Known most notably for inventing the Nocturne, John Field was highly regarded by many of the early Romantic period composers. But during the last month as I’ve been listening to the entire catalog of work by John Field, I’ve discovered something unexpected that I have thoroughly enjoyed: his piano compositions for 4 hands.
Music Theory Level: 0 / 10
This article requires no prior knowledge of music theory (although some may be used throughout).
To learn about this level system and determine what you should be learning, be sure to check my master guide on learning music theory.
If you aren’t familiar with the term “piano for 4 hands“, it refers to two players sharing the same piano simultaneously. The player on the left plays the lower parts of the music while the player on the right plays the upper parts. The challenge comes in both listening to and playing in sync with the other player.
John Field composed four pieces for piano for 4 hands (try saying that 4 times fast!). What I really love about these pieces is how approachable they are, either as a listener or as a player. There isn’t a ton going on within them. The focus is primarily on the melody.
*Theory Disclaimer*
The form is (for the most part) ABA, with the B sections moving to fairly typical keys. Harmonically, much of these bounce between tonic and dominant. It’s a great way to practice ear training. Or for piano players, transposing these into other keys can be a great way to practice. I could also see the harmony in these being a good starting point for composers to come up with new themes and phrases.
Danse Des Ours
This is probably my favorite of the John Field piano compositions for 4 hands. To me, “Danse Des Ours” shares some similarity to the Nocturnes I mentioned earlier. In particular, listen for the arpeggios an octave above the bass note. Also, while there is still a melody, it feels a little more freeform. Both of these features are common in the Nocturne.
Variations on a Russian Air (Air Russe)
No doubt this piece was influenced by John Field’s time living in Saint Petersburg, Russia. I love this piece because it seems to combine aspects of the Classical period, early Romantic period, and the Russian school of music.
Andante in C Minor
This one feels a like it is a little more from the late Classical period than it is the early Romantic period. The form is fairly structured: minor key theme with a relative major contrasting section. Regardless, it still a beautiful (and to me, slightly haunting) melody. I could see this being a great piece to put in a music box.
Grande Valse En Forme De Rondeau
Finally, we end with the Grand Waltz. Truthfully, this is my least favorite on this list (although I still enjoy it). It doesn’t have the same softness that I love in a lot of John Field’s other music.
This particular video also shows how a piano piece for 4 hands should be performed. You can see and hear the challenges in playing together on the same instrument. But the performers do very well.
Final Thoughts
These piano pieces for 4 hands were kind of an unexpected find from the John Field collection. They are not complex enough to be overwhelming, but still have enough to be musical and exciting. I could see these being really fun to play either with some you just love performing with or perhaps as a student/teacher dynamic.
There is one other piece that I was unable to find audio or video for: the Rondo for Piano 4 hands in G Major (H43). If you know somewhere we can listen to this piece, please share it with us in the comments below.
What are your thoughts on these pieces? Share your thoughts (and perhaps other pieces for 4 hands that you love) in the comments below.
