Best of Piano Classics - 50 Famous Pieces - Solo Piano - (ED 9060)

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Rhapsody in Blue’wasn’t entirely positively received by 1920s critics, yet its melange of classical and jazz stylegrounded Gershwin’s reputation as a serious composer – and its jazz influences are what gives the landmark pieceits sultry and indulgent character. The piano version manages to capture the same epic, swirling sense of emotion in the famed original, especially through the gorgeous middle section. Due to the mixture between chords and melody, the flowkey version is best suited to advanced players. The big question: what is a Wonderwall? Noel Gallagher has never answered this, but said it's a "song about an imaginary friend who's gonna come and save you from yourself." 11. No Doubt – Don't Speak (1995)

Schumann’s Kinderszenen are a bittersweet collection of piano miniatures covering themes like games of chase, night-time terrors, bedtime stories and sleep. The most famous, ‘Traumerei’ paints a peaceful musical picture of a child’s dreams. It’s tender and beautifully nostalgic. The splendid music of this fascinating French composer, in many ways ahead of its time, deserves to be far better known – and receives gloriously eloquent advocacy from pianist Clare Hammond. Wonderful music, performed with charm, affection and, when required, fabulous virtuosity, by pianist Mark Viner; a superb follow up to his equally impressive first volume of Chaminade. Clara Schumann was one of the best known pianists of her time, but sadly she moved away from composing, saying " I once believed that I possessed creative talent, but I have given up this idea; a woman must not desire to compose – there has never yet been one able to do it. Should I expect to be the one?". This beautiful piano concerto gives us an idea of her incredible pianism and musical imagination.

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A list of pop classics wouldn't be complete without a song from The Beatles. We could've chosen any of the eight Beatles songs available to learn on flowkey for this article, but something about the melancholy melody of "Yesterday" gives us goosebumps—probably the same thing that makes it the most covered song of all time (according to This Day In Music). This revelatory recording of the Diabelli Variations – Mitsuko Uchida’s first solo album for almost a decade – stands out as a dazzling addition to this work’s rich interpretative history. A superb release. In every issue of Gramophone Editor Martin Cullingford selects 10 of the new releases reviewed as 'Editor's Choice', with one 'Recording of the Month'. Here are all of the solo piano recordings chosen for these accolades in 2022. The broken chord accompaniment in Sting's 1983 megahit is iconic enough on its own, but the way it combines with a relatively simple melody turns "Every Breath You Take" into something truly special. Throughout the introduction and verses, each chord is an added ninth—played as broken chords. This takes a progression that might otherwise sound ordinary and gives it a wistful, yearning edge that fits what have been called the world's most misinterpreted lyrics.

Like the original, our piano cover is especially soothing and minimal, built around simple chords and soft melodies. And the lyrics, perfect for a solo sing-along, are about being there for somebody—in Eilish's case, it's Finneas, her brother and cowriter. What starts sad and contemplative builds into something more upbeat and hopeful. If you're looking to play a song that will take you through a whole range of emotions, this is an excellent choice. Learn piano with flowkey Pianist Paul Wee proves himself a master of these treacherously demanding transcriptions, sweeping aside the technical challenges to present these great works with consummate musicianship. This song is a staple for the first dance at weddings, which is why we have three versions of it available to learn through flowkey: one for weddings, a version with the melody, and a version without the melody specifically arranged for sing-alongs or other instrumental accompaniments. Whichever you choose, the sparks of romance should fly. 2. The Beatles – Yesterday (1965)Alexander Gadjiev – the second-placed pianist at last year’s Chopin Competition – further enhances his reputation with an adventurous and brilliantly played Russian programme. The Well-Tempered Clavier was completely innovative for its day, and it paved the way for composers writing for keyboard instruments for the next few hundred years. Bach wrote the first of the two books that make up his workin 1722, making this one of the earliest pieces on our list. Each of the two books contain 24 Preludes and Fugues (the whole work is sometimes known as ‘The 48’), in each key of the Western scale – and each book opens with a preludein C major, closing with a fugue in B minor. The first time this was performed, Mozart took up the role of soloist – because who could possibly play it better than young Wolfgang himself? The concerto’s final movement is legendary for its shift from a dark and restless mood to an utterly jubilant D Major finale. The young Beethoven is said to have adored this concerto, and kept it in his core piano repertoire. The sonata’s third movement Rondo alla Turca is so popular, it is often played as its own musical entity. The movement imitates the sound of Turkish military bands, which was in vogue with European composers at the time. Really lovely playing from Stephen Hough, who offers us the most beautifully shaped sound, and a vision of Schubert’s music that feels as exploratory as it does rich in understanding of those wonderful works.