The 23 Greatest Solo Piano Works

Examine the life of the concert pianist and the extraordinary rigors of this unique profession. Then, trace the history of the harpsichord and see how the piano, capable of a huge sonic range, evolved from its beginnings in 1700 into the modern concert instrument. Review the range of composers and the criteria for the choice of the works you'll study.

As a point of entry to this vastly influential work, learn about the aesthetic of the High Baroque. Define the highly controlled fugue as a "polyphonic" musical form, and the free-form prelude that precedes each fugue in Bach's scheme. Then explore the "well tempered" tuning system and Bach's use of musical genres in his sublime preludes and fugues.

Trace the roots of this iconic work and the circumstances of its creation. Penetrate its complexity by digging into its "concentric" structure. In particular, discover the remarkable "trinities" - successive groups of three variations - and how they serve the larger unity and spiritual meaning of the set. Learn also about Bach's admittedly checkered relationship with the piano.

Mozart single-handedly enlarged the scale, virtuosity, and importance of the piano sonata. Track Mozart's rise as a keyboard prodigy and his transition from the harpsichord to writing music specifically for the piano. Through the great C Minor Sonata, grasp his lyric, operatic use of the piano; rich melodic variety; dynamic contrasts; and expressive extremes.

Learn how Beethoven's relationship with the organ led to the power and sonority of his piano works. In the sonata's opening, see how Beethoven creates a compelling narrative through persistent dissonances and ambiguous harmonies. Witness how the second movement theme and variations achieves a lyrical calm before the darkness of the heart-stopping finale.

Grasp the extraordinary ways in which Beethoven varies the theme, using allusion, humor, and parody. Follow the progression of the three groups of variations, from the first group's cumulative unfolding to the second group's dissociations and contrasts, leading to the final set's movement toward the spirit of Bach and concluding in a transcendent peace.

Learn about Schubert's struggle with illness, Beethoven's influence, and the importance of song in Schubert's music. In the B-flat Major Sonata, delineate the ravishing melodies that compose the first movement. Savor the melancholy and slow-changing harmonies of the andante, the harmonic flight of the scherzo, and the expressive range of the final rondo.

Delve into the aesthetics of 19th-century Romanticism, its emphasis on self-expression, and its model of the artist-hero. Also glimpse Chopin's painstaking process in the writing of the preludes. Discover the intimacy, ingenuity, and nuance of these exquisite miniatures, as each prelude evokes a single emotional environment.

Chopin's music for the piano was directly impacted by the evolution of the instrument itself. First, study innovations in piano design and grasp the symbiotic relationship between Chopin as pianist and as composer. Then, take apart the musical architecture of the G Minor Ballade, focusing on its unusual structure.

Trace the origins of this landmark of Romanticism in Schumann's fascination with the novels of E. T. A. Hoffman, his anguished courtship of future wife Clara Wieck, and his impulse to create art that fused music, literature, and autobiography. In the eight extraordinary movements of Kreisleriana, consider how Schumann writes a spiritual diary in sound.

Encounter the passionate, demonic figure of Liszt, the ultimate virtuoso-hero, packing concert halls and raising audiences to heights of ecstasy and adulation. Through his Years of Pilgrimage, learn how Liszt redefined what was possible in piano playing, creating musical and pianistic effects that push the limits of the pianist and the instrument.

Here, probe further into the extraordinary life and contribution of Liszt. Follow the events of his trailblazing virtuoso career and his near burnout that led to the introspective period in Weimar that produced the B Minor Sonata. Analyze the large-scale structure of this magisterial work and its metaphoric meaning based in the narrative of Goethe's Faust.

Learn about the defining influences in Brahms's life that shaped his musical destiny. Follow the unfolding of the great Handel Variations in six groups of variations of rich and diverse content, building to the splendorous fugue, a musical creation of majestic power.

Explore Brahms's musical aesthetics. Also note how his personality and self-criticism affected his creative output. Uncover the riches of the six pieces of Opus 118, highlighting the ingenuity of the beautiful Intermezzo in A, the radiant Romance in F, and the masterful final Intermezzo, a movement of "utmost grief and passion."

In the movements of Pictures at an Exhibition, each based on a visual artwork, experience the power and directness of Mussorgsky's non-Western European musical language, from his incarnation of fantastic creatures and comic flights of fancy to the monumental tone painting of The Great Gate of Kiev.

Journey into Debussy's early life as he broke with the musical past. In this extraordinary prelude, study five elements of Debussy's revolutionary style. In particular, observe how he uses "modal" melodies and harmonies, rhythmic fluidity, and tone color to create a magical, otherworldly atmosphere and a nonlinear sense of time.

Begin with reflections on Debussy's personality and artistic influences. In his first book of Préludes, discover the remarkable compositional innovations that allowed him to craft these superlative short pieces. Focus on the storytelling content, ethereal textures, nuance, and harmonic originality of the preludes.

Albéniz's magnum opus for the piano celebrates the culture of the Andalucía region of Spain. Identify the characteristic elements of Andalusian folk music and how Albéniz incorporated them into the lush sonic palette of this work. In compelling excerpts from the 12 pieces of Iberia, hear how the score pulsates with the sounds of voices, bells, guitars, castanets, and Flamenco dancers.

Explore the evolution of the waltz as a popular dance and musical form, and how the Viennese waltz, paradoxically, became a metaphor for both civility and tragedy. Learn about Ravel's creative process and character and the likely personal meaning behind this suite and experience the rich harmonic textures and huge expressive range of these eight pieces.

In this daring, modernist piece, see how Scriabin shapes a musical narrative in which tonal and nontonal music coexist. From the sonata's dissonant opening, follow the interweaving of the first, tonal theme with a lyric, contrasting theme based in a "mystic chord," creating a melodic and harmonic sound outside of traditional tonality.

Rachmaninoff's Études-tableaux combine storytelling content with great pianistic challenges for the performer. As background, explore Rachmaninoff's dual life as a composer and a peerless piano virtuoso. In the Études, see how Rachmaninoff uses virtuoso effects, layered rhythms, and sophisticated harmonies.

In the Sonata no. 7, follow the unfolding of the first movement's two themes, alternating brutal force with quiet rumination. Grasp the expressive content of the second movement, based on Schumann's song "Sadness," and of the explosive finale of this work that demonstrates brilliantly Prokofiev's trademark, machine-like rhythmic drive.

American concert music emerged in the early 20th century as a synthesis of musical types and influences. In this homegrown masterwork, study how Copland used "microtonal" melodies, jazz and ragtime rhythms, and a relentless, machine-age energy to create a dramatically compelling set of variations - a work that is "American" to its core.

Conclude with a lighthearted look at another side of the piano literature: works written by the great composers for amateur pianists. Survey nine iconic piano pieces from Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Rubinstein, Dvorak, and Debussy; the stories behind their writing; and the often amusing ways in which these works have taken root in our culture.