The Verve: "Bittersweet Symphony"

Piano solo renditions of “Bittersweet Symphony” distill the iconic orchestral theme into a graceful, flowing interpretation, where the sweeping strings are reimagined through gentle arpeggios and sustained chords. The piano’s warm tones bring out the song’s melancholic beauty, offering a reflective and introspective take on its themes of struggle and resignation.

This post is part four of the Mild & Mellow Sheet Music Series.
The Verve: "Bittersweet Symphony"

About The Verve:

The Verve is a British alternative rock band formed in 1990 in Wigan, England, known for their lush soundscapes and introspective lyrics. Fronted by singer Richard Ashcroft, the band rose to international fame with their 1997 hit “Bitter Sweet Symphony,” a sweeping, orchestral anthem that became a defining track of the Britpop era. Blending psychedelic rock, shoegaze, and symphonic elements, The Verve crafted emotionally rich music marked by soaring melodies and atmospheric instrumentation. Despite internal tensions and multiple breakups, their influence endures, especially through their critically acclaimed album Urban Hymns.


Video for The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony”:


🎶 “Bittersweet Symphony” Intermediate Piano: Mellow Version

Key features of this version:

  • This piano solo arrangement is a slightly abridged mellow version transposed to the warmer tonal center of E-flat major
  • 7 total pages
  • Includes lyrics
  • Run time is approximately 4:30

🧐 Sheet music sneak peek:


🎶 Looking for other versions of this song?

The versions below are modeled closely after the original recorded version!


🎹 Looking for more Mild & Mellow piano sheet music?


👋 Did I miss one of your favorites? I’m always open to requests so drop me a comment!



Jennifer Eklund
Written by Jennifer Eklund
Jennifer Eklund holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in music from California State University, Long Beach. She is an avid arranger, composer, and author of the Piano Pronto® method books series as well as a wide variety of supplemental songbooks. She is also a Signature Artist with Musicnotes.com with a large catalog of popular music titles for musicians of all levels.

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