Classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
Classical music created by various musicians over a long history.
From pieces whose beautiful melodies bring peace of mind to those whose grandeur overwhelms you, the range is truly diverse.
With so much out there, many people may feel, “I want to listen, but I don’t know where to start.”
For you, we’ve picked out some recommendations to get you started—“Begin with these!”
Please take a moment to enjoy the world of classical music that continues to be loved across the ages.
- [Orchestra] Introducing famous and popular pieces
- Cool classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
- Mozart: An Introduction to His Signature and Popular Works
- Classical Masterpieces: Recommended Works You Should Hear at Least Once
- Debussy’s masterpiece. Popular classical music.
- Timelessly beautiful classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
- Brahms's masterpieces. Popular classical music.
- Classical music by Japanese composers. Recommended classical music.
- [Violin] A curated selection of beloved classic masterpieces and popular pieces that continue to be cherished across eras
- [Masterpiece Classics] A special showcase of gem-like masterpieces so beautiful they’ll move you to tears
- A poignant classic masterpiece. Recommended classical music.
- [François Couperin] Introducing famous and popular pieces by the composer who loved the harpsichord
- Classic masterpieces recommended for women
Classical Masterpieces: Recommended Classical Music (71–80)
Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1Edward William Elgar
Elgar’s March “Pomp and Circumstance” No.
1 is commonly known in Japan simply as “Pomp and Circumstance,” though there seems to be some debate about the naming.
Be that as it may, it’s frequently performed at various ceremonies and events, and is one of the hallmark works that has made the British composer Edward Elgar widely known.
In the UK, this melody is chiefly known as “Land of Hope and Glory.” The piece is so beloved that it is often called “Britain’s second national anthem” and a “British patriotic song.”
Gymnopédie No. 1Erik Satie
Gymnopédies takes its name from Gymnopaedia, an ancient Greek festival honoring the gods.
It is said that the festival was so raucous with drink and excitement that many people even died in the frenzy.
Satie, however, drew his musical inspiration from a serene ancient vase depicting the festival, which is why the piece flows slowly and quietly throughout.
Marked “Lent et douloureux” (“slow and dolorous”), the work embodies Satie’s characteristic sensibility—part humor, part irony—making it a uniquely captivating piece.
Wedding March from the opera “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”Felix Mendelssohn
A super famous song that needs no introduction—the wedding march.
It’s the piece that plays when the doors swing open and the bride and groom enter the venue, so there’s hardly anyone who doesn’t know it.
It was originally a piano duet, but it has been arranged for orchestra.
Mendelssohn is said to have been 17 when he composed it.
It’s based on Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Grand Etude after Paganini “La Campanella”Franz Liszt
An étude by Liszt, known as the “magician of the piano.” Its difficulty makes you want to say, “Huh? An étude?” Liszt composed many works of transcendental virtuosity, but this piece is an arrangement for piano of Paganini’s violin music.
Paganini, the prodigy so technically brilliant he was said to have “sold his soul to the devil,” and Liszt, the magician—it’s no wonder this turns into a parade of transcendental technique.
Transcendental Étude No. 4 in D minor, “Mazeppa”Franz Liszt
It was used in the commercial for Casio’s digital piano, Privia.
The video includes sheet music, so I hope you’ll check it out.
I’m completely overwhelmed—both visually and aurally—by the densely packed notes and the torrent of sound.
The Art Song “Erlkönig”Franz Schubert
Among Schubert’s works, Erlkönig is a particularly unusual piece.
It even appears in music textbooks.
While Schubert wrote many gentle compositions, this one is terrifying in both its accompaniment and its lyrics—something that could haunt your dreams.
It’s also the song the protagonist of the anime “Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto” sang at karaoke.
Military MarchFranz Schubert
Composed by Schubert in 1818 for piano four hands, this piece might actually be better known in its orchestral version.
Written in ternary form, it’s notable for its bold main theme accompanied by a fanfare-like motif.
Among Schubert’s works, you could say this one is quite bright and upbeat.
Overture from the operetta ‘Light Cavalry’Franz von Suppé
Originally a piece performed in the two-act operetta Light Cavalry, but it seems the operetta itself is rarely staged.
Known for its striking fanfare and lively melody, the piece is also featured in textbooks.
Classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music (81–90)
Etude Op. 10, No. 12 “Revolutionary Etude”Frederic Chopin
One of Chopin’s etudes known as the “Revolutionary Etude.” This work was dedicated to his friend Franz Liszt, who gave it the title “Revolutionary.” Around 1831, when the piece was composed, the November Uprising—an armed rebellion against the rule of the Russian Empire—broke out in Poland and Lithuania.
Many Poles took part in the uprising, but the physically frail Chopin could not join, and it is said that he expressed his anger through this music.
It is a work that seems to convey the intense emotions Chopin kept in his heart.
Hallelujah from the oratorio MessiahGeorge Frideric Handel
Some of you may have sung it in a school choir during junior high or high school.
This piece is one movement from the religious oratorio Messiah composed by Handel.
The title “Messiah” comes from the English reading of “Messiah,” meaning the Savior, and its lyrics are taken from the Bible.
The performance lasts about two and a half hours and consists of solos, ensembles, and choruses depicting the life of Jesus Christ, including the famous “Hallelujah.”