Comments on: Restful whistful piano music like this please...

Question: Restful whistful piano music like this please...

merocet — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:28:26 -0800

Classical Music Filter: Can anyone recommend pieces of classical piano music in a similar style to the Sonatica by Bear McCreary from Battlestar Galactica? I have some Olivier Messiaen stuff in a similar vein but would love more in the same mellow, slightly offkilter and whistful piano style. Thanks!

By: fearfulsymmetry

fearfulsymmetry — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:35:03 -0800

Sounds like McCreary was ahem 'inspired' by Ludvig Vans' Moonlight Sonata

By: fuzzbean

fuzzbean — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:41:24 -0800

Some of Phillip Glass's music is quite similar. Metamorphosis One (I think that's the right number) was used in "Scattered"

By: merocet

merocet — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:54:42 -0800

I'd thought of the Moonlight Sonata but the thing that gets me about this it's just piano and doesn't go as dark or dramatic and thumpy as the Beethoven piece. It just stays whistful rather than miserable! It's much more like some of Messiaen's stuff that I like in that way. There's a longer YT version here so you can see what I mean.

By: Jaltcoh

Jaltcoh — Thu, 08 May 2008 12:59:51 -0800

Satie's Gnossiennes (page with links to mp3s)

Scriabin nocturne (mp3)

the slinky, exotic 2nd movement from Debussy's Estampes (mp3)

Schubert impromptu (mp3)

All those are from this website that has tons of free, public-domain mp3s of classical piano music. Especially look for ones with "minor" in the title. There must be some good ones among the many Chopin nocturnes, for instance.

On preview, if you really want pieces that stay the same the whole time instead of having an arc, it might be hard to find that with classical music. The slow, minor pieces usually get more energetic in the middle. Most pieces by Satie and Arvo Part are usually pretty static, so maybe look into those composers in particular.

By: Marie Mon Dieu

Marie Mon Dieu — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:02:16 -0800

Mr. Mon Dieu, a classical buff, says anything by George Winston.

By: From Bklyn

From Bklyn — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:11:04 -0800

Seconding Satie and adding Chopin's Nocturnes.

By: electric_counterpoint

electric_counterpoint — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:14:40 -0800

Yep. You'll love any of Philip Glass' or Erik Satie's piano works. For Glass, his non-piano works have a different sound (you'll know it when I hear it); so take Jaltcoh's advice and start with Metamorphoses. For Satie, I especially like his Gymnopédies (the first of which I think showed up in Rushmore?)

Oh! And don't miss Arvo Pärt's "Für Alina" very halting, very beautiful.

Also, I've seen similar questions searching for wistful piano music on Ask Mefi. Check back for some good recommendations.

By: electric_counterpoint

electric_counterpoint — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:16:21 -0800

(No, wait, that other Wes Anderson movie, The Royal Tenenbaums. Dag.)

By: Rhaomi

Rhaomi — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:36:12 -0800

If you want piano only:

Chopin - Raindrop Prelude
Clint Mansell - Together We Will Live Forever
Michael Giaccondo - Win One For The Reaper

And if you don't mind a few strings or woodwinds thrown in:

Clint Mansell - The Last Man
Paul Cardall - Embraced
Glover Gill - Ballade 3

By: swordfishtrombones

swordfishtrombones — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:57:50 -0800

What about Craig Armstrong? Sure, he also does fully-orchestrated movie scores, but his Piano Works are excellent.

By: apostrophe

apostrophe — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:38:31 -0800

yeah, that bear mcreary is a total moonlight sonata ripoff. not that that's a bad thing.

By: merocet

merocet — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:48:12 -0800

Thanks everyone. Some great recommendations here some of which I already have and have forgotten about and some of which are new to me and I'll check out.

(And yes I know that the original piece I linked owes a lot to Moonlight Sonata, but it's different in a way that is very appealing to me. I think Jaltcoh nailed the feeling with the use of the word "Slinky". Seems I like slinky ;-)

By: dog food sugar

dog food sugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:56:29 -0800

Debussy's Arabesque #1 is lovely.

By: dog food sugar

dog food sugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:03:22 -0800

Sentimental Walk on the soundtrack to the movie Diva.

By: Zach!

Zach! — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:21:56 -0800

I will have to add the Debussy Preludes, and various things by Ravel. Maybe Ma Mère l'Oye, or Le tombeau de Couperin, or Pavane pour une infante défunte.

By: keith0718

keith0718 — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:19:02 -0800

Seconding Erik Satie, particularly Gymnopedie No. 1

By: saladin

saladin — Fri, 09 May 2008 06:24:51 -0800

Zach! is right about Ravel, I'd recommend his Sonatines (Modere, Mouvement D, Anime).

By: dog food sugar

dog food sugar — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 21:02:27 -0800

The Piano Society link Jaltcoh links is amazing! Some of my finds on there that would fit this thread:

John Cage: In a Landscape - beautiful. Transcendent.
Paul de Senneville: Mariage de Amour
Albeinz: La Vega