[Low Difficulty] Recommended Tchaikovsky Piano Pieces [Intermediate]
The great composer born in Russia, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, is a towering figure who gave the world many masterpieces—works that even those who aren’t classical music enthusiasts have likely heard at least once—ranging from his ballet music known as the “Three Great Ballets” to the “Three Great Symphonies” and various concertos.
It may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but Tchaikovsky actually wrote many wonderful piano pieces as well.
This article introduces several of his works, focusing mainly on piano pieces of relatively low difficulty, while also including some of his famous non-piano compositions.
If you’re a pianist who’s close to the intermediate level, why not take on the challenge of Tchaikovsky’s uniquely lyrical and beautiful melodies?
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[Low difficulty] Recommended Tchaikovsky piano pieces [Intermediate] (21–30)
Six Pieces: “Nocturnes”Pyotr Tchaikovsky
It is an introspective piece, fitting for the stillness of night, included in the album “Six Pieces, Op.
19.” The work envelops the listener in a warm yet sentimental atmosphere, as if overhearing the composer’s personal confession.
Completed in the autumn of 1873, it is striking for the bell-like sonorities—reminiscent of ballet music—that accent the tear-inducing, beautiful melody.
There is also an arrangement for cello and small orchestra, offering a different, deeper emotional resonance from the original.
A masterpiece perfect for a night of quietly dwelling in sorrow and conversing with your own heart.
“New Doll,” Op. 39, No. 9, from Children’s AlbumPyotr Tchaikovsky
Composed in 1878 when Tchaikovsky was 38, No.
9 “The New Doll” from his piano collection “Children’s Album” is a light, sprightly piece in which the right hand dances over a steady left-hand pulse.
Following No.
7 “The Doll’s Funeral,” it is said to depict welcoming a new doll to replace the one that passed away.
The key is to play the melody elegantly and cheerfully, while keeping the left hand very soft—just a light accompaniment.
Perform it while imagining the excitement of meeting a brand-new doll.
Old French Song from Children’s Album, Op. 39 No. 16Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Children’s Album is a collection of 24 piano pieces by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, dedicated to his then seven-year-old nephew.
No.
16, Old French Song, carries a wistful mood that seems to depict someone weighed down by a sad event, and it is arguably the most widely known piece in the collection.
After the theme is stated twice, a contrasting section appears, and the theme returns at the end.
Thanks to this simple structure, it is approachable even for beginning pianists.
Play it with heartfelt expression so that the sadness is conveyed through the simple melody.
Babayaga Op. 39-20Pyotr Tchaikovsky
This is a masterpiece created by a Russian composer devoted to nurturing children’s hearts through music.
The work vividly portrays, in sound, the tale of a mysterious witch who lives in a hut standing on chicken legs and travels in a flying mortar—captivating children’s imaginations.
With a melodic line that includes rapid ascending and descending scales and wide leaps, along with unstable harmonic sonorities, it skillfully conveys the witch’s eeriness and enigmatic movements.
Composed in 1878, its brisk tempo and richly descriptive power brim with immediacy, letting listeners savor the story’s excitement.
Brimming with expressive nuance and drama, this piece is perfect for a child’s piano recital or as an encore.
A recommended classic for anyone who wishes to foster imagination through music.
In conclusion
Pyotr Tchaikovsky, the great Russian composer who possessed a delicate sensibility and a complex personality, lived a life full of ups and downs.
The brilliance of the melodies he created—such as in The Nutcracker and Swan Lake—is, I believe, fully expressed in his piano works as well, and you can more than understand that just by listening to the pieces introduced here.
That is precisely why I strongly hope intermediate players—who have reached a level where they can express their emotions at the piano, in addition to technical matters—will take on the challenge.
If this becomes an opportunity for you to discover Tchaikovsky’s charm and continue performing classical music, nothing could make me happier.