Beautiful music that is not hard to play

[ptmidwest]

   



Teenagers LOVE Zanarkand!  Thanks!

[bernhard]

Just bumping this thread, so that it does not fall into obscurity.

Elementary:

Alberto Nepomuceno - “Melodia” (“Melody”) – Brazilian composer Nepomuceno (1864 – 1920) wrote this beautiful piece for his little daughter. Although it is meant to be played with the left hand alone (in which case it is of intermediate difficulty), when shared between the hands it becomes easy enough to be tackled by a complete beginner

Intermediate:

Antonio Carlos Gomes – “Mormorio” (“Murmur) – Gomes (1836 – 1896) spend many years in Italy and in his heyday he achieved great fame as an opera composer. Unfortunately fame eluded him in his late years and he died in poverty, being mostly unknown outside Brazil, where he is regarded as a musical hero on a par with the more widely known Villa-Lobos. This beautiful piece follows a very similar scheme to Chopin’s Etude Op. 25 no. 1 to which it could serve as preparation.

Advanced:

Fausto Zosne (1873 – 906) “Pineapple”- If you like ragtime and syncopated rhythms, this is for you. This is Brazilian Salon music of the end of the 19th century. Surprisingly difficult to get the rhythm right. Great fun!

You can listen to all three pieces, as well as get the free scores in this site:

https://paginas.terra.com.br/lazer/bvm/scores/melodia_nepomuceno_a.htm
(lots of very interesting music there!)

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[silverpeal]

Adding some of my favorites.  (I'm essentially a beginner pianist and I've greatly loved playing these.)

Catherine Rollin (publishes through Alfred)

Spotlight on Baroque
Spotlight on Classical
Spotlight on Romantic
Spotlight on Impressionism


There is a wealth of beautiful music in this series that sounds harder than it is and is a joy to play.  Her Impressionism book, especially, is a gem.  It's great to be able to play this style of music at the early intermediate/ intermediate level.  Each book features original music composed by Rollin in the style of various periods.

For even easier music, check out her:

"Pathways to Artistry" series  Repertoire Books 1 and 2 (there are companion Technique books)  These are geared toward the late elementary to early intermediate student.  My niece loves her "Tic Toc Musette."

For some showy, dramatic pieces also on the intermediate level there is:
"The New Virtuoso"


Timothy Brown "From Far Away Places" - early intermediate collection of pieces that each have a unique atmosphere or mood.

"Waltz of the Vampires" by Carol Matz 

[bernhard]

Just bumping this thread, so that it does not fall into obscurity.


Elementary-

Zita Bruzaite - “Dedication to cloud” This is an atmospheric piece, slightly reminiscent of Debussy. It is quite difficult to find quality elementary repertory for this kind of music, so this is a real find. Zita is a Lithuanian composer, and you can get the score for this piece on this site:

https://www.mic.lt/index2.html
(click on scores on the left, and then use the search feature for Zita Bruzaite.

There are some really interesting pieces on this site, but very few are free. I have not ordered any so far, so I do not know how reliable the posting is. Let us know if you try to order something from this site.

Intermediate – Ludovico Einaudi “Nefeli” (Ricordi). Italian minimalist composer Einaudi, has produced quite a bit of calm and melodic pleasant music. This is excellent stuff for adult beginners who would like to play some pieces that, well, sound like real pieces. Nefeli is in Einaudi’s CD “Eden Roc”.

Advanced – J. S. Bach “Sinfonia no. 11 in G minor”. My favourite amongst the sinfonias, this, lyrical and tranquil piece has an excruciatingly beautiful subject. I just cannot get enough of it. It has been recorded several times (Glenn Gould, Angela Hewitt, Andras Schiff, etc.)

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[jehangircama]

intermediate/advanced: Chopin Waltz posthmous in E minor and Fantasie Impromptu opus 66 also Brahm's intermezzo in A major

[bernhard]

A few more

Elementary – Felix Swinstead – “In the Bay” – Beautiful atmospheric piece with lush harmonies that imitates the movement of the waves (to my ears at least). Although a beginner’s piece, it sounds far more advanced. My copy is part of a collection: “mOre Romantic pieces for piano” (ABRSM – edited by Lionel Salter).

Intermediate – J. C. F. Bach – “Allegretto in F” – A most delightful piece that is also a very good introduction to post-Baroque ornamentation. Without the ornaments the piece is elementary. As usual with the pieces I have been posting, this one sounds far more advanced and difficult than it actually is (around grade 5). It is no. 6 on this collection: J.C.F. Bach (Musical leisure Hours – ABRSM – Easier piano pieces no. 45 – Edited by Timothy Roberts – Many gems in this superb collection).

Advanced –  Max Reger: “ Con moto”. An evocative tone poem  (from “Dreaming at the Fireside” Op. 143 – a collection of 12 lyrical pieces of moderate difficulty, most only two pages long). Markus Pawlik has recorded it for Naxos.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[dss]

This is amazing and really is simple to play, I think.

I searched Hi and low for a midi file last night and could not find any.
Anyone have one I could download.
Does not have to be complete or have a great sound, just want to make sure I am playing this thing right.

On a side note, Schumann's Album for the Young comes up often in discussions. Anyone that knows of a good CD edition, that would also be helpful.

The CD I have is a Berlin Classics import and the  performer is Norman Shetler.  It was purchased through Amazon.ca which has "listen to samples".   Amazon.com has it also, but with this particular CD does not allow a "listen to samples".  I don't know if this is the best CD but I found it helpful learning #28-Erinnerung.  The RCM had this in a Grade 8 Repertoire album. 

[burstroman]

Hi,  The 3 Posthumous Etudes by Chopin  (Intermediate)
      #2 of the Danzas Argentinas by Alberto Ginastera (Intermediate)
      Nocturnes by Satie (Intermediate)
      Romance  (1848) Liszt (Intermediate)

[llamaman]

There is a brilliant Chopin valse (A Minor) that is grade 6 RCM, that I'm learning right now. I had to do some searching to find the music though. Once I get it recorded I will upload it.

[chadefa1]

Alan Hovhaness – “Sleeping Cat” – Hauntingly beautiful piece – extremely easy (grade 1 ABRSM)

Extremely easy sounds appropriate for me but I can unfortunately not find any sample of it whatsoever. Would anyone know where to find a midi, or any kind of recording of it? I guess I should just buy the CD and let myself be surprised, but I would rather get a sense of what it sounds like beforehand (not that I don't trust your good judgement Bernhard... I am very happy to have looked for Scarlatti's K.32 for example!).

Thank you beforehand and best,
Thomas

[silverpeal]

Dropping by to add the piece I'm learning right now. 

"La Caroline" by C. P. E. Bach

It's dramatic, in a minor key, and sounds more difficult than it is.  I have my copy in a book my teacher suggested I buy: EASY CLASSICS TO MODERNS Vol. 17 Edited by Denes Agay.  All of the pieces in this book are in their original form.  Has anyone else used this?  Is it considered a "reputable" book?  I could have sworn I read somewhere that the pieces in this book are grade 3 but don't quote me on that. 

I adore the piece; it's been a huge practice motivation.  It is also available for download (for $2.95) from https://www.musicnotes.com  Go to the classical piano section and do a search for La Caroline in the title field and it will come up.

[c18cont]

Friends,

LOVE this thread, but not one to post as I have forgotten much, and must re-direct my repertorie. listings again........Keep these coming...!

John

[bernhard]

Time to give this thread another bump .

Elementary –  Malcolm Arnold – No. 5 of his “Eight children pieces” – highly melodic, yet contemporary in style and harmony. Sounds far more difficult than it actually is and in spite of the title (“children pieces”) it has definitely grown-up sensibilities. It has been recorded by Benjamin Frith for Decca (“Malcolm Arnold – Complete solo piano music”)

Intermediate – Shostakovitch – “Lullaby” – A beautiful, lyrical piece with a calm part followed by a more nervous section (did the baby wake up?) and a return to the calm first part. My copy is from a collection of pieces originally from ballets and dances, and which Shostakovitch simplified and transcribed for piano : Shostakovitch: “Easy Pieces for the Piano (Schirmer – edited by Joseph Prostakov). This collection has several excellent pieces of intermediate level. Highly recommended. Rimma Bobritskaia recorded several of them (including the Lullaby) for Le Chant du Monde.

Granados: “Dedication” – Martin Jones has recorded it for Nimbus.

Advanced –  Max Reger: “Larghetto”. An evocative tone poem  (from “Dreaming at the Fireside” Op. 143 – a collection of 12 lyrical pieces of moderate difficulty, most only two pages long). Markus Pawlik has recorded it for Naxos.



Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[burstroman]

Satie: Nocturnes
Bach, W.F., short pieces
Bach, K.P.E., Sonatas and Fantasias
Field, Nocturnes

[tompilk]

   



Teenagers LOVE Zanarkand! Thanks!

Too true. Everybody likes it, and for a computer game piece, it is beautiful...

[silverpeal]

Just thought I'd add a few more of my own recent discoveries from the Baroque era:

Domenico Scarlatti:
Intermediate -

"Sonata in Aria Style" K. 32  L. 423 - very lovely, slightly haunting piece in D minor

"Sonata K. 391; L. 79 - bright, sparkling piece

Both are published in the Alfred "Essential Keyboard Repertoire" Vol. 2" book (can be purchased with or without CD)


Baldasarre Galuppi
Intermediate -

"Sonata in A Major" -  wonderful piece in sonata form with interesting modulations and nice room for ornamentation

This is published in Alfred's "The Baroque Spirit" Book 1 and CD


Francis Couperin
Intermediate -

"Carnival Scene" - delightful folksong type piece in C Major with a catch melody.  Easy piece to get up to speed for students that might have a hard time playing at fast tempos.

[infectedmushroom]

Godard Etude Melodiques Op. 149, "Gavotte Parisienne".


Technically not that hard, though, musically it is quite hard imo.



Here is a recording of it, really worth to listen!

https://rapidshare.de/files/20426964/06_-_Etudes_melodiques__Op149_-_Gavotte_parisienne.mp3.html

[tanman]

surprisingly no one mentioned Traumerei

[concerto_love]

I dunno there so much beautiful piece here, waooo 

[tanman]

this is definitly a good change from those "hardest, most difficult" threads

[cjsm]

Dropping by to add the piece I'm learning right now. 

"La Caroline" by C. P. E. Bach

It's dramatic, in a minor key, and sounds more difficult than it is.  I have my copy in a book my teacher suggested I buy: EASY CLASSICS TO MODERNS Vol. 17 Edited by Denes Agay.  All of the pieces in this book are in their original form.  Has anyone else used this?  Is it considered a "reputable" book? 

La Caroline is a very famous piece by C.P.E. Bach, and like you say, an excellent piece.

Easy Classics to Modern by Denes Agay is a well known piano book.  I used it in college in the 70s.  Denes Agay has edited many widely used piano books.  The Classics to Modern series has many volumes in it, and he also edited many of the the well known Joy books, e.g. Joy of Baroque, Joy of Modern, Joy of Chopin, etc. etc.

I own many books by Mr. Agay, and I have to say, Easy Classics to Modern, (the red one, there is also a blue one called More Easy Classics to Modern) is my favorite book of the series.  Mainly because its ratio of pieces I like vs pieces I don't  is so high.  There are scores of great miniatures in that book.  Play through the book and you'll discover gems all over the place.   Of course, I don't like everything in the book, but about a third of the pieces in there are on my favorites list, which is a higher ratio then most compilations.

Some favorites:

Toccatina p. 140 and Prelude p.142 by Kabalevsky. (most of the other Kabalevsky pieces in the book I don't care for.)

3rd Miniature of Bartok, p. 156.

Scherzo, by Hadyn, p. 39

All the other pieces by C.P.E Bach I also like, Allegro, p. 25, Scherzo, p.28,  Andante p.30, and Minuet p. 32

Burleske, by Leopold Mozart, p. 22

Little Prelude in F, p.22, and March p. 16, by J.S. Bach

Gavotte and Variation by Handel, p. 18

Trumpet Tune, by Purcell, p. 6

Bourree, p. 8, and Minuet p.9 by Teleman.

Sonatina by Clementi, p. 66, especially 2nd and 3rd movements.

Presto, p. 31, and Rondo p.40 by Mozart.

Gavotte p. 32 by Dandrieu (very easy)

Four Landlers by Schubert p.74

Peasant Song by Mendelssohn, p.81

The Clock, by Kullak p. 85

And Old Romance, by Heller, p. 96

German Song, p.108, by Tchaikovsky

Lullaby p. 60, by Kirnberger

Of course, I also like many other pieces in the book, but those are some of my favorites.

[db05]

Wow thanks for resurrecting this thread. Very nice. 

[sissco]

......

I own many books by Mr. Agay, and I have to say, Easy Classics to Modern, (the red one, there is also a blue one called More Easy Classics to Modern) is my favorite book of the series.  Mainly because its ratio of pieces I like vs pieces I don't  is so high.  There are scores of great miniatures in that book.  Play through the book and you'll discover gems all over the place.   Of course, I don't like everything in the book, but about a third of the pieces in there are on my favorites list, which is a higher ratio then most compilations.

.....

hi cjsm,

I have volume 77 of this serie: Classics to Moderns Themes & Variation. I am very interested in the rest of this serie. Is there a site where all volumes are listed?

[remy]

Check out the simple, elegant loveliness of the Largo by Alfredo D'Asdia (1871-1949).

You can download the sheets at D'Asdia's great-grandson's site:

https://alfredodasdia.blogspot.com/


remy

[cjsm]

hi cjsm,

I have volume 77 of this serie: Classics to Moderns Themes & Variation. I am very interested in the rest of this serie. Is there a site where all volumes are listed?

Amazon has quite a few, though some are only availabe used.  Sheet Music Plus has a small selection.  Many of the Classics to Modern series and the Joy books are out of print, since many originally came out in the sixties and seventies.   For good deals on them, search ebay songbooks.  I got an almost new copy of Easy Classics to Modern, (as well as a like new copy of Classics to Modern, Early Advanced) off ebay, as my old copy was falling apart. 

[jaypiano]

Musica callada of Mompou

[shaksu]

Federico Mompou's music is definitely worth of mention in this thread. It's minimal, simple, yet always melodic and touching. Canciones y Danzas (No.1-12) well deserve to be given a try. I can recommend Aldo Ciccolini's recording in EMI Classics. My favourites are No.1,5,6,7,8. Sheet Music published by Salabert, also available in Amazon is the Hal-Leonard publishing.

[xpjamiexd]

Try some of Chopin's 24 Preludes. Particularly Nos. 7 (simple), 13(intermidiate) and 15(Intermidiate)

https://imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/8/83/IMSLP00485-Chopin_-_Preludes__Op_28.pdf

[concerto_love]

Geez, just asking... Is anybody know about any beautiful but easy duet pieces..? 

[bernhard]

Geez, just asking... Is anybody know about any beautiful but easy duet pieces..? 

Have a look here:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2428.msg20981.html#msg20981
(four hand repertory)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,634.msg36632.html#msg36632
(6 hands repertory)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,5639.msg54695.html#msg54695
(2 piano repertory)

Best wishes,
Bernhard

[concerto_love]

Thank you, bernhard. it's really helping 

[camstrings]

Book titled Joy of Baroque has some good easy pieces; not all of them joyful however.

[jehangircama]

bumping.....

i don't think debussy's arabesques have been mentioned yet...also, there's a really nice valse by sibelius which was in the trinity grade 5 syllabus some years ago.

[antichrist]

Balakirev - Islamey
beethoven - fur elise
alkan - comme_le_vent
liszt - many easy pieces he wrote
beethoven - moonlight First movement
Sorabji - OC

[tds]

Balakirev - Islamey
beethoven - fur elise
alkan - comme_le_vent
liszt - many easy pieces he wrote
beethoven - moonlight First movement
Sorabji - OC

  this gotta be the worstest post in the history of ps.com

[pies]

liszt - many easy pieces he wrote

songs, not pieces. 

[antichrist]

songs, not pieces. 

pieces not songs, he's asking about piano not vocal

[jehangircama]

also- pachelbel canon in D, if it hasn't been mentioned yet and Albeniz 'Tango' from his suite 'Espana'

[kevinatcausa]

To toss a couple of my own favorites out there, roughly arranged in order of difficulty (edited to add a bit more information on the pieces):

Handel: Sarabande from his Suite #11 for Keyboard in D Minor, HWV 437.  A stately dance in 3/4 time with two variations.  You may know it as the theme to Barry Lyndon.

Schumann: Mignon, #35 from his Album for the Young (page 39 of the IMSLP score available here.  A slow and tender (as Schumann marks it) piece with plenty of opportunities for expression.

Bach: Prelude in C Minor, BWV 934 from his Little Preludes.  (score)  A lovely intermediate piece that can take on a variety of different characters depending on the speed at which you play it, from slow and elegant piece to a lively dance.  

Grieg: A King Ruled in the East and The Song of Siri-Dale (#3 and #4 from his 19 Norwegian Folk Tunes, Op. 66, score)  Both of these are very short (less than a minute) arrangements, which start simply and end up with some interesting harmonies.  The former is somewhat easier than the latter.  

Bach-Busoni: Nun komm', der Heiden Heiland and Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ (#3 and #5 from Busoni's Ten Chorale Preludes transcribed for piano, available from IMSLP).  Both of these are transcriptions of pieces originally written for Organ.  For both of them the challenge is not so much hitting the notes (though there is an awkward measure or two for the right hand near the end of "Nun komm...'") as balancing and bringing out the voices.  

I'd also like to second the earlier recommendations for Debussy's Children's Corner (esp. #5, The Little Shepherd) and Heller's Op. 47 # 23.  

[burstroman]

Most of Erik Satie's works are accessible for intermediate students.
The Suite "New and Old" by Wallingford Riegger.
Germaine Tailleferre has a set of pieces which are delightful.  The title is something like "The Flowers of France" (Les Fleurs de France) +/-.
Some of the Preludes by Liadov are intermediate.

[magio]

HERE IS MY ULTIMATE BEAUTIFUL PIANO MUSIC LIST!!!!
1)Alkan
"Barcarolle" Opus 65 No 6
"Alleluia" Opus 25
"Scherzo Diabolico" Opus 39 No 3
"Concerto for solo piano" 3rd movement
2)Beethoven
"Sonata Pathetique" Opus 13 No 8
3)Chopin
"Ocean Etude" Opus 25 No 12
4)Glinka
"Nocturne Eb Minor"
5)Gluck / Sgambati - "Melody From Orfeo"
6)Granados
"2 Danzas Españolas" Opus 37 No 2
7)Liszt
a-"Un Sospiro" S144 No 3
b-"Consolation" S172 No 3
c-"Liebestraum" S/G541 No 3
d-"Transcendental Etude Vision" S139 No 6
8)Lyadov
"Three Pieces Prelude in B minor" Opus 11 No 1
9)Rachmaninoff
a-"Barcarolle" Opus 11 No 1
b-"Moment Musical" Opus 16 No 4
c-"Prelude in g minor" Opus 23 No 5
d-"Prelude in c sharp minor" Opus 3 No 2
10)Ravel
"Miroirs" C43 No 3
11)Scarlatti
"Sonata in f minor" K466
12)Schubert
a-"Impromptu in G flat major" D899 No 3"
b-by Liszt"Gretchen am spinnrade"
 

[thinkgreenlovepiano]

Dropping by to add the piece I'm learning right now. 

"La Caroline" by C. P. E. Bach

It's dramatic, in a minor key, and sounds more difficult than it is.  I have my copy in a book my teacher suggested I buy: EASY CLASSICS TO MODERNS Vol. 17 Edited by Denes Agay.  All of the pieces in this book are in their original form.  Has anyone else used this?  Is it considered a "reputable" book?  I could have sworn I read somewhere that the pieces in this book are grade 3 but don't quote me on that. 

I adore the piece; it's been a huge practice motivation.  It is also available for download (for $2.95) from https://www.musicnotes.com  Go to the classical piano section and do a search for La Caroline in the title field and it will come up.

I remember playing this piece before! All the ornaments make it sound complicated but it wasn't so difficult.... It was in my grade 5 RCM book I think. I haven't even looked at the piece in a few years though- but I remember I enjoyed it so much! maybe I'll play it now

It's hard for me to come up with pieces that are not hard to play because I can't really remember how long it took me to learn them... every piece is so difficult at the beginning! And it depends on a person's level. But maybe Mysterious summer's night, by Kuzmenko. I liked that piece and I don't think it took me so long to figure out... It's not really "beautiful" but I love it! It's mysterious Faure's Romance sans paroles is pretty nice too....

[nearenough]

I second the idea of the Chopin preludes. Many are easy (and masterpieces) but in this collection of his Op 28 the sky's the limit as to difficulty. It's forever fun to try them all.

Also Schumann's Kinderscenen which includes "Traumerei."

[ahinton]

I second the idea of the Chopin preludes. Many are easy (and masterpieces) but in this collection of his Op 28 the sky's the limit as to difficulty. It's forever fun to try them all.

They are indeed utterly wonderful, but some of them are by no means easy to bring off well.

Best,

Alistair

[magio]

HERE IS MY IMPROVED ULTIMATE BEAUTIFUL PIANO MUSIC LIST!!!!
1)Alkan
"Barcarolle" Opus 65 No 6
"Alleluia" Opus 25
"Scherzo Diabolico" Opus 39 No 3
"Concerto for solo piano" 3rd movement
2)Beethoven
"Sonata Pathetique" Opus 13 No 8
3)Chopin
"Ocean Etude" Opus 25 No 12
4)Glinka
"Nocturne Eb Minor"
5)Gluck / Sgambati - "Melody From Orfeo"
6)Granados
"2 Danzas Españolas" Opus 37 No 2
7)Liszt
a-"Un Sospiro" S144 No 3
b-"Consolation" S172 No 3
c-"Liebestraum" S/G541 No 3
d-"Transcendental Etude Vision" S139 No 6
8)Lyadov
"Three Pieces Prelude in B minor" Opus 11 No 1
9)Rachmaninoff
a-"Barcarolle" Opus 11 No 1
b-"Moment Musical" Opus 16 No 4
c-"Prelude in g minor" Opus 23 No 5
d-"Prelude in c sharp minor" Opus 3 No 2
10)Ravel
"Miroirs" C43 No 3
11)Scarlatti
"Sonata in f minor" K466
12)Schubert
a-"Impromptu in G flat major" D899 No 3"
b-by Liszt"Gretchen am spinnrade"
13)Schumann
“Kinderszenen” Opus 15 No 1
 

[pianowolfi]

Err...this thread is about pieces that are *not* hard to play....

[kevinatcausa]

I'll bump this thread up with a mention of Richard Wagner and his Album leaf for Fürstin Metternich (In das Album der Fürstin Metternich, WWV 94 .  Score.

Wagner's solo piano music isn't nearly as well known as his operas, but if you try and imagine from his operas what this piece would sound like you probably won't be far off: Intriguing tonality, and moments of swelling strings notes that threaten at times to veer into schmaltz but never quite cross the line. 

[fleetfingers]

I didn't read all of the responses, so this one might have been mentioned already...I just learned Humoresque by Dvorak. It's an easy piece but has such a catchy and likeable melody. My son loves it and says it sounds like a pirate song.

[renger]

Grieg op 43 no 3. Not difficult. A very haunting piece.

The sheetmusic is available at imslp.info

Renger

[ch101]

i really recommend chopin mazurkas and nocturnes. not a lot of technical aspects in those pieces but still melodically beautiful. How about if you take down one mazurka a day and in no time you will be finished the series.     
  some of the nocturnes will be a little tougher, but the results are a simple, easy-yo-play piece that will make people think of the piece as a lot more difficult as it actually is.