Piano Music Recommendations for the Enthused Novice

Interested to hear more classical piano music, but don't know where to begin? This list is for you.

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...the interactive web site of concert pianist Greg Anderson

Piano Music Recommendations for the Enthused Novice

Many people are interested in listening to more piano music but don't know where to begin. After all, there are millions of works composed for the piano, and thousands of pianists who play them! Thankfully, Greg has created a list of recommendations, each of which is linked to a fantastic recording on Amazon.com (a new browser window will open).

 

Greg notes:

I know I will probably offend many serious die-hards with my uncreative list of standards. However, I firmly stand by every work on the list – it was through these pieces that I fell in love with classical music.

To Begin:

Greg Anderson's CD, "On Wings of Song," is filled with satisfying, melodic music for any music listener. Try reading the helpful "Considerations for Listening" while listening to each piece, or further your knowledge with the Program Notes and the extended thoughts on "Ondine."

Mozart

Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466

Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467

Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488

Piano Sonata in A major, K. 311

Beethoven

Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58

Beethoven composed two cadenzas for this work that the performer can chose between. My recommendation (Brendel) plays the more abstract cadenza #2. If you prefer cadenza #1 (the cadenza I play myself), follow this link to a different recommendation.

Piano Sonata in D minor, "The Tempest," Op. 31, No. 2

Piano Sonata in C major, "Waldstein," Op. 53

Piano Sonata in F minor, "Appassionata," Op. 57

Chopin

Any of the four Ballades

Any of the four Scherzos

Andante Spinato and Grand Polonaise

Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11

Liszt

Any of the 12 Transcendental Etudes (Kissin and Berezovsky)

Mephisto Waltz

Brahms

Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15

Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 83

Tchaikovsky

Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23

Rachmaninoff

Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18

Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30

Affectionately dubbed "Rach 3" in the movie "Shine," Martha Argerich performs the shorter of the two cadenzas that Rachmaninoff wrote for the work. This is not the cadenza made famous by the movie. To listen to this cadenza, try this link.

Preludes, Op. 23

Prokofiev

Piano Concerto No. 1 in D-flat major, Op. 10

Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26

10 Pieces for Piano from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75

 

Copyright © 2008 Greg Anderson. All Rights Reserved.

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