[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 brilliant recommended pieces (21–30)
He’s a Pirate from the movie “Pirates of the Caribbean.”Klaus Badelt/Hans Zimmer
Music from Disney works is extremely popular in the piano world as well.
At more casual recitals, you’ll often see children performing Disney pieces.
Among those Disney works, the one I especially recommend is He’s a Pirate from the film Pirates of the Caribbean.
It’s the movie’s theme song, pairs exceptionally well with piano duets, and makes for a very impressive listen.
If you’re good at powerful playing, definitely give it a try.
Andante and the Brilliant AllegroFelix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn, known as the composer of the Songs Without Words, also wrote the four-hand piano piece Andante and Brilliant Allegro.
Though not among the most famous works for piano duet, it is often performed in concerts.
It is an elegant piece that showcases Mendelssohn’s characteristic delicacy, beautiful flow, and refined sonorities, but it is also an advanced duet requiring very high-level technique.
Practice carefully and thoroughly until you have enough command to sense each other’s breathing.
LibertangoÁstor Piazzolla
Astor Piazzolla, the great Argentine composer known worldwide as a bandoneon virtuoso.
His distinctive Argentine tango, inspired by classical music, continues to be loved by many Argentines to this day.
Among his works, the one I especially recommend is Libertango.
Although it’s on the higher end of intermediate difficulty, it’s a strikingly brilliant piece that sounds fantastic—be sure to check it out.
HabitSEKAI NO OWARI
A duet arrangement of SEKAI NO OWARI’s “Habit” that brings out the piano’s appeal in a different way.
Without visuals and relying only on the audio, it might sound mysterious, but the bass line from the original is played by opening the piano lid and plucking it like the pizzicato of string instruments such as the double bass or cello.
It’s a sound you don’t usually hear from a piano, so the opening performance is quite striking.
However, when you listen, you realize it works to great effect.
By changing the piano’s timbre, it highlights the fact that two people are performing and draws out a sound you wouldn’t expect from a single piano.
The opening piano phrase in the duet may seem like a typical piano part in the original, but it clearly sings like a vocal line, making this a highly recommended arrangement that makes you want to listen to both the original and the duet version side by side.
Suite “The Carnival of the Animals,” No. 14: FinaleCamille Saint-Saëns
One of Camille Saint-Saëns’s signature works, The Carnival of the Animals, is also very popular in Japan and is often heard in commercials and other media.
Among its movements, I’d especially like to recommend No.
14, Finale, from the Suite “The Carnival of the Animals.” As the title suggests, this piece crowns the suite as its finale, with a structure befitting the conclusion—remarkably brilliant and festive.
It’s also approachable for beginners, making it an excellent first piece for those trying piano four-hands for the first time.
Little Suite No. 1: En bateauClaude Debussy
Claude Debussy’s Petite Suite is well known among intermediate players.
This time, I’d like to introduce the especially famous first movement, “En bateau” (In a Boat).
In terms of difficulty, it sits squarely in the middle of the intermediate range.
Set in G major with a 6/8 meter, the piece features a melody that floats above wave-like broken chords—producing a sound that is both brilliant and refreshingly airy.
It’s a recital staple, so be sure to check it out.
Rhapsody in BlueGeorge Gershwin
George Gershwin’s masterpiece Rhapsody in Blue, a brilliant fusion of classical and jazz.
While the original is written for solo piano and orchestra, it is frequently performed as a piano four-hands or two-piano arrangement.
Because the piece is concerto-like in form, recreating it on the piano naturally results in an enormous number of notes.
The difficulty is extremely high; it can be considered an iconic work for advanced piano four-hands.
But when the world of this piece is successfully captured with only four hands, the sense of fulfillment is beyond words.
Its dazzling, ever-changing character keeps audiences engaged, making it an ideal choice for concert and recital programs.