5 inspiring romantic piano pieces to enjoy

Of course there are hundreds of Romantic-style piano pieces to learn. Here we've picked out a selection of our favourites for you.

Brahms – Lullaby 

Most of you will recognise this gorgeous piece. We feature a simplified beginners arrangement inside issue 97. It’s an arrangement that rocks gently in triple time like a slow waltz. Here, Kathryn Stott and Yo Yo Ma play a version for piano and cello: 

 

 

MacDowell – To a Wild Rose 

Featured in issue 71 and in our Play Romantics digital special and our Play Romantics print special 

This is the first piece in MacDowell’s piano suite Woodland Sketches, which dates from 1896. It’s a piece that masters simplicity and tenderness. Take a listen through and you’ll notice how MacDowell always seems to choose the perfect following note; there’s an aura of completeness and satisfaction about it. Listen to the wonderful Chenyin Li: 

 

 

 

Chopin – Prélude Op 28 No 15, ‘Raindrop’

Featured in issue 100 and in our Play Romantics digital special and our Play Romantics print special

According to the not entirely reliable memoirs of Chopin’s lover George Sand, this Prélude was first imagined in a dream where the composer saw himself drown in a lake. Romantic, eh? Don’t let that put you off; put your own story behind the piece! Here's Daniil Trifonov playing the piece: 

 

 

 

Debussy – Clair de lune

Featured in issue 66 and our Play Debussy Special

An iconic piece from Debussy. Clair de lune translates to ‘moonlight’ in French, and what better way to serenade your loved one than to perform this piece in the evening moonlight. Debussy was inspired to compose the piece after reading a French poem written by Paul Verlaine. The poem begins with the line, ‘Your soul is a chosen landscape, where charming masquerades and dancers are promenading.’ If you’re going to learn any piece from this list, Clair de lune must be your number one choice, without a doubt. We love Lang Lang’s performance. 

 

Liszt – Un sospiro

Featured in issue 93 and in our Play Romantics digital special and Play Romantics print special 

A piece considered by many as one of the most beautiful ever composed. It is characterised by an almost ever-present, continuous crossing of hands throughout which creates an uninterrupted flow of music. It begins to breathe towards the end, slowing down with some delightful extended chords. Beautifully played here my Marc-André Hamelin. 

 

Download our Play Romantics digital special to start learning the most romantic pieces ever written, alongside in-depth advice from professional teachers.