Keys No. 2 in D minor, in a Morossian rhythmCharles Valentin Alkan		A piano solo piece characterized by triple meter
25	Scherzo Focoso, Op. 34Charles Valentin Alkan		A magnificent piano piece where advanced technique and passion intertwine
26	Concert Etude “Knight,” Op. 17Charles Valentin Alkan		Alkan’s masterpiece piano piece
27	“Arpeggio,” No. 4 from the Grandes études de PaganiniFranz Liszt		Liszt, Grand Piano Variations on a Theme of Paganini
28	“Grandes études de Paganini,” No. 6: “Theme and Variations”Franz Liszt		A masterpiece of piano arrangement of a work by Paganini
29	Mephisto Waltz No. 1, S.514 “Dance in the Village Inn”Franz Liszt		Introduction to Liszt’s Passionate Waltz Pieces
30	Spanish Suite No. 1, Op. 47 ‘Asturias’Isaac Albéniz		Captivating piano works of the Spanish Suite
31	Toccata from Le Tombeau de CouperinMaurice Ravel		Ravel’s masterpiece commemorating World War I, an innovation in Baroque style
32	15 Virtuoso Études, Op. 72 No. 2Moritz Moszkowski		A Romantic masterpiece, where virtuosity and expressiveness shine.
33	From Eight Concert Etudes: No. 8 “Finale”Nikolai Kapustin		A Captivating Fusion of Jazz and Classical
34	12 Transcendental Etudes, Op. 11 No. 10 “Lezginka”Sergey Lyapunov,		Lyapunov: Caucasian Folk Dance
35	Champion CynthiaMasuda Junichi		A grand composition whose powerful piano melody stirs the heart
36	Children’s Corner No. 4: “The Snow Is Dancing”Claude Debussy		A snowy scene depicted from a child's perspective
37	Three Concert Études, S.144 No. 2 “Lightness”Franz Liszt		Liszt’s Concert Études, difficulty: advanced level
38	Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2Franz Liszt		Liszt’s fiendishly difficult piece, “Hungarian Rhapsody”
39	Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6Franz Liszt		Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 is advanced difficulty
40	Grandes études de Paganini, S.141 No. 3 “La Campanella”Franz Liszt		Liszt’s extremely difficult piece La Campanella
41	Transcendental Étude No. 5 “Will-o’-the-Wisp”Franz Liszt		Liszt's Feux follets, a masterpiece of transcendental technique and poetic expression
42	Transcendental Etude No. 7 ‘Heroic’Franz Liszt		Introduction to the Difficult Piece: Liszt’s Transcendental Étude No. 7
43	12 Etudes, Op. 10 No. 2Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s études require finger flexibility.
44	12 Etudes Op. 25-6Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s difficult piece; the thirds (interval chords) are hard.
45	Etude Collection (Studies) No. 4, Op. 10-4 in C-sharp minorFrederic Chopin		Passionate music with advanced technique is captivating.
46	Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s Ballade No. 1 is difficult for the right hand.
47	The Rite of SpringIgor Stravinsky		A musical revolutionary work by The Rite of Spring
48	Goldberg Variations (Aria and 30 Variations), G major, BWV 988J.S.Bach		A famous piece by Bach, notable for its difficult octaves
49	Gaspard of the Night, No. 1: OndineMaurice Ravel		If you’re well-versed in French literature, then this “...
50	Gaspard de la nuit, No. 3: ScarboMaurice Ravel		Ravel’s formidable piece Scarbo demands expressive power.
51	Play of WaterMaurice Ravel		Ravel's 'Jeux d'eau' requires advanced expressive capability.
52	Eight Concert Etudes, Op. 40: No. 1 “Prelude”Nikolai Kapustin		Kapustin’s jazz-classical fusion piece
53	Eight Concert Etudes, Op. 40: No. 3 “Toccatina”Nikolai Kapustin		Introduction to Kapustin’s Difficult Piece, Toccattina
54	Kreisleriana, Op. 16 No. 7Robert Schumann		A passionate minor-key piece: Schumann’s anguish
55	Toccata in C major, Op. 7Robert Schumann		Performance Techniques for Schumann’s Fiendishly Difficult Toccata
56	12 Transcendental Etudes, Op. 11: No. 10 “Lezginka”Sergey Lyapunov,		Lyapunov’s Transcendental Etudes
57	Turkish MarchWolfgang Amadeus Mozart		A masterpiece influenced by Turkish-style music
58	Etude ‘Railway’ Op.27bCharles Valentin Alkan		An étude by Alkan themed on railways, of high difficulty
59	TARKUS for pianoEmerson Lake&Palmer		A piano arrangement of a progressive rock masterpiece
60	Concert Etudes, 8 Pieces: No. 5 “Joke”Nikolai Kapustin		A fusion piece of classical and jazz
61	Grand Etudes after Paganini, No. 3 ‘La Campanella’Franz Liszt		Liszt’s masterpiece with the highest difficulty among his études
62	Piano Sonata in B minor, S.178Franz Liszt		Liszt's piano sonata requires highly advanced technique
63	Piano Sonata No. 23, Op. 57 “Appassionata,” Third MovementLudwig van Beethoven		The third movement of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata “Appassionata”