Classical Masterpieces: Recommended Works You Should Hear at Least Once
Classical music, the foundation of all music.
It began with chants sung in churches and led to the birth of countless composers and works.
In Japan, classical music remains close to us even today—taught in music classes and played as background music in a variety of settings.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of classical pieces: from famous works you’ve likely heard somewhere at least once, to lesser-known pieces that will still linger in your ears.
Please enjoy these masterpieces of classical music—performed in many forms, from sacred music and symphonies to piano solos and concertos, including works arranged for different instruments.
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Classical Masterpieces | Recommended Works You Should Hear at Least Once (31–40)
ChaconneHenry Purcell
He was a composer who represents English Baroque music, and despite his short life of 36 years, he left more than 400 works.
Although Purcell was English, he was influenced by French and Italian Baroque opera of the time, and he is known for his beautifully expressive melodies and lively rhythms that juxtapose basic meters with the effect of hemiolas.
A “chaconne” is a set of variations characterized by a slow, stately triple meter, and while adhering to that form, it evokes a uniquely free-spirited world.
Symphonic Suite “Scheherazade”Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Rimsky-Korsakov was a central figure of the group of composers known as the Russian Five and is called the “father of modern orchestration.” The title of this work, Scheherazade, is the name of the heroine who appears in The Arabian Nights, a representative work of Arabic narrative literature.
Although the piece does not faithfully follow the storyline, it develops the theme of the fierce King Shahryar and the theme of the gentle Scheherazade throughout, vividly evoking the image of “a tale of wondrous mysteries.”
Piano Sonata No. 14 “Moonlight”Ludwig van Beethoven
Among Beethoven’s piano sonatas, this is one of the most widely loved works thanks to its popular melody.
The piece is dedicated to Giulietta Guicciardi, an Italian countess’s daughter who was one of Beethoven’s piano students.
He harbored romantic feelings for the young lady, who was fourteen years his junior, but marriage was impossible due to the difference in social status; it is said that he poured those unfulfilled feelings into this composition.
The nickname “Moonlight Sonata” arose when the poet Ludwig Rellstab, upon hearing the first movement, commented that it was like “a boat floating on the lake in the moonlight, on the rippling surface of Lake Lucerne.”
Impromptu in G-flat major, Op. 90 No. 3Franz Schubert
What followed Classical music was Romantic music.
Romantic music departed from the earlier pursuit of axioms in musical practice, instead prioritizing human emotions and sensations; in other words, it does not demand strictness in compositional technique.
Several of Schubert’s impromptus are quintessentially human-centered.
troutFranz Schubert
It is included in the renowned song collection by Fischer-Dieskau and Gerald Moore.
He composed a wide range of works from symphonies to piano pieces, but he stood out especially in German Lieder, and due to the exceptional quality and volume of his output, he is known as the “King of German Song.”
Classical Masterpieces: Recommended Works You Should Hear at Least Once (41–50)
The Marriage of FigaroWolfgang Amadeus Mozart
This is a representative recording of The Marriage of Figaro conducted by Karl Böhm with the Deutsche Oper Berlin Orchestra and Chorus.
Although it was recorded in 1968 and is old, the sound is clear.
Mozart was an Austrian composer who represents Classical-era music.
Symphony No. 4, Op. 54 “Poem of Ecstasy”Скрябiн
Scriabin was a composer who displayed extraordinary individuality even among the late Romantics.
Deeply influenced by theosophy and philosophy, he brought the very nature of music closer to mysticism, and as the years went on he placed increasing importance on mystical sonorities.