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!

Playlist

Recommended classical masterpieces for autumn
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Nocturne No. 15 in F minor, Op. 55 No. 1Frederic Chopin		Chopin’s wistfully beautiful nocturne
2	The Seasons, Op. 37b – October: Autumn SongPyotr Tchaikovsky		Tchaikovsky The Seasons: Autumn Song
3	Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 “Moonlight,” First MovementLudwig van Beethoven		The first movement of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata is sad and beautiful.
4	September (from Das Jahr)Fanny Mendelssohn		“September: At the River” from “Das Jahr,” the representative work of Mendelssohn’s sister
5	Variations on AkatomboMiyake Haruna		Five variations on the melody of Akatombo
6	The Maiden with Flaxen HairClaude Debussy		Debussy's The Girl with the Flaxen Hair
7	Gnossiennes No. 1 in Three PartsÉric Satie		Introduction to Satie’s Gnossienne No. 1
8	Autumn over the four seasonsAntonio Vivaldi		Vivaldi’s Autumn is in three movements and portrays a harvest festival and a hunt.
9	From the four seasons: “Autumn”Joseph Haydn		Feeling the seasons shift with Haydn's The Seasons
10	Liebesträume No. 3Franz Liszt		Liszt’s Liebestraum No. 3, with an emotionally rich melody
11	Piano Sonata No. 14 “Moonlight”Ludwig van Beethoven		An explanation of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata
12	November StepsTakemitsu Tōru		Toru Takemitsu’s fusion works for biwa, shakuhachi, and orchestra
13	Préludes, Book II, No. 2 “Dead Leaves”Claude Debussy		Debussy’s Prelude “Dead Leaves” is a masterpiece that expresses the melancholy of autumn.
14	No. 10 in F minor, Op. 213 “In Autumn”Joseph Joachim Raff		Introduction to the Swiss composer Raff in autumn
15	September from Four Last SongsRichard Strauss		Strauss’s autumn song “September”
16	Autumn from “Folk Songs of the Four Seasons”Ralph Vaughan Williams		Choral works composed by Williams in his folk song research
17	Suite bergamasque, No. 3: Clair de LuneClaude Debussy		Debussy’s Clair de lune, dreamy and beautiful
18	Kinderszenen, Op. 15, No. 7: “Träumerei”Robert Schumann		Schumann’s “Träumerei” is a masterpiece with a beautiful melody.
19	“The Four Seasons” — 12 Characteristic Pieces, Op. 37bis: October, “Autumn Song”Pyotr Tchaikovsky		Tchaikovsky's Autumn Song
20	Autumn GardenEinojuhani Rautavaara		Rautavaara’s representative work, Autumn Gardens, by the Finnish composer
21	La CampanellaFranz Liszt		The allure and performance of Liszt’s masterpiece La Campanella
22	The TypewriterLeroy Anderson		A lighthearted famous piece that turns the typewriter into a musical instrument
23	The Planets (suite)Gustav Holst		Holst’s suite The Planets is a masterpiece of seven pieces
24	Symphony No. 9, From the New World, Fourth MovementAntonín Dvořák		Beginner’s guide to Dvořák’s symphonies
25	Symphony No. 7Ludwig van Beethoven		The Appeal and Characteristics of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7
26	Viola Concerto in G majorGeorg Philipp Telemann		The viola is a larger and lower-pitched instrument than the violin.
27	Peter and the WolfSergei Prokofiev		A musical work for children composed by Prokofiev
28	BoleroMaurice Ravel		The Characteristics and Appeal of Ravel’s Boléro
29	Overture “1812”Pyotr Tchaikovsky		The sound of cannons depicting Napoleon’s expedition
30	Piano Quintet in A major, Op. 114, D 667 “Trout” — III. Scherzo: PrestoFranz Schubert		The charm of chamber music like spring
31	String Quartet No. 13, Op. 29, D 804 “Rosamunde,” Movement IIFranz Schubert		Gem-like chamber music works that resonate with the heart
32	String Quartet No. 13, Op. 29, D. 804 “Rosamunde,” Movement IIIFranz Schubert		Masterpieces from the Classical to the Romantic era, graceful melodies
33	“The Four Seasons” – 12 Character Pieces, Op. 37a: October, “Autumn Song”Pyotr Tchaikovsky		Introduction to Tchaikovsky’s The Seasons: Autumn Song
34	Forest of NovemberArnold Bax		Bax's symphonic poem November Woods
35	Oboe ConcertoWolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Mozart's Oboe Concerto
36	The Sorcerer’s ApprenticeDeyukasu		The Sorcerer's Apprentice orchestral piece
37	String Quartet No. 2, Movement 1Alexander Borodin		A sweet and ephemeral masterpiece for string quartet
38	Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-flat major, D 960 — Movement III: Allegro vivace con delicatezzaFranz Schubert		The profound emotion and beauty of Schubert’s masterpieces
39	Piano Quintet in A major, Op. 114, D. 667 “Trout” — IV. Theme and Variations: AndantinoFranz Schubert		Schubert’s captivating chamber piece “The Trout”
40	Piano Quintet in A major, Op. 114, D 667 “Trout” — V. Finale: Allegro giustoFranz Schubert		Schubert's beautiful string quintet
41	Symphony No. 7 “Unfinished” in B minor, Movement II: Andante con motoFranz Schubert		An orchestral work of deep lyricism and tranquil afterglow
42	Prelude No. 15 in 24 Preludes “Raindrop”Frederic Chopin		Introducing Chopin’s representative work, “Raindrop.”
43	Autumn ThoughtsJules Massenet		A song by Massenet that expresses the emotions of autumn
44	Syncopated ClockLeroy Anderson		Leroy Anderson’s Delightful Clock
45	Dreaming (Träumerei) from Scenes from ChildhoodRobert Schumann		Introducing Schumann’s famous piano piece, Träumerei
46	Autumn from The Four Seasons, Op. 67Alexander Glazunov		Characteristics of Glazunov’s The Seasons “Autumn”
47	Autumn MusicJennifer Higdon		A masterpiece woodwind quintet by Higdon that depicts autumn
48	In the ForestAlbert Ketèlbey		A piano piece that evokes a sun-dappled forest
49	Pavane for a Newborn PrincessCharles-Henry		Elegant music that celebrates the birth of life
50	Erlkönig (arranged by Hector Berlioz)Franz Schubert		The Fate of Parent and Child Painted by the Demon King's Music
51	EARTHMuramatsu Takatsugu		An inspiring piece that plays the beauty of nature
52	HerbstliedFelix Mendelssohn		Mendelssohn’s Autumn Song, portraying the transience of life and hope
53	Waltz of the PuppiesFrederic Chopin		Introduction to Chopin's 'Minute Waltz' (Little Dog Waltz)
54	Symphony No. 9 “With Chorus”Ludwig van Beethoven		Beethoven’s final Symphony No. 9
55	Autumn Moon Over the Calm LakeLü Wencheng		A masterpiece that expresses the Autumn Moon over West Lake through sound
56	Pictures at an ExhibitionModest Mussorgsky		Ravel arranged Mussorgsky’s piano piece
57	Symphonic Poem “Finlandia”Sibelius		Sibelius’s patriotic symphonic poem
58	The Seasons: I. AutumnThea Musgrave		An orchestral work that expresses the severity of autumn through music
59	Variations on “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart		Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star is a French chanson that spread around the world.
60	Suite from the ballet “The Firebird”Igor Stravinsky		Stravinsky’s The Firebird was a source of inspiration for Osamu Tezuka’s works.
61	The Blue and Beautiful DanubeJohann Strauss II		One of Johann Strauss II’s three great waltzes
62	“The Seasons” – 12 Characteristic Pieces, Op. 37bis: October “Autumn Song”Pyotr Tchaikovsky		Recommend Tchaikovsky’s Autumn Song
63	Symphony No. 4 in E-flat major “Romantic”Anton Bruckner		Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 is a masterpiece suitable for beginners
64	Vltava (Moldau)Bedrich Smetana		A Czech masterpiece imbued with Smetana’s patriotism
65	The Carnival of the AnimalsCamille Saint-Saëns		The Carnival of the Animals is a suite by Saint-Saëns.
66	Bergamasque Suite: Clair de LuneClaude Debussy		Introduce Debussy's Clair de Lune
67	Greeting of LoveEdward Elgar		The engagement commemorative piece Elgar gave to his wife
68	Rhapsody in BlueGeorge Gershwin		A composition by Gershwin, a fusion of classical music and jazz
69	CarmenGeorges Bizet		Features and Appeal of Bizet’s Opera Carmen
70	Hallelujah Chorus from “Messiah”Georg Friedrich Händel		Handel's Messiah, singing of the life of the Savior
71	The Fall of the LeafImogen Holst		Composed by Imogen Holst. A cello piece depicting an autumn scene.
72	CanonJohann Pachelbel		Characteristics of Pachelbel’s Canon and Its Use in the Modern Era
73	Symphony No. 5, First Movement “Fate”Ludwig van Beethoven		Beethoven: From Darkness to Light in Fate
74	Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral”Ludwig van Beethoven		The charm of Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony