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The first movement of the Webern Variations, op. 27 - and the final variation of the third movement.

And the last of the Schoenberg six little pieces.

Larghetto Chopin's op 11 concerto

Chopin Berceuse Op 57. I love Michelangeli's interpretation - sorry I don't know how to do a link to it. Takes my breath away every time I hear it.

I don't like to narrow things down to THE most this, that or the other but certainly ONE of the most delicate and beautiful pieces I know (I've never heard it but I have played it myself) is Frank Bridge's "Through the Eaves". There is an element of disquiet which disturbs this piece and which raises it above the level of a mere arabesque.
Come to think of it, quite a few British composers of Bridge's generation did "delicate and beautiful" in their piano music, for example Delius' 3 preludes, Bax's "Hill Tune" Holbrooke's "Girgenti" and "April" and "Amberley Wildbrooks" by John Ireland.

You are one of the few people here besides myself who likes those pieces. Schoenberg's Op. 19 #6 is indeed delicate and haunting (funeral bells for Mahler and all that). I must say I am going through an obsession with Webern's Variations at the moment. I didn't love that piece for the longest time (even though I knew all the serial tricks employed). But yes, it's a beautiful piece. One of these days I'll learn it -- and maybe even perform it just before Beethoven's Op. 109 (Gould of course being one of the first to point out the many similarities between the two). Maybe I'll even throw in Brahms's Op. 116 #5 as well (because of its similarities to the first movement of the Webern).

I wrote program notes for a recital that included the Webern, and I described the last variation as one where "the theme is frozen into chordal gestures, and the music seems to magically disappear as we listen to it."

BTW, you might be interested in listening to Jonathan Biss's live recording of the work, which can be downloaded here .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF4sFU9lc5k

Rachmaninov plays Dance of the blessed spirits

Beethoven 5th Piano Concerto "Emperor" 2nd Mvmt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45rmSAMo_Ig

Signifys the glorious years,the power,the glory,the ecstasy.

What coincidence. I had the old Van Cliburn Rachmaninoff 's 2nd and Beethoven's 5th CD running on my computer all day long, and I indeed stopped all activity when he played this movent( adagio un poco mosso). So exquisite. The Emperor concerto is so "popular", I often neglect to listen to it for long periods of time.

How do "power," "glory," and "extasy" that you hear in the second movement of the Beethoven Fifth Piano Concerto equate with "the most delicate"?

Regards,

This is one of those impossible questions, but I am tempted to suggest Mozart's Adagio K356 (K617a), in his late style. Very beautiful. Very delicate.

David Lanz's "Leaves on the Seine"

Keiko Matsui's "Forever Forever"

Regards, JF

Or maybe Schubert's Op 90 No 3. I was reminded of this because Brendel played it on the television last night. Magic.

Oh,golly! How wonderful to comtemplate these pieces you have mentioned here!

I'll add a few significant ones that I love:

To a Water Lily - McDowell
Song - McDowell
Air on a G String - Bach
Intermezzo - A Major - Brahms
Waltz in Ab - Brahms
Sonatas - Scarlatti - in general
Clair de Lune - DeBussy

I realize that often I choose melodies that sound like a cello or the alto voice range for my own personal preferances. These always seem spiritual in nature.

The wonderful things about classical music is that it endures as quality and significance from masters from the early days of keyboard on through.

My list is really short, and music education oriented as toward a student more than a performance major.

Quietude and serenity in music is a joy to me.

Betty

"Danse de Puck" Debussy

Bruce D.
Theres a juxtaposition of powerful and delicate elements in the piece.Theres ecstasy in the trilling of piano crescendos.
I think the most delicate things can in fact contain great power.
Rococo Architecture for example.
Its the power to delight,to enthrall,to emotionally move.

My other selection would be

Schubert Sonata in Bb II Andante sostenuto
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fpQUqwtkAE&feature=related

George Winston, Longing/Love

Ludovico Einaudi, Ancora

Bach -- Goldberg Variations, Aria

Mozart -- Clarinet Concerto, Adagio

Chopin -- Sonata No. 3, Largo

Liszt -- Benediction de Dieu dans la Solitude

Brahms -- Intermezzi, Op. 118, No. 2 and 117 No. 2

Albeniz/Godowsky -- Tango

Rachmaninoff/Volodos -- Andante from Cello Sonata (arranged for piano solo)

Barber -- Sonata, 2nd movement

It has to be Takemitsu's Rain Tree Sketch #2. As in written the tempo - the piece is celestial.

Most of the slow movements in the Beethoven and Mozart sonatas are exquisite.

I'm just starting to learn this piece and spent a long time listening to all of the versions on youtube. I agree with you - Horowitz blows everyone else out of the water. Emil Gilels? I don't think so.