[For Intermediate Players] Challenge Yourself! Recommended Masterpieces That Shine at Piano Recitals

Play of WaterMaurice Ravel

Nobuyuki Tsujii / Ravel: Jeux d’eau (Fountains/Playing Water)

Jeux d’eau, completed in 1901 while French composer Maurice Ravel was studying at the Paris Conservatoire, is also known for being dedicated to his teacher, Gabriel Fauré.

Premiered in 1902 alongside Ravel’s signature piece Pavane for a Dead Princess, it was at times derided back then for its complex sonorities as “dissonant.” Today, however, its shimmering, water-like melodies captivate many listeners.

It’s a perfect piece for those who love delicate works or want to experience Ravel’s enigmatic sound world.

Waltz Op. 83-1Auguste Durand

Waltz No. 1: Composed by Durand / Valse Op. 83-1: Durand

The opening arpeggios make a huge impact! Auguste Durand’s Waltz Op.

83-1 is a dazzling piece that truly shines in recitals.

Its melody blends elegance, lightness, and vigor, and the pleasant rhythm lifts the spirits of both performer and audience.

The key is to highlight the buoyant three-beat waltz rhythm while keeping the right hand’s notes crisp and clearly articulated.

To avoid muddiness, use the pedal sparingly and effectively with frequent, subtle changes as you play.

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Six Pieces for Piano, Op. 118 No. 3 “Ballade”Johannes Brahms

Brahms: Six Pieces, Op. 118 No. 3, Ballade in G minor — Piano: Eri Mantani

Johannes Brahms, a great composer who represents Germany.

Brahms wrote many intermediate-level pieces, but among them I especially recommend “Six Pieces for Piano, Op.

118 No.

3: Ballade.” It’s a piece notable for the weighty, grand melodies that are quintessential Brahms.

In terms of difficulty, it might correspond to about Czerny Nos.

40–50.

Although this work is said to be challenging at the beginning and end, the middle section requires legato technique in double notes, so you need to pay closer attention to detail than in works filled with relentless, virtuosic passages.

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Fantaisie-ImpromptuFrederic Chopin

Fantaisie-Impromptu – Chopin – 13-year-old recital / Chopin Fantaisie-Impromptu

This is a work by Frédéric Chopin that shifts from a stormy, passionate passage to a dreamily sweet and beautiful melody.

Its dramatic development is sure to resonate with elementary and middle school children who admire a more mature world.

Composed around 1834, it is also known for its luscious middle section, which was used as a principal theme in the film Impromptu.

The passages where the right and left hands play different rhythms simultaneously require practice, but the sense of accomplishment when mastered is exceptional.

It’s a rewarding piece for children who want to enrich their expressiveness and aim for a higher level of performance.

If played with rich emotion at a recital, it will surely capture the audience’s hearts.

12 Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman” (Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Variations)Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Variations / Mozart / Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman” K.265 / Mozart / Piano / CANACANA

Some of you might be thinking, “Isn’t ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ way too easy?” Not so fast! It’s true that simple arrangements combining the melody with a minimal left-hand part appear in almost every beginner piano method book.

However, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s set of variations—commonly known as the ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Variations’—is a highly sophisticated work packed with techniques that even intermediate players find challenging.

Enjoy performing it as the familiar tune gradually transforms into arrangements that demand advanced technique and expressive nuance!

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Piano Sonata No. 12 in F major, K. 332 (K6 300k), No. 1Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

W.A.Mozart – Piano Sonata No.12 in F major, K.332 (1st movement)

This is a work whose elegant melodies and rhythms, left by a genius of the Classical era, resonate deeply in the heart.

Composed in 1783 and structured in three movements, it is notable for its refreshing F-major sonority and gentle variations.

The beautiful music, woven from an approachable theme and refined counterpoint, is sure to soothe listeners.

The second movement, which was also used in the film “Immortal Beloved,” is characterized by delicate ornamentation and a richly expressive melody.

Combining Mozart’s characteristic brightness and lightness with technical intrigue, this piece is recommended for everyone who enjoys playing the piano.

Waltz No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 18 “Grande valse brillante”Frederic Chopin

Nobuyuki Tsujii plays Chopin’s Waltz No.1 “Grande valse brillante”

A waltz with a strikingly elegant melody.

Composed by Chopin in 1833, this piece is among his most popular waltzes and is often featured in recitals.

Combining the quintessential Chopinesque grace and brilliance, its character perfectly suits a woman’s delicate sensibility.

Beginning with a fanfare-like introduction and unfolding into a brilliant main theme, its structure captures the listener’s heart and never lets go.

From a technical standpoint, focusing on producing a beautiful tone through diligent practice will result in a more captivating performance.