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.
- [Masterpiece Classics] A special showcase of gem-like masterpieces so beautiful they’ll move you to tears
- [Orchestra] Introducing famous and popular pieces
- Timelessly beautiful classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
- Cool classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
- Popular classical piano pieces. A collection of masterful performances by Japanese pianists.
- [Violin] A curated selection of beloved classic masterpieces and popular pieces that continue to be cherished across eras
- Cello Masterpieces: A comprehensive introduction to exquisite classical works that let you savor its profound timbre
- Recommended classical masterpieces for autumn
- Today's Classics: Recommended classical music and great performances to listen to today
- Pick up Beethoven’s famous and representative works!
- Masterpieces by Gustav Mahler. Popular classical music.
- Classical music by Japanese composers. Recommended classical music.
- A poignant classic masterpiece. Recommended classical music.
Classical Masterpieces | Recommended Works You Should Hear at Least Once (31–40)
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.”
Toccata and Fugue in D minorJ.S.Bach
The opening melody is just too famous, isn’t it? Among Bach’s many organ works, this is the most beloved piece, overflowing with the youthful, robust power and individuality that overwhelm listeners—his intense emotions as a man in his twenties and the free structure that weaves a fugue into a toccata.
A toccata has a meaning similar to a prelude; it refers to an improvisatory piece without a strictly fixed form.
In the fugue section, the intricate motion of the notes stands out and there are gentle melodies as well, but overall the work is filled with a grand and passionate atmosphere.
Opera ‘The Valkyrie’Richard Wagner
As the Romantic era entered its later phase, musical expression reached its limits, pushing Western tonal harmony—based on functional harmony since the Classical period—almost to the point of collapse, and works with extremely long performance times also appeared.
“Ride of the Valkyries,” a piece from the opera Die Walküre, is one of the most widely known works in Wagner’s music.
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.
Classical Masterpieces: Recommended Works You Should Hear at Least Once (41–50)
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.”