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!
- [Masterpiece Classics] A special showcase of gem-like masterpieces so beautiful they’ll move you to tears
- [Autumn Songs] Songs of autumn. Classic tracks and popular favorites you’ll want to listen to in the fall.
- A poignant classic masterpiece. Recommended classical music.
- [Violin] A curated selection of beloved classic masterpieces and popular pieces that continue to be cherished across eras
- Autumn for the Arts: Treasured Piano Pieces | Enjoy Classical Music by Listening and Playing
- Classical Masterpieces: Recommended Works You Should Hear at Least Once
- Cool classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
- Popular classical piano pieces. A collection of masterful performances by Japanese pianists.
- [Orchestra] Introducing famous and popular pieces
- Cello Masterpieces: A comprehensive introduction to exquisite classical works that let you savor its profound timbre
- Mendelssohn’s Masterpieces | Popular Classical Music
- Disney classics to enjoy in a classical arrangement: recommended popular songs
- Today's Classics: Recommended classical music and great performances to listen to today
Recommended Classical Masterpieces for Autumn (41–50)
Forest of NovemberArnold Bax
It may not be widely known unless you’re well-versed in classical or contemporary music, but let me introduce Symphony Poem “November Woods” by the British composer Arnold Bax, whose delicate, romantic style—also infused with influences from Celtic music—has been undergoing a reassessment in recent years.
Composed amid the turmoil of his collapsing marriage and his affair with the British pianist Harriet Cohen, the work interweaves Bax’s own shifting emotions with vivid tone painting that, as mentioned above, reflects his deep knowledge of Celtic culture and conjures the feeling of wandering through the depths of an English forest.
As late autumn arrives, I highly recommend immersing yourself in the world of this piece.
HerbstliedFelix Mendelssohn
Among the works of Felix Mendelssohn, a composer who represents the German Romantic movement of the 19th century, the piece known as a symbol of autumn is “Herbstlied” (Autumn Song).
Published in 1844, this song sets a poem by the poet Karl Klingemann to music, portraying the transience of life through the shifting scenes of autumn while singing of the eternity of love and hope.
Its melody, tinged with quiet melancholy yet imbued with hope, perfectly suits an autumn evening.
Showcasing Mendelssohn’s delicate sensibility, this work is recommended for those who wish to reflect on life while feeling the arrival of autumn.
Waltz of the PuppiesFrederic Chopin
It’s the famous piece composed by Frédéric Chopin, the “poet of the piano,” commonly known as the “Minute Waltz”! Written in the later years of his life, between 1846 and 1848, it’s a short work lasting under two minutes, yet its rhythmic, lively melody is truly striking.
There are probably very few people who have never heard it.
The development of the piece blends the graceful atmosphere of a waltz with the image of a playful puppy scampering about—an achievement that can only be described as the work of a genius.
Many recordings by great pianists and a variety of arrangements exist, so why not make it a refined autumn pastime to explore them, compare the differences, and savor each interpretation?
Prelude No. 15 in 24 Preludes “Raindrop”Frederic Chopin
Frédéric Chopin, a leading composer of the early Romantic era and the “poet of the piano” born in Poland.
Especially in Japan, he remains dearly loved by both listeners and performers, making him an exceptionally popular classical composer.
Beyond his achievements in expanding the possibilities of the piano, his beautifully melancholic melodies continue to captivate Japanese hearts.
The piece introduced here is one of Chopin’s signature works, known in Japan as “Raindrop”: Prelude No.
15 from the 24 Preludes, Op.
28.
As the title suggests, it depicts the sound of falling rain through piano keystrokes, making it an ideal classical work to savor while gazing out the window at the long autumn rains as the heat of midsummer fades.
Autumn ThoughtsJules Massenet
The French composer Jules Massenet was highly acclaimed for his operatic works.
Born in 1842, he wrote more than 30 operas, leaving masterpieces such as Manon and Werther.
His 1888 song Pensée d’automne (Autumn Thought) explores themes of autumnal stillness and melancholy.
Based on a poem by Armand Silvestre, the piece delicately expresses longing for lost love and nostalgia for days gone by.
With a piano accompaniment that lends a sentimental color and vividly evokes autumnal scenes, it is a piece well suited for a quiet, reflective autumn night.
Syncopated ClockLeroy Anderson
This piece was composed in 1946 by Leroy Anderson, an important composer of modern music.
If you play the piano, you may know it as a beginner-friendly piece titled “The Syncopated Clock.” As the title suggests, it’s built around syncopated rhythms: a woodblock mimics the ticking of a clock, an alarm bell rings partway through, and in a witty twist at the end, the clock breaks down.
You can’t help but admire the ingenuity of the idea.
Because it uses syncopation, the rhythm of the clock—which should keep perfect time—slips out of sync, and that subversion is masterful.
On a cool autumn day, it might be nice for the whole family to enjoy some fun classical music together.
Symphony No. 9 “With Chorus”Ludwig van Beethoven
Affectionately known in Japan by the abbreviation “Daiku” (The Ninth), this piece is so beloved that events where everyone sings the Ninth together are held across the country at year’s end.
Symphony No.
9 is the ninth and final symphony Beethoven composed.
Because he included four vocal soloists and a mixed chorus in the final fourth movement, it is also called the “Choral” symphony.
The text uses Schiller’s poem “An die Freude” (Ode to Joy), and its main theme is widely known as the “Ode to Joy.” It premiered in 1824, though Beethoven is said to have aspired since around 1792 to set Schiller’s poem to his own music someday.
