As an aspiring pianist, trying your hand at more complex songs enables you to refine your craft. However, some pieces are particularly complex. They are even challenging for professionals to master. We have discussed a few below. See how many you have heard of.
1. La Campanella – Liszt
Franz Liszt is one of the best-known classical composers. The Hungarian pianist is responsible for composing what is considered the most difficult piano piece ever written. Liszt was also a writer and philanthropist, in addition to being a musician. La Campanella is a piece that has been mastered only by a handful of professional musicians in the world.
It is part of a much larger piece, known as the Grandes études de Paganini. ‘Little bell’ is very technical – it includes large jumps of the right hand, having to be played at an incredibly fast tempo. Its dynamic nature makes it very appealing.
2. Gaspard de la Nuit – Ravel
Maurice Ravel is regarded as one of the best French composers. Although he rejected the term, he is classed as an impressionist; a classical musician whose pieces focused on mood.
Most of his pieces are notoriously difficult. But the Gaspard de la Nuit, in our opinion, takes the cake. It consists of three movements, with fast repetitions of the note chords, double note scales from both hands, quick tempos, and superbly isolated hand movements.
Ravel created the Gaspard de la Nuit intending to make it the hardest work ever written, and succeeded.
3. Piano Concerto No. 2 – Bartok
This is another entry by a Hungarian composer. Along with Franz Liszt, Béla Bartók is the most prolific Hungarian classical composer.
Although we have mentioned the second concerto, all three of them are difficult. The second is notoriously contrapuntal. It is so difficult that the New York Philharmonic could not get their way around it in time.
4. Studies for Player Piano – Conlon Nancarrow
Nancarrow is the first Non-European player on our list. He was an American composer from the 20th century. The Studies for Player Piano wasn’t meant for the piano; instead, it’s a piece meant for auto-playing musical instruments. When played on the piano, it becomes exceptionally hard.
5. Opus clavicembalisticum – Sorajbi
Yes, the name of the piece is a mouthful. To some pianists, it is also a tell-tell sign of a difficult composition. One of the reasons it’s so difficult is due to its length. It stretches over 4 hours and consists of 12 different movements. English composer, Sorajbi, famously noted that the last 4 pages of the movement are “cataclysmic and catastrophic”. He’s certainly right, the harmony bites like “nitric acid”, as he says.
6. Etude Op 10 No. 14 – Chopin
Frederick Chopin is regarded as one of the best pianists in the world. The Polish composer stood out from the rest due to his technique and poetic genius. The Etude Op 10 No.14 is lightning fast. You have to be agile when playing it, not even pausing to breathe. What makes it harder is the lightness of touch required and the wide range of hand movements. Many who play it say they feel like their fingers are about to fall off.
7. Piano Sonata No. 29 (Hammerklavier) – Beethoven
You don’t have to be a classical music lover to know who Beethoven is. His Piano Sonata No. 29 is not only difficult, but it’s considered to be one of the most important classical pieces of work ever composed. If that’s not enough, it’s regarded as the greatest piano sonata in history.
Of all of his pieces, it’s Beethoven’s most complicated and intense. It’s quite long, which contributes to its difficulty. The first documented public performance of it was by Franz Lizst, who is also a legend. If you remember, his La Campanella snagged our number 1 spot.
8. Trois mouvements de Petrouchka – Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky is considered to be the most influential composer of the 20th century. His work is so impressive due to how diverse it is.
The three movements from Petrouchka contain a multitude of rapid jumps, tremolos, and glissandi. All of this takes place across two octaves. Many pianists are cautioned before trying it due to how exhausting it is.
9. Piano Concerto No. 3 – Rachmaninoff
Like Stravinsky, Sergei Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer. His work was expressive, having song-like melodies. What makes his Piano Concerto No. 3 so hard to play is due to how expressive it is. It requires that you make large jumps and have an enormous dynamic range. It’s adored by many classical fans, however, as it is an extremely passionate piece.
10. Toccata in C Major Op 7 – Schumann
Robert Schumann was not only a pianist and composer but also an avid musical critic. His keen ear for music led him to produce some of the most technical pieces ever composed. The German pianist was assured a place as one of the greatest pianists in Europe by his teacher early on in his career.
The Toccata in C Major Op 7 is his most complex piece and was composed as such. Its alternating chords, sophisticated contrapuntals, and fast accord octaves in both hands contribute to its rigor.
Final Thoughts
It’s no surprise that the majority of pieces on our list are from some of the most influential pianists in classical music history. La Campanella certainly deserves the number one spot. We believe it is the hardest piece in the world, but some would disagree. It’s all very subjective, so asking someone else what is the hardest piano song to play might give you a different answer. However, most pianists and classical music aficionados can agree that it’s a top contender for the spot.
Trying to learn the entries on our list would certainly be a challenge, but one that is rewarding at the end of the day – even if you don’t master them fully. Just keep in mind that even the New York Philharmonic orchestra had trouble playing Bartok’s Piano Concerto No.2. If you want to give them a listen, however, watch the professionals. There are countless videos of their performances online.