Heart and Soul: The Best Piano Music

Looking for some of the best piano music to add to your collection? Look no further than our list of heart and soul-filled tunes!

Classical

Heart and Soul is a popular song written by Hoagy Carmichael and Frank Loesser. The song has been performed by a number of artists over the years, but it was originally written for the 1938 film, Paris Honeymoon. The song has been covered by artists such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Steve Winwood.

Bach – “Prelude and Fugue in C Major”

The “Prelude and Fugue in C Major” is one of the most famous pieces of classical music ever written. It was composed by Johann Sebastian Bach in the early 18th century and is one of the pieces included in his famous “Well-Tempered Clavier” collection. The prelude is a simple, peaceful piece that sets the stage for the fugue, which is a more complex and emotive piece. Together, these two pieces create a beautiful and moving piano composition that has been loved by classical music fans for centuries.

Beethoven – “Für Elise”

One of the most popular pieces of piano music ever written, Beethoven’s “Für Elise” has been a mainstay of piano repertoire for centuries. The piece is actually a Bagatelle in A minor, and was composed in 1810.

Despite its popularity, the piece was actually only published posthumously, in 1867. It is thought that the piece was composed for Elise Barensfeld, a student of Beethoven’s who he was rumored to be in love with.

Whether or not this is true, “Für Elise” remains one of the most beautiful and evocative piano pieces ever written, and continues to be a favorite of pianists and music lovers around the world.

Chopin – “Nocturne in E-flat Major”

Chopin’s “Nocturne in E-flat Major” is one of the composer’s most popular pieces, and has been adapted for a number of different instruments and media. The piece is a favorite of intermediate-level pianists, and its simple, elegant melody has made it a favorite of listeners for generations.

The “Nocturne in E-flat Major” is one of a set of three nocturnes written by Chopin between 1833 and 1837. The piece is in ternary form, with the first section repeated after the second section. The first section features a simple, lyrical melody in the right hand, while the left hand plays a simple accompaniment. The second section features a more complex melodic line in the right hand, supported by a more active accompaniment in the left hand.

The piece is notable for its use of dynamics and rubato (a technique whereby the tempo is slightly altered to create a sense of expressive freedom). These elements give the piece a dreamlike quality which has made it one of Chopin’s most popular works.

Jazz

There are few things as evocative and moving as a great jazz performance. The best jazz is heart-wrenching and soulful, with a touch of improvisation that makes it truly unique. If you’re looking for the best jazz Piano music, look no further than these five pieces.

Dave Brubeck – “Take Five”

“Take Five” is a jazz standard composed by Paul Desmond and originally recorded by the Dave Brubeck Quartet on its 1959 album Time Out. It is in 5/4 time, making it unusual for popular music of its era. It was inspired by Baltimore-based alto saxophonist Paul Desmond’s years of playing in Uberimeter “interval picking” guitar technique. The composition first became a hit on the radio after Brubeck Quartet’s original recording was included in the soundtrack for the 1965 film Alphaville, une étrange aventure de Lemmy Caution.

The melody of “Take Five” has been used in many other songs, including “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore”, “Girl from Ipanema”, and “Pink Panther Theme”.

Thelonious Monk – “Round Midnight”

Thelonious Monk is one of the most iconic and influential jazz pianists of all time. He was known for his unique and unorthodox style, which blended elements of both bebop and stride piano. “Round Midnight” is one of Monk’s most famous tunes, and has been covered by a wide variety of artists over the years.

Bill Evans – “Waltz for Debby”

One of the most influential and celebrated pianists of the 20th century, Bill Evans helped define the art of jazz piano. His style was marked by a deep understanding of harmony and counterpoint, a lyrical approach to improvisation, and a sensitive touch. He first came to prominence as a member of Miles Davis’s legendary Quintet in the late 1950s and went on to enjoy a successful solo career that spanned more than three decades.

Evans was born in 1929 in Plainfield, New Jersey, into a musical family. His father was a Jazz saxophonist and his mother played piano. Evans began studying piano at an early age and by his teens was already performing professionally. In 1947 he entered Southeastern Louisiana University on a music scholarship. After two years he transferred to the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with legendary jazz pianist Teddy Wilson.

In 1955 Evans moved to New York City, where he quickly established himself as a top musician on the city’s bustling jazz scene. He began working with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Chet Baker, Art Blakey, and Miles Davis. In 1959 he joined Davis’s groundbreaking Quintet, which also featured John Coltrane on tenor saxophone, Paul Chambers on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums. This group revolutionized jazz with their groundbreaking recordings Kind of Blue (1959) and Someday My Prince Will Come (1961).

Evans left Davis’s group in 1961 to focus on his own career. He released his debut solo album New Jazz Conceptions that same year. Over the next three decades he would record more than 40 albums as a leader or co-leader. These include such classics as Moon Beams (1962), Conversations with Myself (1963), Waltz for Debby (1964), Blues Alley (1966), Further Conversations with Myself (1967), The Bill Evans Album (1971), Since We Met (1976), You’re Gonna Hear from Me (1977), Winter Sessions (1979), Intuition (1982), Riverside Recordings 1956-1963 box set (1985), Some Other Time: The Lost Session from the Black Forest 1968 live album(2016).

Evans continued to perform and record until his untimely death from pancreatic cancer in 1980 at the age of 51. His sensitive touch and intimate knowledge of harmony continue to influence pianists today.

Pop

Piano music has the ability to evoke a wide range of emotions. It can be exciting, calming, or even romantic. Pop songs tend to be more upbeat and positive, making them perfect for dancing or working out. If you’re looking for the best piano music to get your heart pumping, here are some of our top picks.

Elton John – “Your Song”

“Your Song” is a ballad composed and performed by British musician Elton John with lyrics by his collaborator Bernie Taupin. It originally appeared on John’s self-titled second album (1970). The song was released in the United States in October 1970 as the B-side to “Take Me to the Pilot”. Both received airplay, but “Your Song” was preferred by many radio stations. It became a hit in both the UK and the US, climbing to No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart. In 1998, John’s version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked it No.136 on their list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”. In 2011, Billboard ranked it No.430 on its all-time Hot 100 list. In 2014, after John’s death, Taupin donated all his royalties from the song to charities chosen by Elton John including AIDS research initiatives and cancer treatment centres.

The song has been covered by many artists including Ellie Goulding, Billy Joel, Rod Stewart and Elyar Fox among others.”Your Song” was written at a time when Taupin was living in a basement flat on Milk Wood Road in Brixton while working as an office boy for an advertising agency and struggling to find success as a musician. Taupin had been brought up outside Lincolnshire where he attended school with future ten-times Brit Award winner Sting who would later say “I guess he [Taupin] showed me what you could do with words if you gave them some thought.” Elton booked Taupin into a basement flat in London’s Anchor Street (nowregarded as part of Chinatown) from which he would be evicted seven months later following complaints from neighbours about noise and general bad behaviour.”

Billy Joel – “Piano Man”

Billy Joel is a legendary figure in the world of popular music, and “Piano Man” is one of his most iconic and well-loved songs. The tune was inspired by Joel’s own experiences working as a piano player in a bar, and it perfectly captures the feeling of being a struggling musician trying to make a living. The song has been covered by countless artists over the years, but Joel’s version remains the definitive version.

Adele – “Someone Like You”

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins MBE (/əˈdɛl/; born 5 May 1988) is an English singer-songwriter. After graduating from the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in 2006, Adele was given a recording contract by XL Recordings after a friend posted her demo on Myspace the same year. In 2007, she received the Brit Awards “Critics’ Choice” award and won the BBC Sound of 2008 poll. Her debut album, 19, was released in 2008 to commercial and critical success. It is certified eight times platinum in the UK, and three times platinum in the US. An appearance she made on Saturday Night Live in late 2008 boosted her career in the US. At the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009, Adele won Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “Chasing Pavements”.

“Someone like You” is a song by English singer-songwriter Adele. It was written by Adele and Dan Wilson for her second studio album, 21. It is the second single and final track on the album. The song was inspired by a broken relationship, and lyrically speaks of Adele’s coming to terms with it. Accompanied only by a piano in the song (played by co-writer Wilson), Adele sings about the end of that relationship with her ex-boyfriend: “Never mind, I’ll find someone like you”.

The song received widespread acclaim from music critics, who chose it as one of 21’s best tracks; some named it as one of 2012’s best songs as well. Rolling Stone ranked it number 486 on their list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”. The song won two Grammy Awards at the 54th Grammy Awards: Best Pop Solo Performance and Song of the Year tie with “Rolling in the Deep”.