I suspect the use of pentatonic in classical music is somewhat limited because the the scale itself is limiting due to the number of notes. Even most of the examples mentioned below don't use the pentatonic scale exclusively.
Here's what the AI overview said:
Pentatonic Scale - Music Theory Academy
Pentatonic scales (five-note scales, often avoiding semitones) are used in classical music for folk-like, exotic, or impressionistic textures, frequently by focusing on the piano's black keys. Key examples include Chopin’s Étude Op. 10 No. 5 ("Black Key"), Debussy's La Mer, and Dvořák's String Quartet No. 12 ("American").
This video explains how the pentatonic scale is derived from a major scale:
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Mike George
YouTube • Sep 9, 2025
Key Examples of Pentatonic Scale Usage:
Chopin - Étude in G-flat Major, Op. 10, No. 5 ("Black Key"): The right hand plays almost exclusively on the black keys, creating a Gb major pentatonic scale.
Debussy - "La Mer" or "Voiles": As an Impressionist composer, Debussy used the pentatonic scale to create a timeless, ethereal, or Eastern-influenced sound, particularly in his piano preludes.
Dvořák - String Quartet No. 12 in F major ("American"): Heavily influenced by American folk, the second movement prominently features pentatonic melodic lines.
Grieg - "Morning Mood" from Peer Gynt: The opening melody is based on a simple major pentatonic structure.
Liszt - "Miracle of the Roses" (Die Legende von der Heiligen Elisabeth): Incorporates the scale to reflect Hungarian folk influences.
Puccini - Madame Butterfly: Used extensively to evoke an East Asian atmosphere.
These examples show that while the scale is common in folk music, classical composers adopted it to break away from traditional diatonic harmony, favoring a more open, floating, or rustic sound.
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