16 Beautiful Contemporary Piano Solos

16 Beautiful Contemporary Piano Solos

We all know and love (for the most part) the popular classics…

But there are tons of phenomenal contemporary pieces that are right up there.

I’ve compiled a showcase of 16 beautiful contemporary piano solos by 16 different artists–

uplifting, melancholic, blithe, a mix of beautiful piano music.

I’d hesitate to label these works further than ‘contemporary’. After all, what’s in a name?

There is an entire world of music out there that you probably haven’t seen half of.

Videos are below with sheet music if available, of the following pieces:

  • Melodie by Grieg
  • Rocket to the Moon by Jim Brickman
  • At the Ivy Gate by Brian Crain
  • In Flight by Michael Harrison
  • Comptine d’un autre ete by Yann Tiersen
  • Barcarolle by Alkan
  • Oceans by Rob Costlow
  • Far and Away by Philip Wesley
  • China Gates by John Adams
  • River Flows in You by Yiruma
  • Nocturne No 2 by John Field
  • Tango by Albeniz-Godowsky
  • Hope Springs by Roy Todd
  • I Giorni by Ludovico Einaudi
  • Back to Life by Allevi

Enjoy! If you’re looking for more piano solos, take a look at these grand and beautiful solos.

Melodie by Grieg

Sheet Music / Listen

Rocket To The Moon by Jim Brickman

Sheet Music

At The Ivy Gate by Brian Crain

Listen

In Flight by Michael Harrison

Comptine d’un autre été by Yann Tiersen

Sheet Music

Barcarolle by Alkan

Sheet Music / Listen

Oceans by Rob Costlow

Listen

Far and Away by Philip Wesley

Listen

China Gates by John Adams

Sheet Music / Listen

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River Flows in You by Yiruma

Sheet Music / Listen

Nocturne No. 2 by John Field

Sheet Music / Listen

Tango by Albeniz-Godowsky

Sheet Music

Hope Springs by Roy Todd

Sheet Music / Listen

I Giorni by Ludovico Einaudi

Sheet Music / Listen

Back To Life by Allevi

Listen

If you’re looking for more piano music, here are 6 Grand and Beautiful Piano Solos and more contemporary piano solos.

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There are 33 comments below
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Rachel
Rachel
10 years ago

where can I find sheet music for Comptine d’un autre été by Yann Tiersen

Rachel
Rachel
10 years ago
Reply to  Maria

Thank you so much!

Inola
8 years ago
Reply to  Rachel

I learned the piece and it is stunning! this website will download it for you :)

Tilly Parker
8 years ago
Reply to  Rachel

I get all my music off there! You can get anything!

Cristian
Cristian
10 years ago

Thanks for sharing this songs, they all seemed beautiful and uniques. glad to find your blog. Cheers!

Saman Q
Saman Q
10 years ago

These pieces are great specially the one from yann tiersen and Nocturne number 2 by John field was one of the first piano pieces i learnt !! :)

Amanda
Amanda
9 years ago

Where can I find the sheet music for River Flows in by Yiruma? I fell in love with this song!

aubrey
aubrey
8 years ago
Reply to  Amanda

This piece is beautiful, one of my favorites of all time. https://www.dropbox.com/s/t0wzwq224vsjszy/122270848-River-Flows-in-You.pdf

CB
CB
9 years ago

So glad I have found this!

LANNE Jlouis
9 years ago

Merci, j’ai vraiment adoré tous ces morceaux de musique..

Larissa
Larissa
9 years ago

beautiful pieces of music

spam
spam
9 years ago

most of these pieces are really nice.

the only issue i have with a lot of modern piano music is that it’s so samey and plain, it’s advertisement music. all these pieces are very similar harmonically and very unexperimental. that’s not universally a bad thing but it’d be nice to see a bit more ambition from piano composers these days.

would like to clarify i still like them but still…

Luke
Luke
9 years ago
Reply to  spam

I know what you mean, I feel pretty much the same, although these are all nice compositions.

I recommend Nils Frahm; he has a range of more modal/rhythmic overdubbed recordings as well as some beautiful solos which cover a bit more ground harmonically.

Great example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkbf1-cVUuY

Mervin
Mervin
9 years ago

This is really great and awesome stuff!!
much gratitude!!!

Grace
Grace
9 years ago

Great pieces! I like the one by Yann Tiersen too, I like Japanese pieces. And by the way if anyone wants some more suggestions, I VERY highly reccomend each piece listed below. I’m really specific on what I call a “beautiful” melody, and these will make you want to cry, probably. They’re just amazing. Hope you like! Life is Like a Boat – from the anime Bleach Everything – Helen Jane Long Expression – Helen Jane Long Daybreak – Andrew Turner River Flows in You – Yiruma Corpse Bride theme song (yes I know, weird title but beautiful haunting piece)… Read more »

Brian Crain
9 years ago

Thanks for including my song in your list :) I’m happy to know you are listening and telling others.

Anthony C.
Anthony C.
9 years ago
Reply to  Brian Crain

Brian I am dying to see a contemp. piano performance in New England (specifically MA) do you know if you or any other acclaimed pianists are coming to the area at any point for any sort of show? I’m dying to see something

Brian Crain
9 years ago

Thanks so much Grace.

I have sheet music available on my website too. There’s even a free song each month http://briancrain.com/sheet-music/

I sent some sheet music to your email for your personal use. Let me know if you got it.

Brian

M Harman
M Harman
9 years ago

Hello, Thanks so much for posting these pieces. I can’t play and don’t really have time to listen to music on the radio – so my exposure to contemporary music is often limited to television and film soundtracks. It is great that Internet sources such as yours can provide another access entry point to contemporary music outside of the mainstream pop, rock etc. The BBC for example sometimes doesn’t even list in the end-titles the music it has used in documentaries – I have recognised pieces and watched carefully at the end, only to find that no credit is given….

Jack
Jack
9 years ago

I think that ‘Marcia alla turca’ by Mozart should be added to the list, absolutely stunning!

Katie
Katie
9 years ago

Thanks for the list! I have tried a few of these already, and I love them! Brian Crain’s “Moonrise” is also a great song… it has gotten me through some pretty tough times!

Adriele.MR
8 years ago

Thanks a lot!
This post helped me too much.
I’ve found the song I was looking for here. The song is Comptine d’un autre été by Yann Tiersen….Love it :)

Austin
Austin
8 years ago

I know of a classical piece that I think is a pure jewel when it comes to beautiful music. It’s called Auf Flugeln Des Gesanges, arranged by Franz Liszt, and I haven’t found any song more beautiful than this one. Here’s the link, but I warn you, it’s difficult: http://imslp.org/wiki/Mendelssohns_Lieder,_S.547_(Liszt,_Franz)

Download the fifth one from the top. Don’t worry, it’s safe.

Primaldy Aria Wiguna
Primaldy Aria Wiguna
8 years ago

please let me know what’s beautiful song played in this video

dogperson
dogperson
8 years ago

I enjoy John Field, but you might want to know he is considered the father of the nocturne. He was deceased in 1832 so his music is in the public domain and can be downloaded at imslp.com