[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)
SenbonzakuraKurousa-P fiito. Hatsune Miku
Widely known as a VOCALOID producer, Krousapy’s signature work rapidly gained views on video platforms, surpassing 5 million plays as of January 2013.
Classified in the pop genre, the song features lyrics that paint deep, evocative imagery—voices lost in the night, a steel cage of revelry, a guillotine, and more.
Blending a fresh sensibility with a touch of traditional Japanese flavor, the piece exudes a distinctly modern allure and is hugely popular even at piano recitals.
It’s uptempo and densely arranged, demanding agile fingerwork, so be sure to build a solid technical foundation before you take it on.
chantAdo
A cool piano four-hands arrangement of Ado’s “Show,” a song by the female vocalist renowned for her powerful singing.
Released as a digital-only single by Virgin Music on September 6, 2023, Ado herself has called it “the hardest song I’ve ever sung.” Indeed, when you listen, its force rivals a death growl, and the folkloric interludes and accompaniment elevate it further, blending the novel with the traditional.
Recreating that on piano four-hands is highly challenging; conveying the nuances is extremely difficult.
Still, it’s worth the challenge, and rather than aiming for prettiness, a slightly unhinged feel suits it better.
There’s a lot of repeated striking, so it may help to approach the piano as a percussion instrument.
If you make it through without losing energy, you’ll feel a real sense of accomplishment.
This is a piano four-hands arrangement of Ado’s “Show” that you’ll want to hear live at least once.
fireworks (launched into the sky)DAOKO × Yonezu Kenshi
How about a slightly mellow piano duet arrangement? Here is a performance of a piano duet arrangement of the famous song “Uchiage Hanabi” by DAOKO × Kenshi Yonezu.
The original “Uchiage Hanabi” is the theme song for the film “Fireworks, Should We See It from the Side or the Bottom?”—a romance with branching storylines.
It’s a different kind of appeal from intense coolness, but the quiet opening shines on the piano, and having two players expands the range, creating an almost orchestral sense of breadth.
When the chorus kicks in, it feels like a musical drama, with stillness and motion expressing the shifting timeline of the work.
When performing, delicate music can falter with just a slight change in touch; it’s fragile, so when entering the chorus, you’ll want to avoid letting roughness stand out.
This is a highly recommended piano duet arrangement that speaks to the heart.
[Piano Duets] Perfect for recital performances! A carefully selected list of brilliant, recommended pieces (81–90)
monsterYOASOBI
YOASOBI, at the height of their popularity, now in a piano duet arrangement of “Kaibutsu”! Used as the opening theme for the second season of the anime BEASTARS, it’s incredibly addictive—you’ll be hooked after just one listen.
The groove hits from the very beginning, and playing it crisply on the piano really brings out the rhythm and boosts the cool factor.
While the original track already features piano, this duet version adds an original arrangement whose arpeggios and embellishments enhance the song’s appeal.
It seems fun to play solo, but it’s even more enjoyable with two people.
A Long, Short FestivalShiina Ringo
As the second release of 2015 from Ringo Sheena, the single “Nagai Kawaii Matsuri” has been arranged into a stylish and cool piano duet.
Of course, a cool song is already cool in its original form, but here is a piano duet arrangement that even fans will find convincing.
Every section—the A verse, B verse, and chorus—sounds great, but the standout is the solo in the middle.
In the original, the brass section hands off to a piano solo, but in the duet arrangement, it’s faithfully recreated using only the piano.
It preserves the atmosphere while bringing out the best of jazz and piano.
This is what you’d call a high-quality arrangement.
Even if you’re not a Ringo Sheena fan, it stands on its own as a piece for piano duet, and if performed with flair, it will surely captivate the audience.
Even from a listener’s perspective, this is a highly satisfying and very listenable arrangement.
Small WorldRobert Sherman／Richard Sherman
At piano recitals where children are the stars, bright and cheerful pieces are especially popular.
If you’re looking for that kind of piece, be sure to check out “It’s a Small World.” Also known by the title “It’s a Small World,” it’s one of the most famous Disney songs.
In this duet arrangement, both parts are easy and suitable for beginners, making it a great choice for families where parents are teaching their children to play the piano.
Be sure to give it a look.
From Kirakira Piano: Famous Piano Duets for Children, Volume 1 — “Catbus”Todoroki Chihiro
When we think of piano duets, we tend to imagine two people of the same age or build playing together, but if you’re practicing a duet at home, it’s often the mother who joins in.
In this piece, the accompaniment is much less difficult than the main melody, making it approachable even for guardians who aren’t confident about duets.
The overall difficulty is, of course, low enough for children to play, but there are still spots that can trip you up, such as fast passages and slightly wider fingerings.
It’s great practice for beginners, so if you’d like to play piano as a parent-child duo, this is a must-listen.