This page attempts to list the longest non-repetitive piano pieces along with approximate duration. The number of pages their scores cover and their formats are listed where available.
Piece | Composer | Approximate duration | Page count | Page size | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Beatus Vir | Jacob Mashak | 11 hours | 53 (in proportional notation) [1] | A work for two pianos. Premiered by three pianists (including the composer), who played in rotation. [1] | |
The Road | Frederic Rzewski | 10 hours | 539 (manuscript) [2] [3] | Premiered by the composer, Ian Pace and several other pianists. [4] | |
Symphonic Variations for Piano | Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji | 10 hours | 484 (manuscript) [5] | A3 | Variation 56 (of 81) has been recorded by Michael Habermann and performed by Chappell Kingsland. [5] |
100 Transcendental Studies | Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji | 8½ hours | 456 (manuscript) [6] [7] | A3 | The complete cycle of 100 études has been recorded by Fredrik Ullén. [7] [8] The études that have not been performed in public are Nos. 27, 33, 39, 42, 45–48, 51, 53–58, 60–64, 68, 74, 82, 87, 90, 91 and 93. [9] |
Sequentia cyclica super "Dies irae" ex Missa pro defunctis | Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji | 8½ hours | 335 (manuscript) [6] [10] | A3 | Premiered and recorded by Jonathan Powell. [10] |
Piano Sonata No. 5 (Opus archimagicum) | Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji | 6–7 hours | 336 (manuscript) [11] [12] | A3 | Movements 8 and 9 from the 10-movement work have been premiered by Tellef Johnson. [12] |
Inner Cities 1–14 | Alvin Curran | 6 hours | Premiered and recorded by Daan Vandewalle. | ||
November | Dennis Johnson | 6 hours | 6 (manuscript) [13] | Premiered by the composer, recorded by R. Andrew Lee. | |
The Well-Tuned Piano | La Monte Young | 5-6 hours | Premiered and recorded by the composer. [14] | ||
The History of Photography in Sound | Michael Finnissy | 5½ hours | 365 (edition) [15] [16] | A3 | Premiered and recorded by Ian Pace. [15] [17] Performed by Mark Knoop. [18] |
Piano Symphony No. 6 (Symphonia claviensis) | Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji | 4¾ hours | 270 (manuscript) [6] [19] [20] | A3 | Premiered by Jonathan Powell. [19] |
Piano Symphony No. 4 | Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji | 4½ hours | 240 (manuscript) | A3 | Premiered by Reinier van Houdt. [21] [22] [23] |
Opus clavicembalisticum | Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji | 4 hours | 253 (manuscript) [24] [25] | A3 | Premiered by the composer. Performed and recorded by Geoffrey Douglas Madge [n 1] and John Ogdon. [25] Performed by Jonathan Powell, Daan Vandewalle and Hiroaki Ooï. [25] |
Piece | Composer | Approximate duration | Page count | Page size | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
For Clive Barker | Matthew Lee Knowles | 26 hours (1 day 2 hours) | 1,061 (manuscript) [26] [ self-published source? ] | A4 | |
Piano Sonata No. 5 | Maurice Verheul | 7 hours 18 minutes | 441 (manuscript) [27] [ self-published source? ] | ||
Piano Symphony No. 0 | Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji | 5½ hours | 333 (manuscript) [28] | A3 | |
Piano Symphony No. 1 (Tāntrik) | Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji | 4½ hours | 284 (manuscript) [29] | A3 | |
Piano Symphony No. 2 | Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji | 4½ hours | 248 (manuscript) [30] | A3 |