classical piano music

boston gp215

over the years i have struggled with quite a few piano pieces. i have decided to create a canon of those pieces that have remained particularly memorable to me and sort them chronologically.

the original plan was to record every piece myself. after a few pieces, i gave up on it, as it seemed incompatible with my life expectancy. instead, i chose some fabulous recordings by professional pianists. some of my more modest recordings can be found to the right.

the first column shows the publication dates. note that these may differ significantly from the date of composition.

as an amateur, i find it extremely helpful to use sheet music with fingering. i prefer them to the more common editions.

and now, off to practice ...

list of my favorite piano pieces

1722 bachthe well-tempered clavierbwv.846praeludium & fuga Ic-dur
bwv.847praeludium & fuga IIc-moll
bwv.848praeludium & fuga IIIcis-dur
bwv.849praeludium & fuga IVcis-moll
bwv.850praeludium & fuga Vd-dur
bwv.851praeludium & fuga VId-moll
1723 bachfünfzehn inventionen (zweistimmig)bwv.772-bwv.786fünfzehn inventionen (zweistimmig)2023
1723 bachpraeludium in c-mollbwv.999c-moll
1757 scarlattisonata in d-durk 430 (l 463)d-dur
1766 c.p.e.bachsolfeggiettowq 117/2, h.220c-moll
1779 haydnklaviersonate nr.48 in c-durhob.xvi/351.allegro con brioc-dur
2.adagiof-dur
3.finale: allegroc-dur
1781 mozart12 variations 'ah! vous dirai-je, maman'kv.265c-dur
1783 mozartsonata in c-durkv.3301.allegro moderatoc-dur2021
2.andante cantabilef-dur2021
3.allegrettoc-dur
1784 mozartsonata in d-durkv.3311.andante graziosoa-dur
2.menuetto, trioa-dur
3.allegretto, 'alla turca'a-moll2007
1784 mozartsonata in f-durkv.3322.adagiob-dur2023
1785 mozartfantasie in d-mollkv.397andanted-moll
1785 mozartfantasie in c-durkv.475adagioc-dur
1786 mozartrondo nr.1 in d-durkv.485allegrod-dur
1788 mozartsonata in c-dur 'facile'kv.5451.allegroc-dur2008
2.andanteg-dur
3.rondo, allegroc-dur
1795 beethovenrage over the lost pennyop.129allegro vivaceg-dur2022
1796 beethovensonata in f-mollop.2 nr.11.allegrof-moll
2.adagiof-dur
3.allegrettof-moll
4.prestissimof-moll
1799 beethovensonata in c-moll 'pathetique'op.131.gravec-moll
2.adagio cantabileas-dur
3.rondo, allegroc-moll
1801 beethovensonata in cis-moll 'mondschein'op.27 nr.21.adagio sostenutocis-moll
2.allegrettodes-dur
3.presto agitatocis-moll
1801 beethovensonata in d-dur 'pastorale'op.281.allegrod-dur
2.andanted-moll
3.allegro vivaced-dur
4.allegro, ma non troppod-dur
1805 beethovensonata in c-dur 'waldstein'op.531.allegro con brioc-dur
2.adagio moltof-dur
3.allegretto moderato - prestissimoc-dur
1810 beethovenbagatelle nr.25 in a-moll 'für elise'woo 59poco motoa-moll2007
1817 schubertscherzo in b-durd.593 nr.1allegrettob-dur2007
1817 chopinpolonaise in g-mollop.posth.s1 no.1allegro, ma non troppog-moll
1820 kuhlausonatine in c-durop.20 nr.11.allegroc-dur2021
2.andantef-dur
3.rondo, allegroc-dur
1827 schubertimpromptus, erste sammlungop.90 nr.1allegro molto moderatoc-moll2023
op.90 nr.2allegroes-dur
op.90 nr.3andanteges-dur
op.90 nr.4allegrettoas-dur
1828 schubertmoments musicaux Nr.3op.94 nr.3allegro moderatof-moll
1828 schubertimpromptus, zweite sammlungop.142 nr.4allegro scherzandof-moll
1828 schubertsonate in a-durd.9593.scherzo+trio, allegro vivacea-dur
1829 chopindeux valses - valse in h-mollop.69 nr.2moderatoh-moll2022
1830 chopinNocturne in cis-mollop.posth.p1 no.16lento con gran espressionecis-moll
1831 mendelssohn
bartholdy
rondo capricciosoop.14andantee-dur2008
1832 chopinnocturne in es-durop.9 nr.2andantees-dur2009
1832 mendelssohn
bartholdy
lieder ohne worteop.19 nr.2andante espressivoa-moll2023
op.19 nr.5piano agitatofis-moll2023
1833 chopinetude in c-dur 'waterfall'op.10 nr.1allegroc-dur
etude in a-moll 'chromatique'op.10 nr.2allegroa-moll
etude in e-dur 'tristesse'op.10 nr.3lento, ma non troppoe-dur2011
etude in c-moll 'revolutionsetude'op.10 nr.12allegro con fuococ-moll2008
1834 chopinfantasie impromptu in cis-mollop.66allegro agitatocis-moll2009
1835 chopindeux valses - valse in as-dur 'l'adieu'op.69 nr.1lentoas-dur2010
1836 schumanngrand sonata nr.1op.111.un poco adagio - allegro vivacefis-moll
2.senza passione, ma espressivoa-dur
3.scherzo e intermezzofis-moll
4.allegro und poco maestosofis-moll
1837 chopinetude in as-dur 'aeolian harp'op.25 nr.1allegro sostenutoas-dur2023
etude in f-moll 'the bees'op.25 nr.2prestof-moll
1837 chopinpiano sonata nr.2 - march funebre in b-mollop.35 3.lentob-moll
1838 chopinpolonaise in a-dur 'military'op.40 nr.1allegro con vrioa-dur2010
1838 liszt (schubert)la sérénade559a/1moderato. tempo rubatod-moll
1838 schumannkinderszenenop.15 nr.1von fremden länderng-dur2007
op.15 nr.7träumereif-dur2008
1839 chopinprélude in e-mollop.28 nr.4largoe-moll
prélude in a-durop.28 nr.7andantinoa-dur2010
prélude in des-dur 'regentropfen-prélude'op.28 nr.15andantino (Sostenuto)des-dur2010
1839 schumannarabeske in c-durop.18leggiero e teneramentec-dur
1842 chopinpolonaise in as-dur 'heroic'op.53maestosoas-dur
1842 chopinnocturne in f-mollop.55 nr.1andantef-moll2009
1847 mendelssohn
bartholdy
6 kinderstückeop.72 nr.6vivacef-dur
1847 chopinvalse in des-dur 'minute'op.64 nr.1molto vivacedes-dur2007
valse in cis-mollop.64 nr.2tempo giustocis-moll2010
1848 liszt (schumann)widmungs.566innig, lebhaftas-dur2023
1848 heller30 etudes progressivesop.46 nr.7vivacee-moll
1850 lisztliebestraum nr.3s.541/3poco allegro, con affettoas-dur2007
1851 lisztla campanellas.141allegrettogis-moll
1851 lisztungarische rapsodie nr.2s.244/2lento a capricciocis-moll
1857 lisztetude de concert nr.3
un sospiro
s.144allegro affettuosodes-dur2007
1860 liszt (schubert)gretchen am spinnrades.375/2 d.118non troppo allegrod-moll2021
1860 lisztmephisto walzer nr.1s.514allegro vivace (quasi presto)a-dur
1867 brahms16 walzerop.39 nr.15as-dur2021
1867 tschaikovskysouvenir de hapsalop.2 nr.33.chant sans paroles, allegretto grazioso e cantabilef-dur
1868 tschaikovskyromance in f minorop.5andante candabilef-moll
1874 mussorgskypictures at an exhibitionpromenadeb-dur2007
1.gnomus es-moll
promenadeas-dur
2.il vecchio castello gis-moll
promenadeh-dur
3.tuileries (dispute d'enfants après jeux)h-dur
4.bydlogis-moll
promenaded-moll
5.ballett der unausgeschlüpften kükenf-dur
6.„samuel“ goldenberg und „schmuÿle“b-moll
promenadeb-dur
1876 tschaikovskythe seasonsop.37b nr.22.february, allegro giustod-dur2007
op.37b nr.1010.october, andante doloroso e molto cantabilef-dur2014
1878 tschaikovskyalbum for the youthop.39 nr.88.waltz, allegroes-dur
1878 tschaikovsky12 morceaux de difficulté moyenneop.40 nr.1010.danse russe, andantinoa-moll2012
1880 brahmsrapsodia in g-mollop.79 nr.2molto passionato, ma non troppo allegrog-moll2007
1889 macdowelletude de concertop.36allegro con fuocofis-dur2012
1893 rachmaninoffprélude in cis-mollop.2 nr.3lentocis-moll2008
1894 dvorakhumoresque in ges-durop.101 nr.7poco lento e graziosoges-dur2021
1903 rachmaninoffprélude in b-durop.23 nr.2maestosob-dur
prélude in g-mollop.23 nr.5alla marciag-moll2013
1905 debussysuite bergamasque - clair de lunel.75andante tres expressifdes-dur
1906 albeniziberiabook 11.evocation, allegretto expressivoas-moll
2.el puerto, allegro commododes-dur
3.el corpus en sevilla, allegro graciosofis-moll
1908 debussychildren's cornerl.1131.doctor gradus ad parnassumc-dur2007
2.jimbo's lullabyb-dur
3.serenade for the dolle-dur
4.snow is dancingf-dur2008
5.the little shepherda-dur
6.golliwog's cake walkes-dur2008
1910 rachmaninoffprélude in gis-mollop.32 nr.12allegrogis-moll2007
1911 rachmaninoffétudes-tableaux in d-mollop.33 nr.5moderatod-moll
1916 calvointermezzo n°2 - lejano azulb-moll
1921 casella11 pezzi infantileop.35 nr.44.bolero, allegro spagnuoloc-dur
1922 shostakovichthree fantastic dancesop.5 nr.1allegretoc-dur
op.5 nr.2andantinog-dur
op.5 nr.3allegrettoc-dur
1931 rachmaninoff
(rimsky-korsakov)
flight of the bumblebeetranscriptionprestoc-dur2021
1932 khachaturiantoccata in es-mollop.11allegra marcatissimoes-moll
1933 shostakovich24 preludesop.34 nr.2allegrettoa-moll2001
op.34 nr.7andantea-dur2001
op.34 nr.13moderatofis-dur2001
op.34 nr.14adagioes-moll2001
op.34 nr.20allegretto furiosoc-moll2001
1935 howe (bach)sheep may safely grazetranscriptionb-dur
1938 prokofievromeo and juliet: ten pieces for pianoop.75 nr.1national dance, allegro giocosod-dur
op.75 nr.4juliet as a young girl, vivacec-dur
op.75 nr.6montagues and capulets, allegro pseantee-moll2007
1953 tscherepninzwölf präludienop.85 nr.9allegrob-dur2007
1959 khachaturiansonatina in c-dur1.allegro giocosoc-dur
2.andante con anima, rubatoc-dur
3.allegro mossoc-dur
useful links
imslp petrucci music library

timeline
bach 1685-1750
scarlatti 1685-1757
c.p.e. bach 1714-1788
haydn 1732-1809
clementi 1752-1832
mozart 1756-1791
beethoven 1770-1827
kuhlau 1786-1832
schubert 1797-1828
mendelssohn
bartholdy
1809-1847
chopin 1810-1849
schumann 1810-1856
liszt 1811-1886
heller 1813-1888
brahms 1833-1897
mussorgski 1839-1881
tschaikowsky 1840-1893
dvorák 1841-1904
grieg 1843-1907
albeniz 1860-1909
macdowell 1860-1908
debussy 1862-1918
rachmaninoff 1873-1943
howe 1882-1964
calvo 1882-1945
casella 1883-1947
prokofiev 1891-1953
korngold 1897-1957
gershwin 1898-1937
tscherepnin 1899-1977
khachaturian 1903-1978
shostakovich 1906-1975