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[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!

Playlist

[Piano] Piano Pieces to Enjoy in the Hot Summer: A Selection of Refreshing Classical Works
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastDaylight saving timeGeorge Gershwin
Daylight saving timeGeorge Gershwinplay_arrow
A Lullaby to Soothe Gershwin's Heart
2eastAt the seaside at nightHeino Kasuki
At the seaside at nightHeino Kasukiplay_arrow
A cool piano piece that makes you forget the summer heat
3eastIn the ForestAlbert Ketèlbey
In the ForestAlbert Ketèlbeyplay_arrow
A gentle, shade-like piano piece that soothes the heart
4eastSummer MorningHeino Kasuki
Summer MorningHeino Kasukiplay_arrow
A refreshing piano piece for a summer morning
5east10 Pieces from the Ballet “Cinderella,” Op. 97: No. 2, The Spirit of SummerSergei Prokofiev
10 Pieces from the Ballet “Cinderella,” Op. 97: No. 2, The Spirit of SummerSergei Prokofievplay_arrow
Prokofiev’s summer-appropriate piece “Cinderella”
6eastPetite Suite: I. En bateauClaude Debussy
Petite Suite: I. En bateauClaude Debussyplay_arrow
Debussy’s water scenes, with a cool, refreshing tone
7eastSeaside at Dusk, H.128: No. 3 “The Stormy Seashore”Bohuslav Martinů
Seaside at Dusk, H.128: No. 3 “The Stormy Seashore”Bohuslav Martinůplay_arrow
Seaside Evening Piano Piece That Makes You Forget Summer
8eastLittle Boat on the Ocean from the Suite ‘Mirrors’Maurice Ravel
Little Boat on the Ocean from the Suite 'Mirrors'Maurice Ravelplay_arrow
My heart is cleansed by Ravel’s cool, refreshing piano piece.
9eastBergamasque Suite No. 1: PreludeClaude Debussy
Bergamasque Suite No. 1: PreludeClaude Debussyplay_arrow
The color-rich beauty of Debussy’s Preludes
10eastHappiness, Opus 292-6Gustav Lange
Happiness, Opus 292-6Gustav Langeplay_arrow
Heal your heart with an elegant piano piece
11eastPeer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: I. MorningEdvard Grieg
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: I. MorningEdvard Griegplay_arrow
Grieg’s composition “Morning” is the most beloved masterpiece among Japanese people.
12eastGrand WaltzFrederic Chopin
Grand WaltzFrederic Chopinplay_arrow
Chopin’s brilliant piano piece, a masterpiece that influenced many musicians
13eastNocturne No. 2Frederic Chopin
Nocturne No. 2Frederic Chopinplay_arrow
Nocturne, composed by Chopin.
14eastImpromptu of the WindNakata Yoshinao
Impromptu of the WindNakata Yoshinaoplay_arrow
A refreshing piano piece for an album.
15eastEtude-Tableaux, Op. 39 No. 2 in A minor “The Sea and the Seagull”Sergei Rachmaninov
Etude-Tableaux, Op. 39 No. 2 in A minor “The Sea and the Seagull”Sergei Rachmaninovplay_arrow
A summer piano piece, a masterpiece by Rachmaninoff
16eastNocturne No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2Frederic Chopin
Nocturne No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2Frederic Chopinplay_arrow
Chopin's beautiful nocturnes, soothing to the soul
17eastMidnight Fire FestivalHirayoshi Takeshu
Midnight Fire FestivalHirayoshi Takeshuplay_arrow
Kiyosu Hirayoshi’s dynamic solo piano piece
18eastdreamClaude Debussy
dreamClaude Debussyplay_arrow
The serene beauty of fantastical Impressionist music
19east“Frayce A’s Flowers,” Volume 3, Op. 16: No. 2 — Moving into the Summer HideawayWilhelm Peterson-Berger
“Frayce A’s Flowers,” Volume 3, Op. 16: No. 2 — Moving into the Summer HideawayWilhelm Peterson-Bergerplay_arrow
A gentle summer piano piece, soothing to the heart
20eastWaltz No. 6 in D-flat major “Minute Waltz”Frederic Chopin
Waltz No. 6 in D-flat major “Minute Waltz”Frederic Chopinplay_arrow
A piano piece depicting a puppy running
21east24 Preludes, Op. 28 No. 15 “Raindrop”Frederic Chopin
24 Preludes, Op. 28 No. 15 “Raindrop”Frederic Chopinplay_arrow
Chopin’s Raindrop is delicately beautiful
22eastNoble and Sentimental Waltzes: No. 1, Modéré (Moderato), G majorMaurice Ravel
Noble and Sentimental Waltzes: No. 1, Modéré (Moderato), G majorMaurice Ravelplay_arrow
Ravel’s waltz, a modern and elegant masterpiece
23eastPiano Suite: No. 2 TanabataIfukube Akira
Piano Suite: No. 2 TanabataIfukube Akiraplay_arrow
The Beauty of Tanabata: A Piano Piece Composed in Akira Ifukube’s Youth
24eastPastoral of a Summer Night, Op. 16Merikanto Oskar
Pastoral of a Summer Night, Op. 16Merikanto Oskarplay_arrow
A nostalgic waltz piece by a Finnish composer
25eastThe Seasons, 12 Characteristic Pieces, Op. 37bis: July – Song of the ReaperPyotr Tchaikovsky
The Seasons, 12 Characteristic Pieces, Op. 37bis: July – Song of the ReaperPyotr Tchaikovskyplay_arrow
Tchaikovsky's Harvest Song
26eastMidsummer NocturneAaron Copland
Midsummer NocturneAaron Coplandplay_arrow
A fantastical piano piece themed on Copland’s summer
27eastGaspard of the Night, No. 1: OndineMaurice Ravel
Gaspard of the Night, No. 1: OndineMaurice Ravelplay_arrow
A piano piece by Ravel depicting a water nymph
28eastVideo, Episode 1: Reflections of WaterClaude Debussy
Video, Episode 1: Reflections of WaterClaude Debussyplay_arrow
Introducing Debussy's Reflections in the Water
29eastBarcarolle, Op. 60, CT 6, in F-sharp majorFrederic Chopin
Barcarolle, Op. 60, CT 6, in F-sharp majorFrederic Chopinplay_arrow
Chopin’s Barcarolle is elegant and highly difficult.
30eastPlay of WaterMaurice Ravel
Play of WaterMaurice Ravelplay_arrow
Ravel’s piano piece that expresses the timbre of water
31eastScenes from Childhood, Op. 15, No. 7: DreamingRobert Schumann
Scenes from Childhood, Op. 15, No. 7: DreamingRobert Schumannplay_arrow
Introduction to Schumann’s Traumerei
32eastYears of Pilgrimage, Third Year, S.163/R.10, A283, No. 4: The Fountains of the Villa d’EsteFranz Liszt
Years of Pilgrimage, Third Year, S.163/R.10, A283, No. 4: The Fountains of the Villa d’EsteFranz Lisztplay_arrow
Liszt’s brilliant piano piece that depicts the movement of water
33eastLyric Pieces, Book X, Op. 71 No. 2: Summer EveningEdvard Grieg
Lyric Pieces, Book X, Op. 71 No. 2: Summer EveningEdvard Griegplay_arrow
Lyric Pieces by Grieg, Summer Evening