Kiss the Rain (Yiruma)
My Performance
About the Piece
Kiss the Rain is a solo piano piece originally composed and released by Yiruma, and it has become one of the most recognizable works in contemporary piano music. Its popularity likely comes from its simplicity and emotional clarity. It doesn’t try to overwhelm the listener, but instead gently draws them in.
In my version, I added strings in the background. While the original piano-only version already feels intimate, the strings add an extra layer of warmth and emotion, making the piece feel more cinematic and expansive.
Why This Piece
What I find most compelling about Kiss the Rain is how simple it sounds on the surface. The melody is clear and straightforward, and the harmonies are familiar. Yet, that simplicity is exactly what makes the piece challenging. There’s nowhere to hide. Every note matters, and every small change in touch or timing affects the overall mood.
To me, this piece feels like music that could sit quietly in the background of a love story, enhancing emotions without demanding attention. It feels reflective, gentle, and deeply personal.
Learning Experience
By the time I started learning this piece, I was already fairly comfortable with more technically demanding music. However, Kiss the Rain taught me a different kind of lesson. The difficulty here wasn’t speed or complexity, but restraint.
There are many moments in this piece where the music asks you to be soft, almost fragile. Maintaining that level of control while keeping the emotional intensity alive was surprisingly difficult. I had to consciously resist the urge to play louder or add unnecessary emphasis, and instead focus on consistency, balance, and touch.
This piece taught me that musical maturity isn’t always about doing more. Sometimes, it’s about knowing when to do less.
Musical Takeaway
Kiss the Rain helped me develop a deeper sense of control, not just technically, but emotionally. It reminded me that expression doesn’t come from showing off, but from staying true to what the music is trying to say.
The piece rewards patience and sensitivity, and learning it changed the way I approach other slow, expressive music as well.
Closing Thoughts
This remains one of my favorite pieces to return to, especially when I want to focus on emotion rather than technique. With its gentle melody and calm atmosphere, Kiss the Rain feels timeless, and it continues to remind me why simplicity, when handled with care, can be incredibly powerful.