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[Baroque Music] A Curated Selection of Timeless Masterpieces and Famous Works
Baroque music, which emerged from the early 17th century to the mid-18th century.
During the Baroque era, when great composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, and George Frideric Handel were active, music was performed mainly at courts and in churches, and was cherished as an aristocratic pleasure beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Here, we present representative works from that era—pieces born in the Baroque period that have continued to be loved across the centuries.
[Baroque Music] A Curated Selection of Timeless Masterpieces and Famous Works (1–10)
Violin Concerto “The Four Seasons”Antonio Vivaldi
Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons is one of the most widely known works of Baroque music, invariably featured in music classes.
More than 300 years after its publication in 1725, this classical masterpiece continues to captivate countless listeners.
The four concertos, which depict spring, summer, autumn, and winter through beautiful melodies, allow us to feel nature’s changes as the seasons pass.
Because the scenes are easy to picture, it’s a work that even those not very familiar with classical music can enjoy comfortably without losing interest.
CanonJohann Pachelbel
Johann Pachelbel’s Canon is a quintessential masterpiece of the Baroque era.
Beloved for its serenity and emotional depth, it has been cherished for generations.
Written for three violins and basso continuo, its steady harmonic progression—known as the “Pachelbel progression” or “canon progression”—has profoundly influenced later composers.
Its impact extends beyond classical music into pop and rock as well.
Many contemporary hits use the canon progression, so if you’re interested, try seeking them out!
Little Fugue in G minor, BWV 578J.S.Bach
The Little Fugue in G minor, BWV 578, is one of the most popular organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach, a leading composer of the Baroque era.
Believed to have been composed in the early 1700s, it captivates listeners across generations with its complex harmonies created through the fugue form, in which the subject is successively taken up by different voices.
The fugue is one of the musical styles frequently employed in Bach’s works.
As it is also a form emblematic of Baroque music, those interested in music of the Baroque period are encouraged to listen while paying attention to how the voices overlap.
Jesu, Joy of Man’s DesiringJ.S.Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” is a church cantata composed in 1723.
Its refined melody and simple harmonic progression make it a moving masterpiece.
While a cantata is a form of vocal music, “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” is so beautiful that it is frequently performed in non-vocal arrangements—such as string ensemble, orchestra, solo piano, or solo violin—and is often used as touching background music at celebratory occasions like weddings.
Air on the G StringJ.S.Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach’s masterpiece “Air on the G String” is a classical gem whose gentle, beautiful melody touches the heart.
Composed between 1717 and 1723, this piece is especially famous in its arrangement for solo violin.
Though technically demanding, its sweet melody captivates many listeners.
With its simple chord progression and a melody rich in long tones and limited motion—without dramatic shifts—it nonetheless evokes profound emotion.
Experience the boundless beauty Bach created.
Suite “Water Music” Suite No. 2, HWV 349Georg Friedrich Händel
Georg Friedrich Handel’s orchestral suite Water Music is one of his signature works, remembered for the anecdote that it was performed while the king took a pleasure cruise.
It comprises 19 pieces across three suites, but the number of movements varies depending on the publication date and the editor, leaving various versions of the score.
Among these suites, the piece most frequently performed today is “Alla Hornpipe,” the second movement of Suite No.
2—a brilliant work that evokes the splendor of a court gathering filled with elegantly dressed nobles.
Trumpet VoluntaryJeremiah Clarke
Jeremiah Clarke’s Trumpet Voluntary is an enduring masterpiece that radiates the splendor of the ornate Baroque style.
Born in England in 1674, Clarke devoted much of his life to composing sacred music.
Among his works, this piece is beloved for its grand melody befitting celebratory occasions and is often performed at weddings.
It is also known by the title The Prince of Denmark’s March and was originally written for keyboard instruments.
Given how perfectly it pairs with the trumpet’s brilliant timbre, that fact is a bit surprising, isn’t it?