[Piano Duets] Perfect for recitals! A carefully curated selection of brilliant, crowd-pleasing works
Playing a piano together by two people is called a duet, also known as piano for four hands, and it has a unique charm different from solo piano.
While regular piano lessons are basically one-on-one with a teacher, many people might want to try a duet with friends or family at regularly held piano recitals.
On the other hand, when you look for sheet music, it can be hard to come up with suitable duet pieces, which can be a challenge.
So this time, we’re introducing recommended piano duet works that will shine at recitals! Some of the selected pieces even include links to the sheet music, which is very convenient.
They’re perfect not only as recital pieces but also for teachers’ performance numbers.
By all means, use this as a reference when choosing duet pieces to liven up your recital!
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[Piano Duet] Perfect for recital piano duets! A carefully selected list of recommended, dazzling pieces (71–80)
Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18Sergei Rachmaninov
If you’re looking to tackle a duet not only with a brilliant atmosphere but also with a heavy, cool character, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No.
2 in C minor, Op.
18 is highly recommended.
This masterpiece by Sergei Rachmaninoff is frequently used in figure skating, so many of you may find it familiar.
It features many chords spanning an octave or more and includes rapid passages, making it challenging for beginners.
However, it’s also an exceptionally dazzling and stylish work, so be sure to check it out.
UniverseOfisharu Higedan Dism
This is a song by the music group Official HIGE DANDism, affectionately known as “Higedan.” It’s the theme song for the national anime film Doraemon: Nobita’s Little Star Wars 2021, and its title carries meanings like “imaginary world” and “universe.” When you think of space in films, grand images like Star Wars or E.T.
may come to mind, but since this is for the beloved anime Doraemon, the piece has a friendly, hope-filled character.
The opening piano part remains compelling even in the four-hand arrangement; it makes clever use of rests and continues with phrases that are quintessentially Higedan.
The powerful vocal lines, when adapted for piano duet, gain just the right accents and added depth from two players, bringing out the strengths of the original.
It seems the sheet music is available for purchase, so if you’re a pianist who likes Higedan, why not give it a try?
Pomp and Circumstance Marches, Op. 39 No. 1Edward Elgar
Edward Elgar, a British composer, is renowned for his orchestral masterpiece Pomp and Circumstance Marches, Op.
39.
In fact, Pomp and Circumstance consists of six marches, from No.
1 to No.
6, and the melody most of us think of comes from No.
1.
It is the most famous of the six and is a masterpiece with the anecdote that it was encored twice at a concert three days after its premiere.
Imagine a valiant military parade and the honoring of heroes, and perform dynamically in perfect sync as a duo.
Little Suite: IV. BalletClaude Debussy
Composed between 1888 and 1889, this work for piano four hands captivates with its brilliant, flamboyant atmosphere.
Its lively rhythms and bright melodies evoke the elegant ballroom scenes enjoyed by the aristocracy of the Rococo era.
Though rhythmically energetic and full of vitality, the piece’s graceful expression is heightened by a clear awareness of rests and a steady tempo.
Later arranged for orchestra by Henri Büsser under the supervision of Claude Debussy, it gained new allure.
This work, which fully showcases the appeal of piano duet playing, is perfect for performance with close musical partners who can listen closely to each other, as it demands well-matched ensemble.
HumoresqueAntonín Dvořák
This is an elegant miniature in which the musical sensibilities of the composer’s native Czech Republic and his adopted United States are seamlessly fused.
The contrast between the lively, rhythmical main section and the somewhat wistful middle section is striking, and its graceful melody also carries elements of Bohemian folk music.
Completed during a summer holiday at home in 1894, the work combines brightness with profound emotion.
It has become widely beloved in Japan as well, being used as background music in Studio Ghibli’s short film “Ghiblies episode 2” and in “Chibi Maruko-chan,” among others.
There is also an arrangement for piano four hands, making it especially appealing in the way it lets two players share the joy of making music together.
Simple yet deeply moving, this piece is an excellent choice for those who wish to experience the wonder of music through duet playing.
Suite “Dolly” Op. 56 No. 1: Berceuse (Lullaby)Gabriel Faure
Gabriel Fauré is a composer highly acclaimed for his distinctive musical style.
His Suite: Dolly is one of his representative works and was dedicated to Hélène, the daughter of the Bardac family.
The first piece, “Berceuse” from Suite Dolly, Op.
56, opens the suite and is characterized by gently flowing broken chords.
While it requires about an intermediate level of skill when performed as a solo, it becomes accessible even to beginners as a duet, so do give it a try.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons “Resident Services”Todaka Ikusei
This piece comes from Nintendo’s popular Animal Crossing series, specifically Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and is characterized by its warm, gentle melody.
While helping players relax, it features a simple yet memorable and pleasing tune.
Subtle arrangement changes occur depending on the time of day, and the soft tones of piano and synthesizer evoke the atmosphere of a peaceful life.
It also works wonderfully as a duet for two players, allowing you to enjoy the harmony between the melody and chord parts and spend a leisurely time through music.
It’s a perfect piece for those who want to share a gentle moment while playing in sync as a pair.