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 (1–10)
Piano Sonata No. 14 “Moonlight”Ludwig van Beethoven
Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No.
14, composed in 1801 and titled “Sonata quasi una fantasia,” is popularly known as the “Moonlight Sonata.” It acquired this nickname from a comment by the German music critic Ludwig Rellstab, though Beethoven himself likely did not intend it.
Beyond Beethoven, there are other classical pieces with “moon” in the title, such as Debussy’s Clair de Lune.
It might be enjoyable to compare different composers’ musical portrayals of the moon.
Gnossiennes No. 1 in Three PartsÉric Satie
The piano piece Gnossiennes was composed by the French composer Erik Satie, known for works such as Gymnopédies.
Satie wrote six pieces under this title, but the especially famous Nos.
1, 2, and 3 are known collectively as the Three Gnossiennes.
Of these, No.
1 is particularly striking for its melancholy atmosphere that evokes feelings of loneliness and unease.
Why not savor this piece while gazing at the falling, colored leaves and indulging in a gentle sense of wistfulness?
Autumn over the four seasonsAntonio Vivaldi
Antonio Vivaldi composed the violin concerto collection The Contest Between Harmony and Invention at the age of 47.
The piece here is the third one in the set commonly known as The Four Seasons, titled Autumn.
While Spring is the most famous, many people have also heard Autumn.
This piece is divided into three movements: the first portrays a harvest festival dance in the countryside, the second depicts the slumbering breaths of the intoxicated, and the third represents a hunt.
You might discover some surprises if you listen through all the movements.
Classic masterpieces recommended for autumn (11–20)
From the four seasons: “Autumn”Joseph Haydn
The oratorio The Seasons by Franz Haydn, an Austrian composer who represents the Classical era.
An oratorio is a musical form that dramatizes a sacred story for soloists, chorus, and orchestra.
The Seasons consists of four parts—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—and includes autumnal scenes such as peasants rejoicing in the grape harvest.
By listening to the entire work, you can experience the shifts in the seasons as Haydn felt them.
Why not savor the changing seasons as you listen—from spring and summer into autumn, and on to the arrival of the cold winter?
November StepsTakemitsu Tōru
The Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu’s November Steps.
Composed for biwa, shakuhachi, and orchestra, this work brought Takemitsu wide international recognition.
It opened a new frontier by fusing Western and traditional Japanese instruments.
The piece was initially titled Water Ring, but the title was changed to one meaning November due to comments that the original evoked a bathtub and because the premiere was to take place in November.
It’s apparently not intended as an autumnal piece, but doesn’t the shakuhachi’s breathy tone somehow sound like the rustling of fallen leaves?
Suite bergamasque, No. 3: Clair de LuneClaude Debussy
Among Claude Debussy’s works, the most famous is Clair de Lune.
It is a dreamlike and beautiful piece that conjures up the image of a moon faintly floating in the quiet night sky and the mysterious space bathed in its light.
Although it is one of the pieces in the piano suite Suite bergamasque, it is often performed on its own, and many adults take up piano inspired by this piece.
While it is not particularly difficult from a technical standpoint, expressing the world of the music is extremely challenging.
Looking at photos of moonlit landscapes to expand your concrete imagery as you play is also recommended!
Kinderszenen, Op. 15, No. 7: “Träumerei”Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann’s “Träumerei” is a dreamlike, exquisitely lyrical piece that makes you swoon.
It is the seventh piece in Scenes from Childhood, Op.
15, a collection written for adults that evokes the spirit of childhood.
The most famous number in the set, it is performed not only on piano but also on violin, cello, flute, and many other instruments, captivating listeners well beyond classical music fans.
You can savor it by listening closely, or play it on the piano and immerse yourself in the beauty of its melody and harmony.
Settle in and enjoy it at leisure on a quiet autumn night.