A poignant classic masterpiece. Recommended classical music.
Introducing heartrending classical pieces in one go!
Even when we say “heartrending classical music,” the moods and styles vary widely.
This time, we’ve picked out a range of moving masterpieces—from piano and violin works to miniatures, chamber music, concertos, and orchestral pieces.
Alongside the classics, we’ve lined up a wide selection that includes lesser-known, more obscure works that even avid classical listeners might not immediately recognize.
Whether you’re just getting into classical music or already deeply immersed, there’s plenty to enjoy—so please relax and read to the end!
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Poignant masterpieces of classical music. Recommended classical pieces (21–30)
Sorrow of LoveFritz Kreisler
This melancholic piece in triple meter was published in 1905 by Fritz Kreisler, a world-renowned Austrian violinist and composer, and is known—together with “Liebesfreud” (Joy of Love) and “Schön Rosmarin” (Beautiful Rosemary)—as part of the Old Viennese Dances.
Even beginners in classical music have probably heard these pieces at least once.
While the sheet music isn’t particularly difficult, the performance demands the player’s musical sensibility.
It’s also fun to compare different versions.
Boat SongPyotr Tchaikovsky
This piece was written as the June selection in Tchaikovsky’s The Seasons, a collection of twelve piano pieces depicting the sights of a year in Russia, month by month.
Many composers have written barcarolles, but his is distinctive for its uncommon 4/4 meter.
Just by listening, you can almost see the Russian waters spreading out before you—such a lovely piece, isn’t it? It might be fun to listen not only to this piece but to all twelve across the year’s seasons to gain a different impression.
Opera ‘Lohengrin’: Elsa’s Procession to the CathedralWilhelm Wagner
The opera Lohengrin, composed by the German Romantic master Richard Wagner between 1845 and 1848.
Among its numbers, this piece—renowned as the climax of Act II—stands out for its solemn atmosphere and delicate woodwind melodies.
Its structure, which gradually builds from a quiet introduction, beautifully conveys Elsa’s piety and the austerity of the religious rites.
Widely known as a wedding processional, it is also popular in wind band and piano arrangements.
A highly recommended piece for anyone wishing to fully savor the allure of classical music.
old clock towerHeino Kaski
Kaski was a Finnish composer and pianist active from the 19th to the 20th century.
He interacted with fellow Finn Jean Sibelius, who is said to have supported him, including by facilitating study abroad.
While his symphonies are often cited as representative works, he left many piano pieces as well, as he himself was a pianist.
Although many of his works feature a brilliant style that makes use of the high register, this particular piece is characterized by its weighty, resonant low tones.
The ever-shifting harmonies create a refined sense of poignancy.
GnossienneErik Satie
Erik Satie, a French composer active from the 19th to the 20th century, was known as an “iconoclast of the music world.” He was deeply impressed by Romanian music, Javanese gamelan, Hungarian music, and more at the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris.
The piece, which has a somewhat Oriental atmosphere and in its original form contains neither time signatures nor barlines, offers a glimpse of the influences he absorbed at the exposition.
The term “Gnossienne” is said to be a neologism coined by Satie himself, based on the Greek word for “to know,” gnōristē.
Piano Sonata No. 14Ludwig van Beethoven
This is a piece Beethoven composed when he was 30 years old.
Nicknamed the “Moonlight Sonata,” it features a melody set over a gentle accompaniment that is very delicate and wistful.
As indicated in the score—“to be played with the soft pedal depressed”—it is a very quiet piece, so be sure to give it a listen.
Violin Concerto, Second MovementFelix Mendelssohn
In stark contrast to the first movement, which begins with an intense melody, the second movement opens with a gentle and beautiful violin soliloquy.
Over the orchestra’s delicate accompaniment, the violin spins an emotionally rich line.
Entering the middle section, the music shifts to the minor key, and a fierce sorrow emerges in contrast to what came before.
The striking interplay between fresh, radiant beauty and profound sadness stands out, making this a piece that highlights the flowing lyricism of Mendelssohn—celebrated as a prodigy since childhood.
Clair de Lune, the third piece of the Suite bergamasqueClaude Debussy
The Suite bergamasque consists of four pieces: Prelude, Menuet, Clair de Lune, and Passepied, with the third piece, Clair de Lune, being one of the most famous.
It is a nocturne performed mostly pianissimo, characterized by a gentle and wistful atmosphere.
It has been widely beloved, including in Stokowski’s orchestral arrangement and through its use in Disney films.
ChaconneTomaso Antonio Vitali
Vitali was an Italian composer and violinist.
Among his works, the Chaconne is particularly famous.
A chaconne is originally a type of dance from the Baroque period (c.
1600–1750), characterized by a gentle triple meter.
After a piano introduction, a song-like melodic theme is presented.
This theme is then woven through twenty variations, undergoing key changes and ornamentation—one of the defining features of the piece.
It showcases a wide range of violin techniques, resulting in a piece that is both poignant and dazzling.
My belovedNicolo Paganini
Paganini was a violinist and composer.
He wrote many works that make use of dazzling virtuosity, and one of them was used as the theme song for the film “The Devil’s Violinist.” Strictly speaking, it is the second movement from his Violin Concerto No.
4, and in Japan it is well known under the title “My Beloved.”