Recommended classical masterpieces for autumn
Introducing recommended classical masterpieces that evoke the feeling of autumn!
There are many works in classical music that take the four seasons as their theme.
This time, we’ve picked pieces ranging from those that explicitly focus on “autumn” to those that simply evoke an autumnal mood.
From darker tones to brighter ones, we’ve selected a variety of styles, so you’re sure to find a piece that matches your preferred atmosphere!
We’re also sharing episodes and fun little facts, so if you love classical music, be sure to read to the end!
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Classic Masterpieces Recommended for Autumn (61–70)
“The Seasons” – 12 Characteristic Pieces, Op. 37bis: October “Autumn Song”Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Tchaikovsky, the great composer who has had a profound influence on modern artists.
Tchaikovsky created many masterpieces, but the one I especially recommend is The Seasons – 12 Characteristic Pieces, Op.
37bis: October, “Autumn Song.” This cycle portrays both the lives of ordinary people through the seasons and the seasons themselves.
In this particular piece, the dark melody—imbued with a poignant sense of longing, like autumn’s arrival and the falling of leaves—is especially captivating.
Be sure to check it out.
Symphony No. 4 in E-flat major “Romantic”Anton Bruckner
This work was written by the Austrian composer and organist Anton Bruckner, also known by its subtitle, “Romantic.” Bruckner is often regarded as a composer favored by connoisseurs, as many of his pieces are complex and lengthy.
Among his works, however, the Symphony No.
4 in E-flat major features relatively shorter performance time and approachable melodies, making it a good recommendation for those new to Bruckner.
It is also the piece that helped establish his reputation.
Of course, “short” is relative—its performance time is just under an hour—so settle in on a long autumn evening and give it a careful listen.
Vltava (Moldau)Bedrich Smetana
This is a cycle of symphonic poems composed between 1874 and 1879 by Bedřich Smetana, a leading Czech composer who also took part in the movement for national independence.
Among the works in Má vlast (My Country), the most famous is “Vltava (The Moldau).” Even if you don’t know the piece in detail, you may have at least heard its title.
It begins in a minor key that feels calm yet buoyant; after a while, the strings layer upon one another, creating a solemn sound image that conjures green landscapes and the flow of a river.
It seems to depict the current of the Vltava River itself, and you may sense a certain pastoral nostalgia.
With its brilliant latter half in a major key and its distinct palette of colors, the piece can be called a second national anthem of the Czech Republic, imbued with Smetana’s patriotism.
It is a masterpiece that evokes the beauty of autumnal scenery and invites careful, lingering listening.
The Carnival of the AnimalsCamille Saint-Saëns
Carnival, the so-called carnevale, is originally a religious event held before Lent, but in modern times the term is used more broadly to refer to festivals and annual events that aren’t tied to that background.
Many people probably feel the end of summer and the beginning of autumn by taking part in the Asakusa Samba Carnival, held in Asakusa on the last Saturday of August every year.
A perfect classical piece to listen to at such times is The Carnival of the Animals.
It’s a suite of 14 pieces composed by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns, originally written as chamber music.
It even includes parodies of existing classical works, which makes it great fun.
Personally, I’m reminded of Movement No.
7, Aquarium, which was used in a memorable scene in Nodame Cantabile.
Bergamasque Suite: Clair de LuneClaude Debussy
This is the third piece in Debussy’s Suite bergamasque for solo piano.
It is one of his best-known works and was composed around 1890, when he was still in his twenties.
Drawn to the poem Clair de lune in Paul Verlaine’s collection Fêtes galantes, Debussy first composed a song on the text, and eight years later wrote this solo piano piece.
Gabriel Fauré had earlier set a song titled Clair de lune from the same collection, so it’s enjoyable to compare the two.
