Pick up Beethoven’s famous and representative works!
Ludwig van Beethoven created innovative music that served as a bridge from the Classical to the Romantic era, leaving a profound influence on later generations.
His music is passionate yet rich in beautiful melodies, and it conveys a sense of essential depth, as if pursuing things to their very core.
There are many masterpieces that everyone has heard at least once, such as “Fate” (Symphony No.
5) and “Für Elise.”
In this article, we’ve picked out some of Beethoven’s famous and representative works.
Why not immerse yourself in the music of Beethoven, one of the great composers?
- Mozart: An Introduction to His Signature and Popular Works
- Classical music by Japanese composers. Recommended classical music.
- Timelessly beautiful classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
- Cool classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
- [For Piano Recitals] Simple yet Cool Classical Pieces
- [Masterpiece Classics] A special showcase of gem-like masterpieces so beautiful they’ll move you to tears
- Debussy’s masterpiece. Popular classical music.
- Beethoven: A selection of gem-like masterpieces that are easy to play on the piano
- [Tchaikovsky] Pick up famous and representative pieces!
- Masterpieces by Franz Schubert: Sparkling classical works left by the King of Song. Recommended classical music.
- [Orchestra] Introducing famous and popular pieces
- J.S. Bach | Introducing Famous and Representative Works
- [Violin] A curated selection of beloved classic masterpieces and popular pieces that continue to be cherished across eras
[Beethoven] Pick Up His Famous and Representative Pieces! (1–10)
Piano Sonata “Moonlight,” No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2Ludwig van Beethoven
A piano sonata completed by Beethoven in 1801.
Its first movement’s mysterious atmosphere evokes the image of a moonlit lake, which is why it is affectionately known as the “Moonlight” Sonata.
Comprising three movements, the first is characterized by delicate arpeggios; the second serves as a bright, intermezzo-like contrast; and the third shifts into a virtuosic and tempestuous character.
Beethoven wrote it as he was beginning to lose his hearing, and there is an anecdote that he dedicated it to a 16-year-old aristocratic girl who was his pupil.
Lauded as a forerunner of Romantic music for its innovative structure, it’s a recommended piece not only for classical music lovers but also for anyone who wishes to contemplate life and emotion through music.
Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 “Choral”Ludwig van Beethoven
Beethoven’s Symphony No.
9, composed in his later years, is one of the most famous works in the history of music.
It is widely known as the “Ninth.” Among its four movements, the “Ode to Joy” sung in the fourth movement is truly overwhelming.
Many people may have heard just this choral section.
Based on a poem by Schiller, the lyrics carry a universal message that celebrates human love and harmony, continuing to move people’s hearts to this day.
By the time of its premiere in Vienna in May 1824, Beethoven had already lost his hearing.
Even so, his passion for music never waned, and he created this masterpiece, which remains beloved to this day.
Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 ‘Pathétique’Ludwig van Beethoven
The title “Pathétique” was given by Beethoven himself.
As the title suggests, the piece has a solemn, tragic tone.
It is one of Beethoven’s three great piano sonatas, and the second movement—renowned for its particularly beautiful melody—is used in many contexts and is very famous.
[Beethoven] A Selection of Famous and Representative Works (11–20)
Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61Ludwig van Beethoven
It is a concerto for violin and orchestra, acclaimed alongside Mendelssohn’s Op.
64 and Brahms’s Op.
77 as one of the “three great violin concertos.” Its expansive, beautiful melodies are striking, and it is a work brimming with elegance.
Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55 “Eroica”Ludwig van Beethoven
It is a symphony also known as the “Eroica.” It was being written to be dedicated to Napoleon, but when Beethoven learned that Napoleon had crowned himself emperor, he flew into a rage, saying, “So he too is just an ordinary man,” tore up the title page bearing the dedication, and slammed the score to the floor—so one account goes.
Comprising four movements and conveying an overall monumental scale, it is a groundbreaking work among Beethoven’s symphonies.
Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat major, Op. 106 “Hammerklavier”Ludwig van Beethoven
Beethoven’s late masterpiece, the Piano Sonata “Hammerklavier,” is a landmark work that dramatically expanded the possibilities of piano music.
Comprising four movements, it is renowned for its formidable technical demands and profound musical depth.
The third movement in particular paints a meditative world that reflects Beethoven’s inner turmoil and sense of isolation.
Completed in 1818, the sonata pursues distinct timbres and expressions in each movement, reflecting the piano’s evolution at the time.
It’s a piece I highly recommend to anyone who wants to savor piano music on a deeper level.
Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111Ludwig van Beethoven
This work, Beethoven’s final piano sonata, consists of two contrasting movements.
The first movement is intense and passionate, expressing inner conflict.
In contrast, the second movement begins with a serene theme and, with each variation, ascends to profound spirituality.
Completed in 1822, the piece is a masterpiece that can be called the culmination of Beethoven’s creative output.
Its innovative expression, transcending traditional forms, had a significant impact on later musicians.
It’s a highly recommended piece for those who wish to experience life’s struggles and spiritual heights through music.