Uploaded May 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Many pianists actually had a composer side. In fact, nearly all the great pianists of the 19th century were also composers, and pianists also studied composition. This tradition has disappeared over time. This selection has compiled the last examples of this lost tradition.
This selection consists of lesser-known composers and more well-known pianists; and the names here are all professional pianists, they often played other composers in concerts. For this reason, I did not include pianists/composers such as Bartok, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Dohnanyi, Grainger, whose compositions are known and frequently played by other pianists. There are no names such as Scharwenka and Chaminade, who are known for their composition rather than their pianism. Maybe there are a few exceptions, like Godowsky, Bowen or Feinberg but there may be people who don't know their compositions, and these people often played other composers on stage or studio. Some pianists are almost forgotten, but they are important and in my opinion good pianists of their time. I am aware that some compositions are not considered successful or some are just simple virtuosic pieces; however, there are some remarkable successful pieces among them. Some names (eg Kissin's Dodecaphonic Tango) I did not include in the list due to copyright reasons, because the video is blocked.
00:00 Sviatoslav Richter - "Weaving wreaths"
*Composition date 1924, Richter was only 11 years old. Recording 1987, private home recording.
02:11 Shura Cherkassky - Prelude Pathetique
* Composition date 1921, Cherkassky was only 11 years old. Recording 1982
04:45 Dinu Lipatti - Piano Concertino in the Classical Style, Op. 3: II. Adagio molto
* Rec. 1948
09:22 Samson François - "Magies Noires" No. 2
* Rec. 1955
15:59 Glenn Gould - 5 Kleine Stücke
* Rec. 1959, Source of this recording: @Daniel Poulin
18:51 Leopold Godowsky - The Gardens of Buitenzorg from Java Suite
* Rec. 1935.
22:02 Josef Hofmann - Kaleidoskop
* Rec. 1938
26:13 György Cziffra - Ouverture Solennelle
* Rec. 1960s?
30:02 Vladimir Horowitz - Moment Exotique (Danse Excentrique)
* Composition date 1921, Horowitz was 18. Rec. 1930
32:36 Ignaz Friedman - Elle Danse, Op. 10 No. 5
* Rec. 1928.
35:13 Mark Hambourg - Volkslied
* Rec. 1932
37:55 Moriz Rosenthal - Papillons
* Rec. 1930
40:13 Emil von Sauer - Boîte à Musique (Music box)
* Rec. 1940
43:02 Leff Pouishnoff - Musical Box
Rec. 1923
44:11 Ossip Gabrilowitsch - Melody In E Minor, Op. 8
* Rec. 1924
48:54 Alexander Goldenweiser - Prelude from "Contrapuntal Sketches", Book II, Op.12, No.13
* Rec. 1940s, Source of this recording: Lev Lindgren Archive
52:06 Samuil Feinberg - Georgian Song for Piano, Op. 27a No. 1
* Rec. 1950s?
55:02 York Bowen - Berceuse in D Major, Op. 83
* Rec. 1950s?
58:46 Frank Merrick - An Ocean Lullaby
* Rec. ?
1:04:28 Frank La Forge - Romance
* Rec. 1925, Source of this recording: @1fattyfatman
1:07:28 Walter Gieseking - Flute Sonatine, Mov. I Moderato
* W. Gieseking piano, Gustav Scheck flute; Recording 1937
1:12:06 Natalia Janotha - Polish carillon
* Rec. 1904
1:13:11 Alfred Grünfeld - Mazurka No. 4, Op. 20
* Rec. 1913
1:16:06 Louis Diémer - Grande valse de concert in D-Flat Major, Op. 27
* Rec. 1904
1:18:54 Lazare Lévy - Valses
* Rec. 1950
1:26:23 Ignacy Jan Paderewski - Nocturne in B-Flat Major, Op. 16: No. 4,
* Rec. 1911
1:30:41 Raoul Pugno - Sérénade à la lune
* Rec. 1903
1:33:16 Eugen D’Albert - Scherzo in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 16, No. 2
Rec. 1916
1:36:59 John Ogdon - 5 Preludes, No. 1 and 2
Rec. ?
1:41:10 Gunnar Johansen - Toccata in the Phrygian Mode
*Rec.? Source of this recording: @GregNichols1953
Many pianists actually had a composer side. In fact, nearly all the great pianists of the 19th century were also composers, and pianists also studied composition. This tradition has disappeared over time. This selection has compiled the last examples of this lost tradition.
This selection consists of lesser-known composers and more well-known pianists; and the names here are all professional pianists, they often played other composers in concerts. For this reason, I did not include pianists/composers such as Bartok, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Dohnanyi, Grainger, whose compositions are known and frequently played by other pianists. There are no names such as Scharwenka and Chaminade, who are known for their composition rather than their pianism. Maybe there are a few exceptions, like Godowsky, Bowen or Feinberg but there may be people who don't know their compositions, and these people often played other composers on stage or studio. Some pianists are almost forgotten, but they are important and in my opinion good pianists of their time. I am aware that some compositions are not considered successful or some are just simple virtuosic pieces; however, there are some remarkable successful pieces among them. Some names (eg Kissin's Dodecaphonic Tango) I did not include in the list due to copyright reasons, because the video is blocked.
00:00 Sviatoslav Richter - "Weaving wreaths"
*Composition date 1924, Richter was only 11 years old. Recording 1987, private home recording.
02:11 Shura Cherkassky - Prelude Pathetique
* Composition date 1921, Cherkassky was only 11 years old. Recording 1982
04:45 Dinu Lipatti - Piano Concertino in the Classical Style, Op. 3: II. Adagio molto
* Rec. 1948
09:22 Samson François - "Magies Noires" No. 2
* Rec. 1955
15:59 Glenn Gould - 5 Kleine Stücke
* Rec. 1959, Source of this recording: @Daniel Poulin
18:51 Leopold Godowsky - The Gardens of Buitenzorg from Java Suite
* Rec. 1935.
22:02 Josef Hofmann - Kaleidoskop
* Rec. 1938
26:13 György Cziffra - Ouverture Solennelle
* Rec. 1960s?
30:02 Vladimir Horowitz - Moment Exotique (Danse Excentrique)
* Composition date 1921, Horowitz was 18. Rec. 1930
32:36 Ignaz Friedman - Elle Danse, Op. 10 No. 5
* Rec. 1928.
35:13 Mark Hambourg - Volkslied
* Rec. 1932
37:55 Moriz Rosenthal - Papillons
* Rec. 1930
40:13 Emil von Sauer - Boîte à Musique (Music box)
* Rec. 1940
43:02 Leff Pouishnoff - Musical Box
Rec. 1923
44:11 Ossip Gabrilowitsch - Melody In E Minor, Op. 8
* Rec. 1924
48:54 Alexander Goldenweiser - Prelude from "Contrapuntal Sketches", Book II, Op.12, No.13
* Rec. 1940s, Source of this recording: Lev Lindgren Archive
52:06 Samuil Feinberg - Georgian Song for Piano, Op. 27a No. 1
* Rec. 1950s?
55:02 York Bowen - Berceuse in D Major, Op. 83
* Rec. 1950s?
58:46 Frank Merrick - An Ocean Lullaby
* Rec. ?
1:04:28 Frank La Forge - Romance
* Rec. 1925, Source of this recording: @1fattyfatman
1:07:28 Walter Gieseking - Flute Sonatine, Mov. I Moderato
* W. Gieseking piano, Gustav Scheck flute; Recording 1937
1:12:06 Natalia Janotha - Polish carillon
* Rec. 1904
1:13:11 Alfred Grünfeld - Mazurka No. 4, Op. 20
* Rec. 1913
1:16:06 Louis Diémer - Grande valse de concert in D-Flat Major, Op. 27
* Rec. 1904
1:18:54 Lazare Lévy - Valses
* Rec. 1950
1:26:23 Ignacy Jan Paderewski - Nocturne in B-Flat Major, Op. 16: No. 4,
* Rec. 1911
1:30:41 Raoul Pugno - Sérénade à la lune
* Rec. 1903
1:33:16 Eugen D’Albert - Scherzo in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 16, No. 2
Rec. 1916
1:36:59 John Ogdon - 5 Preludes, No. 1 and 2
Rec. ?
1:41:10 Gunnar Johansen - Toccata in the Phrygian Mode
*Rec.? Source of this recording: @GregNichols1953
