[Piano] Piano Pieces to Enjoy in the Hot Summer: A Selection of Refreshing Classical Works
In Japan’s sweltering summer, the oppressive heat wears down both body and mind.
Indoors is muggy, outdoors is scorching, and all motivation seems to vanish.
That’s why we recommend enjoying refreshing piano music for the summer! Here, we’ve carefully selected piano masterpieces from cool, calming classical works that will make you forget the heat.
We can’t control the temperature, but listening to beautiful music can lift your spirits.
Using the pieces we introduce as a guide, pick a few favorites and create a “Beat-the-Heat Summer Playlist” before the hot season arrives!
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[Piano] Piano pieces to enjoy in the hot summer! A curated selection of refreshing classical works (21–30)
Noble and Sentimental Waltzes: No. 1, Modéré (Moderato), G majorMaurice Ravel
The suite Valses nobles et sentimentales fuses traditional waltz forms with Maurice Ravel’s characteristically modern sonorities.
Its opening piece is graceful yet tinged with melancholy, evoking a curious, elusive mood.
At its premiere in May 1911, the composer’s name was withheld, and the work astonished audiences with its originality.
One can almost picture a glittering ballroom where, amid the dancing, a secret, fleeting thought crosses the heart.
The work is also known in its ballet incarnation as Adélaïde, ou le langage des fleurs.
It’s perfect for those who want to experience the intriguing rhythms and harmonies that overturn conventional images of the waltz.
Aim for a rounded, gentle tone to convey the wistfulness that lies beneath the brilliance.
Pastoral of a Summer Night, Op. 16Merikanto Oskar
Born in Finland, this piece has a simple, gentle melody that even evokes a sense of nostalgia, making it a wonderful classic that resonates with Japanese listeners as well.
“Summer Evening Pastorale” is a work by Finnish composer Oskar Merikanto.
While he may not be internationally renowned, he is said to be deeply loved by the Finnish people as one of the nation’s representative composers.
The nostalgic melody spun in a relaxed waltz rhythm, as mentioned at the beginning, strikes a chord with Japanese sensibilities.
It might be nice to listen to this piece while reminiscing about the rural landscapes of your hometown you haven’t visited in a while.
Barcarolle, Op. 60, CT 6, in F-sharp majorFrederic Chopin
A “barcarolle” is a piano piece inspired by the gondolas of Venice, the city of water, said to originate from the songs that boatmen would hum while rowing.
As a genre in classical music, the barcarolle has been left to us by various composers, beginning with pieces included in Mendelssohn’s Songs Without Words; in this article, however, we focus on the particularly famous solo piano work by Frédéric Chopin.
While a typical barcarolle is set in a relaxed 6/8 meter, Chopin’s Barcarolle employs 12/8 time to create a grand and elegant atmosphere.
Written in the later period of Chopin’s life, it is highly regarded and demands an advanced level of technique.
On a hot summer’s day, listen to this piece while picturing a gondola gliding over sunlit waters.
Video, Episode 1: Reflections of WaterClaude Debussy
The shimmering glints of light reflected on a beautifully rippling water surface… What a lovely piece that evokes cinematic and painterly imagery.
As a classical piano work themed on water, let me introduce Claude Debussy’s Reflections in the Water, known alongside Maurice Ravel’s Jeux d’eau and Franz Liszt’s The Fountains of Villa d’Este, from which it draws direct influence.
Published in the piano collection Images, Book I, this piece presents a sound world born through the composer’s delicate sensibility, offering a perspective different from Jeux d’eau, which focuses on the movement of water itself, and it even seems to soften the force of the hot sun.
Since it’s a Debussy piece, known for its free compositional approach that departs from classical conventions, even those who find strictly traditional classical music a bit daunting should definitely give it a listen!
Gaspard of the Night, No. 1: OndineMaurice Ravel
If you’re well-versed in French literature, the title Gaspard de la nuit might remind you of the poetry collection by Louis Bertrand, born in 19th-century France.
The work discussed here, however, is Maurice Ravel’s suite for solo piano of the same name, which was indeed inspired by three poems included in Bertrand’s collection.
Of the three pieces, let’s introduce the first, Ondine, as it suits the theme of music to hear in the hot summer.
“Ondine” is the name of the water spirit among the four classical elemental spirits, and in Japan the name “Undine” may be more familiar.
When it comes to Ravel’s water-themed piano works, one might think of Jeux d’eau, but this Ondine is a piece you should definitely know.
It depicts the story of Ondine, who falls in love with a human, and—through Ravel’s characteristic, highly sophisticated technique—delicately yet dramatically expresses both the emotions of the spirit whose love is unfulfilled and the image of pouring, torrential rain.
Play of WaterMaurice Ravel
Even just the Japanese title “Mizu no Tawamure” (Play of Water) evokes a wonderfully cool atmosphere! Known as a demanding piece that requires advanced technique, Ravel’s “Jeux d’eau” was composed in 1901 by the French composer Maurice Ravel and dedicated to his teacher, Gabriel Fauré.
The original title, Jeux d’eau, means “fountain,” and it conveys a sense of finding beauty in the orderly, human-controlled movements of water.
Since it depicts the sound of water, the touch is remarkably light—helped by abundant arpeggios—and despite employing bold dissonances for its time, it never loses its beautiful sonority, which truly shows the mark of a genius.
Please enjoy the beautiful water-like timbres that seem to soothe the heat of midsummer.
The Seasons, 12 Characteristic Pieces, Op. 37bis: July – Song of the ReaperPyotr Tchaikovsky
There are many classical pieces themed around the four seasons, but this “The Seasons” is a set of piano works by the great Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky, depicting scenes from Russian life from January through December.
In keeping with the theme of this article, we are focusing on July’s piece, “Song of the Reapers.” The most famous of the twelve is June’s “Barcarolle,” but “Song of the Reapers” stands out in the set for its lively, bright character, vividly portraying the energetic figures of people mowing the fields.
Rather than cooling you down, it’s recommended for those who want to start their day energetically under the hot sun!