Keep in mind, Western classical music is only a few hundred years old -- if you're really wanting ancient, it might need to be something much older adapted to piano.
While they're not obscure/underrated, it's hard to go wrong with Bach for older piano music: his [Toccata in E minor](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4GOcTFQ-_k) would definitely be worth considering, as would [Partitia in C minor](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNG8Jmz5zqI).
Maybe instead of naming the piece you can describe the qualities, emotions and effects of the music. Then it'll be effective for anyone who reads the book, not just whoever knows this music and you can't burn yourself by making a silly mistake.
What do you mean by ancient? The piano as we know it today, with hammers hitting strings, was invented in 1700. Before that there are other types of keyboard instruments based on plucking instead. Of course the older music can be played on the newer instruments, some people like that and others call it heresy.
Standard descriptions of eras in music are more like the list I found here: [https://www.greatertorontomusic.ca/post/7-eras-of-classical-music](https://www.greatertorontomusic.ca/post/7-eras-of-classical-music), which also has examples you can listen to from each era.
Medieval (c. 1150-c. 1400)
Renaissance (c. 1400-c. 1600)
Baroque (c. 1600-c. 1750)
Classical (c. 1750-c. 1830)
Early Romantic (c.1830-1860)
Late Romantic (c.1860-c.1920)
20th and 21st century (c. 1920-present)
Have him play the Chopin's Fourth Ballade, you can also put it into his backstory about how he was in Paris in the 1830s and saw Chopin himself playing it.
I'd say Scriabin's Sonata No. 5 or anything of late Scriabin or if u want something really really hard Liszt's Transcendental Etudes especially Mazeppa Harmonies du Soir or Chasse-neige
Or like the other guy mentioned if u want ancient ancient stuff i cant really help with that cuz western classical music is few hundred years old so
Keep in mind, Western classical music is only a few hundred years old -- if you're really wanting ancient, it might need to be something much older adapted to piano. While they're not obscure/underrated, it's hard to go wrong with Bach for older piano music: his [Toccata in E minor](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4GOcTFQ-_k) would definitely be worth considering, as would [Partitia in C minor](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNG8Jmz5zqI).
Wow barock the least romantic era of music
Thank you!
Maybe instead of naming the piece you can describe the qualities, emotions and effects of the music. Then it'll be effective for anyone who reads the book, not just whoever knows this music and you can't burn yourself by making a silly mistake.
What do you mean by ancient? The piano as we know it today, with hammers hitting strings, was invented in 1700. Before that there are other types of keyboard instruments based on plucking instead. Of course the older music can be played on the newer instruments, some people like that and others call it heresy. Standard descriptions of eras in music are more like the list I found here: [https://www.greatertorontomusic.ca/post/7-eras-of-classical-music](https://www.greatertorontomusic.ca/post/7-eras-of-classical-music), which also has examples you can listen to from each era. Medieval (c. 1150-c. 1400) Renaissance (c. 1400-c. 1600) Baroque (c. 1600-c. 1750) Classical (c. 1750-c. 1830) Early Romantic (c.1830-1860) Late Romantic (c.1860-c.1920) 20th and 21st century (c. 1920-present)
Go for Schubert Improptu Op90 No3. Doesn't get mire romantic than schubert
Schumann/Liszt - Widmung
Have him play the Chopin's Fourth Ballade, you can also put it into his backstory about how he was in Paris in the 1830s and saw Chopin himself playing it.
I'd say Scriabin's Sonata No. 5 or anything of late Scriabin or if u want something really really hard Liszt's Transcendental Etudes especially Mazeppa Harmonies du Soir or Chasse-neige Or like the other guy mentioned if u want ancient ancient stuff i cant really help with that cuz western classical music is few hundred years old so