The following composers and musicians have all made a significant contribution to the music world, and in particular the piano. This list does not even begin to scratch the surface of the amount of exceptional classical music written for piano, but use it as a starting point for further exploration.

Bach, Johann Sebastian

The Well-Tempered Clavier Books I and II, 48 Preludes and Fugues The Goldberg Variations

Recommended piano recording: Glen Gould, A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations (1954 and 1981)

Recommended harpsichord recording: Bach: Goldberg Variations, Italian Concerto, French Overture/Italian Variations, Igor Kipnis, Harpsichord

Beethoven, Ludwig Van

Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Opus 13, “Pathetique Sonata”

Piano Sonata No. 14 in C# minor, Opus 27, “Moonlight Sonata”

Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Opus 57, “Appassionata Sonata”

Piano Concerto No. 5 in E Major, Opus 73, “Emperor Concerto”

Brahms, Johannes

Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Opus 15

Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Opus 24

Piano Concerto No. 2 in B Major, Opus 83

Chopin, Frederic

Etudes, Opus 10

Etudes, Opus 25

Piano Sonata No. 2 in B minor, Opus 35

Fantasie Impromptu in C# minor, Opus 66

Gershwin, George

Rhapsody in Blue

Concerto in F

Haydn, Franz Josef

Piano Sonata No. 52 in E Major, HO. 16/52

Piano Trios

Recommended recording: Haydn: Complete Piano Trios, Beaux Arts Trio

Liszt, Franz

Piano Sonata in B minor, S.178

Liebestraum Nos. 1, 2, and 3 for piano, S.541

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus

Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, KV467

Piano Concerto No. 27 in B Major, KV595

Rachmaninoff, Sergei

Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Opus 18

Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Opus 30

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Opus 43

Schumann, Robert

Papillons, Opus 2

Carnival, Opus 9

Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich

Piano Concerto No. 1 in B minor, Opus 23

The Seasons, Opus 37b