Piano Masterpieces: Music you’ll want to listen to and play—beloved classic works

Do you have any memorable piano pieces that make you feel healed when you listen to them, or that you’d like to play someday?

A favorite piece can soothe a mind clouded by stress or anxiety.

In this article, we’ve carefully selected world-famous piano works from among the classics that could become your go-to soothing track.

Even if you’re not very familiar with classical music, we’ve chosen only well-known pieces you’ve likely heard somewhere before, so please enjoy reading to the end!

Playlist

Piano Masterpieces: Music you’ll want to listen to and play—beloved classic works
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Pavane for a Dead Princess in G majorMaurice Ravel		Ravel’s masterpiece, with the left hand’s ninths as a stumbling block
2	Heroic Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53Frederic Chopin		Chopin “Heroic” Polonaise advanced difficult piece
3	Two Arabesques No. 1 in E majorClaude Debussy		Debussy’s masterpiece—the way you apply force is crucial.
4	Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-sharp minor, Op. 66Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s Fantaisie-Impromptu: high difficulty and impressive to listen to
5	Grand Etudes after Paganini, No. 3 ‘La Campanella’Franz Liszt		Liszt’s masterpiece with the highest difficulty among his études
6	Songs Without Words, Book V, Op. 62, No. 6, Spring SongFelix Mendelssohn		Mendelssohn’s Spring Song is a refined and beautiful work.
7	Italian Concerto, BWV 971J.S.Bach		Bach's concertos are difficult.
8	Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 “Pathétique,” II. movementLudwig van Beethoven		Beethoven’s masterpiece piano sonata “Pathétique”
9	Humoresques, Op. 101 No. 7Antonin Dvořák		With Dvořák’s gentle melody, the sight-reading and key changes are difficult.
10	Farewell SongFrederic Chopin		One of the most beautiful works in the world, Frédéric...
11	Liebesträume No. 3 (Three Nocturnes): “Dreams of Love”Franz Liszt		The beauty and popularity of Liszt’s Liebesträume
12	Scenes from Childhood, Op. 15 No. 7 “Träumerei”Robert Schumann		Schumann’s masterpiece “Träumerei” — a gentle melody that soothes the heart
13	Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major, Op. 311, Third Movement “Turkish March”Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Mozart’s challenging piano sonatas
14	Gymnopédie No. 1Erik Satie		A famous piece by Satie; the left-hand leaps are difficult.
15	Prelude No. 15 “Raindrop” from 24 PreludesFrederic Chopin		The Allure of Chopin’s 24 Preludes and No. 15 “Raindrop”
16	Für EliseLudwig van Beethoven		Play Beethoven's masterpieces on the piano with mastery
17	Love’s GreetingEdward Elgar		Elgar’s Salut d’Amour is mainly right-hand focused; watch out for mistakes in the left hand.
18	Maiden’s PrayerTekla Bądarzewska		The key to Maiden’s Prayer is the tuplets
19	Play of WaterMaurice Ravel		A difficult piece by Ravel. A piano work themed around fountains.
20	12 Variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman” (Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Variations)Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Mozart's Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Variations are upper-intermediate.
21	On Wings of SongFelix Mendelssohn		A song to which Mendelssohn set music for a poem by Heine
22	Sonata No. 12 in A-flat major, Op. 26 “Funeral March”Ludwig van Beethoven		Beethoven’s Funeral March Sonata is an intermediate-level work.
23	Flower SongGustav Lange		Lange's Piano Pieces Collection
24	Sonatine in F-sharp minor, M. 40: II. MenuetMaurice Ravel		The beauty of Ravel’s piano piece “Sonatine”
25	Six Pieces: “Nocturnes”Pyotr Tchaikovsky		A sentimental masterpiece that depicts the stillness of the night
26	Dumka in C minor, Op. 59Pyotr Tchaikovsky		Expressive piano piece by Tchaikovsky
27	Melody Op. 4-2Fanny Mendelssohn		An emotionally rich, delicate miniature by Fanny
28	Songs Without Words, Book V, Op. 62 No. 5, No. 3: “Venetian Boat Song”Felix Mendelssohn		Mendelssohn’s moving canal miniature
29	Gaspard of the Night, M. 55: II. The GallowsMaurice Ravel		An eerie masterpiece with a repeating bell chime
30	“The Four Seasons” – 12 Characteristic Sketches, Op. 37bis: June “Barcarolle”Pyotr Tchaikovsky		A lyrical piano piece by a Russian composer
31	In the ForestAlbert Ketèlbey		A gentle, shade-like piano piece that soothes the heart
32	dreamClaude Debussy		The serene beauty of fantastical Impressionist music
33	Petite Suite: I. En bateauClaude Debussy		Debussy’s water scenes, with a cool, refreshing tone
34	4 minutes 33 secondsJohn Cage		Cage’s silent musical piece, high rating
35	“Frayce A’s Flowers,” Volume 3, Op. 16: No. 2 — Moving into the Summer HideawayWilhelm Peterson-Berger		A gentle summer piano piece, soothing to the heart
36	Romanian Folk Dances: ‘Romanian Polka’ and ‘Fast Dance’Bartók Béla		Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances
37	Three Romances, Op. 11 No. 1Clara Schumann		An emotional piano piece imbued with hidden feelings for Clara
38	Gnossienne No. 3Erik Satie		A meditative 1893 composition without barlines
39	Serenade from SchwanengesangFranz Schubert		The melancholy and beauty of Schubert's lieder
40	Nocturne No. 19 in E minor, Op. 72 No. 1, “Posthumous”Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s emotionally rich Nocturnes
41	The Fir Tree, from Five Pieces (Suite of Trees)Jean Sibelius		Sibelius’s The Spruce, a masterpiece of piano miniatures
42	Nocturne No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2Frederic Chopin		Chopin's beautiful nocturnes, soothing to the soul
43	Daylight saving timeGeorge Gershwin		A Lullaby to Soothe Gershwin's Heart
44	Summer MorningHeino Kasuki		A refreshing piano piece for a summer morning
45	At the seaside at nightHeino Kasuki		A cool piano piece that makes you forget the summer heat
46	Little Boat on the Ocean from the Suite ‘Mirrors’Maurice Ravel		My heart is cleansed by Ravel’s cool, refreshing piano piece.
47	Invention No. 2 in C minor, BWV 773J.S.Bach		The Appeal of Bach’s Invention in C Minor
48	French Suite No. 1, BWV 812: SarabandeJ.S.Bach		An approachable dance piece, ideal as an introduction to Baroque music
49	French Suite No. 1, BWV 812 – Menuet IJ.S.Bach		An elegant triple-meter piece from the Baroque era
50	French Suite No. 2, BWV 813: Menuet IJ.S.Bach		Bach’s elegant triple-meter dance
51	French Suite No. 2, BWV 813 – Minuet IIJ.S.Bach		Bach’s Minuet: elegant and profound music
52	French Suite No. 3, BWV 814, MinuetJ.S.Bach		An elegant baroque-style dance suite
53	French Suite No. 5, BWV 816: SarabandeJ.S.Bach		Classical music, the sarabande of the Baroque era is captivating.
54	French Suite No. 6, BWV 817: SarabandeJ.S.Bach		A dance imbued with Bach’s profound spirituality
55	Polonaise in G minor (BWV Anh. 119)J.S.Bach		Loving music for Bach’s wife
56	8 Pieces, Op. 84: No. 1, CapriccioGabriel Fauré		A 1902 Paris work that expresses French vocal music on the piano
57	Eight Pieces, Op. 84: No. 3, FugueGabriel Fauré		Elegant musical expression of French music
58	scramble crossinghashimoto kouichi		A dynamic piece that expresses the hustle and bustle of the city through irregular time signatures
59	Piano Sonata No. 2 “Fantasy” in G-sharp minor, Op. 19Aleksandr Skryabin		Evolutionary Piano Sonata by Scriabin
60	Songs Without Words, Book II, Op. 30, No. 1: MeditationFelix Mendelssohn		A classic with a gentle melody, rich in emotion
61	Songs Without Words, Book III, Op. 38, No. 4: HopeFelix Mendelssohn		A calm and approachable piece from the Songs Without Words collection
62	Songs Without Words, Book 4, Op. 53 No. 2 “Floating Clouds”Felix Mendelssohn		An elegant Romantic-era song without words, playable with careful practice
63	Songs Without Words, Book 4, Op. 53 No. 4, Sorrow of the HeartFelix Mendelssohn		Mendelssohn’s collection of emotionally rich short pieces
64	“Butterflies,” Op. 2, No. 12: “Final Scene and the Returning Brothers”Robert Schumann		Schumann’s Butterfly finale depicts the end of a ball
65	Three Sonatas for Children, Op. 11, No. 2: “3. Evening Song” Op. 118b-3Robert Schumann		Schumann’s heartwarming piano piece
66	Carnaval, Op. 9 No. 12 – ChopinRobert Schumann		Schumann’s masterpiece filled with love for Chopin
67	Hungarian Dance No. 2Johannes Brahms		A passionate piano duet of Hungarian folk music
68	Six Écossaises No. 1Ludwig van Beethoven		A lively Scottish-style dance, a 2.5-minute charmer
69	Six Écossaises No. 5Ludwig van Beethoven		An elegant dance in E-flat major, with a light, lively rhythm
70	Armand in A major, WoO 81Ludwig van Beethoven		4/4 time, the allure of a splendid dance
71	11 New Bagatelles for Piano, Op. 119 No. 8 in C majorLudwig van Beethoven		Rich music, a pleasant resonance, and moving emotion
72	Piano Sonata No. 19, Op. 49-1, First MovementLudwig van Beethoven		A work by Beethoven. Calm and approachable. Suitable for beginners.
73	Piano Sonata No. 20, Op. 49 No. 2, Second MovementLudwig van Beethoven		A warm triple-meter piece in minuet form
74	Piano Sonata No. 25, Op. 79, Movement IIILudwig van Beethoven		A graceful romantic masterpiece in 9/8 time
75	Piano Sonata No. 12 in F major, K. 332 (K6 300k), No. 1Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Elegant melodies and beautiful music of the Classical era
76	Piano Sonata No. 12 in F major, K. 332 (K6. 300k), No. 2Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		The Charm of Mozart’s Piano Sonatas
77	Piano Sonata No. 16 in C major, K. 545, No. 2Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Beautiful masterpieces of classical music
78	Trout (arranged by Liszt)Franz Schubert		The Trout, piano arrangement by Liszt
79	Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14Sergei Rakhmaninov		Introducing Rachmaninoff’s dark piece, Vocalise
80	Suite from the ballet “The Nutcracker”Pyotr Tchaikovsky		The Charm of The Nutcracker
81	Children’s Corner No. 1: “Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum”Claude Debussy		A lively piano miniature dedicated to Debussy’s beloved daughter
82	4 Etudes No. 4, Op. 7-4 in F-sharp majorIgor Stravinsky		A lively and innovative short musical piece that captivates listeners
83	Nocturne No. 1 in E-flat minor, Op. 33Gabriel Fauré		A piano piece that unfolds from silence to passion
84	Suite ‘Dolly’ Op. 56 No. 4, Kitty-ValseGabriel Fauré		Play the graceful waltz of French music on the piano
85	Barcarolle No. 12 in E-flat major, Op. 105-2Gabriel Fauré		A French piano piece composed in 1921
86	Barcarolle No. 4 in E-flat major, Op. 36Gabriel Fauré		Fauré’s elegant and delicate, beautiful works
87	Brilliant WaltzGlenda Austin		An elegant composition that fuses waltz and jazz
88	Piano Sonata No. 8 “Pathétique,” Second MovementLudwig van Beethoven		This piece is marked by a gentle, singable melody that leaves a strong impression...
89	Piano Sonata No. 8 “Pathétique,” 3rd movementLudwig van Beethoven		The allure of powerful, passionate music
90	Waltz EtudeWilliam Gillock		The enchanting melody of a glamorous waltz
91	Sonatina No. 1, Movement I, Op. 20-1Friedrich Kuhlau		A clear and approachable piece in C major
92	Happiness, Opus 292-6Gustav Lange		Heal your heart with an elegant piano piece
93	Sonatina No. 12, Movement IMuzio Clementi		A bright Classical-era piano piece like spring
94	Sonatina No. 7, First MovementMuzio Clementi		An elegant and technically skillful piano piece, brilliant and bright.
95	Sonatine No. 8, Movement IMuzio Clementi		The charm of piano pieces: brilliant and powerful
96	Sonatina No. 9, First MovementMuzio Clementi		Clementi’s lively composition, brimming with vibrant tones.
97	Impromptu of the WindNakata Yoshinao		A melody like a refreshing, free wind
98	Sonatina No. 10, First MovementMuzio Clementi		A masterpiece that conveys the expressiveness and allure of piano music
99	Scherzo Focoso, Op. 34Charles Valentin Alkan		A magnificent piano piece where advanced technique and passion intertwine
100	Mephisto Waltz No. 1, S.514 “Dance in the Village Inn”Franz Liszt		Introduction to Liszt’s Passionate Waltz Pieces
101	Toccata from Le Tombeau de CouperinMaurice Ravel		Ravel’s masterpiece commemorating World War I, an innovation in Baroque style
102	15 Virtuoso Études, Op. 72 No. 2Moritz Moszkowski		A Romantic masterpiece, where virtuosity and expressiveness shine.
103	Concert Etudes, 8 Pieces: No. 5 “Joke”Nikolai Kapustin		A fusion piece of classical and jazz
104	12 Transcendental Etudes, Op. 11 No. 10 “Lezginka”Sergey Lyapunov,		Lyapunov: Caucasian Folk Dance
105	Nocturne No. 2Frederic Chopin		Beautiful melodies flowing gently and delicate ornamentations...
106	La CampanellaFranz Liszt		A delicate melody reminiscent of tolling bells is striking, with high notes...
107	Children’s Album, Volume 1: “Album of My Boyhood,” No. 5: EtudeAram Khachaturian		A short piece of ethnic music for children with an impressive staccato feel
108	Suite bergamasque, No. 3: Clair de LuneClaude Debussy		The Allure of Debussy’s Masterpiece “Clair de Lune” and How to Enjoy It
109	Bergamasque Suite No. 4: PassepiedClaude Debussy		An elegant piano piece based on a passepied
110	Video, Episode 1: “Reflections of Water”Claude Debussy		Debussy's beautiful piano piece that depicts water
111	Three New Etudes No. 2 in A-flat majorFrederic Chopin		You can learn technique and musical expression through Chopin’s études.
112	Etude Collection (Studies) No. 4, Op. 10-4 in C-sharp minorFrederic Chopin		Passionate music with advanced technique is captivating.
113	Waltz No. 6 in D-flat major “Minute Waltz”Frederic Chopin		A piano solo piece depicting a puppy scampering about
114	Etude Op. 10 No. 12 “Revolutionary”Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s Revolutionary Étude captivates with its fierce, dramatic melody.
115	Grand WaltzFrederic Chopin		Chopin’s graceful and brilliant waltz
116	Joy of LoveFritz Kreisler		A traditional light dance from Vienna
117	Etude No. 13 in A-flat major, Op. 25 No. 1 “Aeolian Harp”Frederic Chopin		A technically intricate piano piece that expresses the atmosphere of spring
118	Passacaglia Harpsichord Suite No. 7 (HWV 432)Georg Friedrich Händel		A masterpiece that distills the charm of Baroque music
119	Burgmüller 25 Progressive Pieces, Op. 100, No. 19 “Ave Maria”Johann Burgmüller		I was enraptured by the choir’s hymn resonating through the cathedral church…
120	Waltz No. 15, Op. 39-15 “Waltz of Love”Johannes Brahms		Waltz No. 15 has difficult chords
121	Turkish MarchLudwig van Beethoven		Beethoven’s Famous Pieces Popular with Beginner Pianists
122	Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 “Moonlight,” First MovementLudwig van Beethoven		Beethoven’s Moonlight is the greatest masterpiece.
123	Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 “Moonlight,” First MovementLudwig van Beethoven		Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 14, widely known as the “Moonlight Sonata,” is...
124	Eight Concert Etudes, Op. 40: No. 1 “Prelude”Nikolai Kapustin		Kapustin’s jazz-classical fusion piece
125	Kinderszenen, Op. 15, No. 7: “Träumerei”Robert Schumann		I found myself enchanted by the dreamy, beautiful melody…
126	Fantasia Pieces: Prelude “The Bells,” Op. 3 No. 2 in C-sharp minorSergei Rakhmaninov		Composer with abnormally large hands, Serl…
127	Turkish MarchWolfgang Amadeus Mozart		A masterpiece influenced by Turkish-style music
128	Piano Sonata No. 16, K. 545Wolfgang Mozart		Commentary on Masterpieces of Mozart’s Piano Sonatas
129	Je te veux (I want you)Éric Satie		Waltz: A Passionate and Elegant Masterpiece
130	Fantasia Sakura SakuraHirai Kōsaburō		Contemporary piano piece of Japanese traditional music
131	Three Concert Études No. 3 “Un Sospiro”Franz Liszt		Liszt’s etudes are technique and beauty.
132	Fantasia in C major, D.760 “Wanderer”Franz Schubert		A piano piece composed by Schubert. It was so difficult that even the composer himself couldn’t play it.
133	24 Preludes, Op. 28 No. 15 “Raindrop”Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s Raindrop piano piece
134	Nocturne No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s Nocturnes: Beautiful masterpieces that heal the heart
135	Sonatina No. 1 in C majorFriedrich Kuhlau		Kuhlau's piano teaching sonatinas
136	The Lucky BlacksmithGeorg Friedrich Händel		The famous variations from Handel’s Harpsichord Suite
137	From 25 Etudes: The Lady’s Horseback Riding / La chevaleresqueJohann Burgmüller		Burgmüller’s 25 Progressive Piano Etudes
138	Emperor WaltzJohann Strauss II		Emperor Waltz is a masterpiece by Johann Strauss II.
139	Waltz, Op. 39 No. 15 “Waltz of Love”Johannes Brahms		Brahms's Piano Pieces Expressing Affection
140	Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 “Pathétique,” Second MovementLudwig van Beethoven		Beethoven’s masterpiece—the second movement is the most beautiful.
141	Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor “Pathétique”Ludwig van Beethoven		Beethoven’s representative piano sonatas
142	Eight Concert Etudes, Op. 40Nikolai Kapustin		Kapustin’s jazz-classical fusion piece
143	Adeline by the SeasidePaul de Senneville		A song dedicated to his daughter became his debut work and a worldwide hit.
144	Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minorSergei Prokofiev		Prokofiev’s Sonata in F minor
145	Children’s Album, Volume 1, “Picture Book of Boyhood”: No. 7, Hobbyhorse (Cavalry)Aram Khachaturian		A piano miniature depicting children's play
146	Nocturne (from Six Pieces)Ottorino Respighi		Nocturne. A short piece expressing the silence of the night.