Cool classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
A showcase of awesome classical masterpieces, all in one place!
From super-cool staples to slightly lesser-known, stylish pieces, we’ve picked a wide range.
We’re featuring not only piano solo works from the classics to more recent pieces, but also orchestral masterpieces performed by large ensembles.
We’ve selected classical works that are thrilling to listen to and make performances look cool too—from film-score-like pieces and RPG battle-scene vibes to avant-garde sounds reminiscent of progressive rock!
Be sure to read to the end!
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Cool classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music (61–70)
Ride of the Valkyries from the music drama The ValkyrieRichard Wagner
This piece is the prelude to Act III of the music drama Die Walküre, the First Day of the cycle The Ring of the Nibelung.
It is a rousing, heroic work, and it was used in the film Apocalypse Now, which depicts the Vietnam War, during the scene of U.S.
military helicopters in flight.
In that scene, the music is not merely background score; it is portrayed as being blasted at high volume from the helicopters to boost the soldiers’ morale and instill fear in the Vietnamese being attacked.
Etude Op. 8 No. 12Alexandre Scriabine
One of the pieces from a set of études that Scriabin began writing at the age of 22 and completed the following year.
Letters reveal that, in composing this set, Scriabin had Chopin’s études in mind and structured it so that the twelve pieces would form a cohesive whole.
This étude features frequent leaps and repeated chords, giving it a complex appearance.
It is said that Scriabin himself was particularly fond of performing this piece.
Etude Op. 10 No. 1 in C majorFrederic Chopin
An etude completed in 1830 by Chopin, the poet of the piano.
It is said to be one of the most difficult pieces to perform among Chopin’s études, and it places tremendous pressure on the pianist.
The Ashkenazy performance introduced here is by a pianist renowned for his virtuosity.
It has an incredible sense of speed, and the dramatic contrasts in tone are overwhelming.
Candide OvertureLeonard Bernstein
This is a masterpiece by Leonard Bernstein, one of the most iconic musicians of the 20th century.
Showcasing his multifaceted talent to the fullest, the work was composed as an operetta overture yet has been highly acclaimed as a standalone piece.
Since its premiere at Carnegie Hall in January 1957, it has enjoyed great popularity, having been performed over 200 times.
Its dazzling, vibrant rhythms and intricately woven melodies captivate listeners.
Reflecting a story laced with irony and satire while conveying profound humanity, this piece distills Bernstein’s musical genius.
It is recommended not only for fans of classical music but also for those who love film scores and musicals.
Prelude from Le Tombeau de CouperinJoseph-Maurice Ravel
Le Tombeau de Couperin is a piano suite in six movements composed by the French composer Maurice Ravel between 1914 and 1917.
The word “tombeau” in the title literally means “tomb,” but here it is used in the sense of “a piece in memory of the deceased.” The first movement, Prélude, features a flowing 12/8 melody that passes unobtrusively through various keys.
Symphonic Poem “Night on Bald Mountain” (arr. by Rimsky-Korsakov)Modest Mussorgsky
The nine minutes of intensity and tension never let up in Symphonic Poem “Night on Bald Mountain” (arr.
Rimsky-Korsakov), which was published in 1886 by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
The piece was originally composed by Modest Mussorgsky, but since it had remained unpublished, Rimsky-Korsakov arranged it out of a desire to bring it to the world.
The theme depicts earth spirits throwing a wild revel with sprites and ghosts on the eve of St.
John’s Day.
Its bold and stylish arrangement is highly recommended even for those who don’t usually listen to classical music.
In fact, it was used in Disney’s Fantasia and has been covered by numerous bands, so you may have heard it at least once.
Dies Irae from RequiemGiuseppe Verdi
The main melody often heard in movies and dramas, the “Dies Irae.” It plays when a scene takes a dramatic turn or when tension rises.
Its composer, Verdi, was an Italian musician who mainly wrote operas.
A heart that longs for joyMichael Nyman
The soundtrack to the classic film The Piano.
Compared to Whiplash, which features the same instrument, its music is far softer and warmer.
Chamber music from the 20th century onward is sometimes called classical, sometimes contemporary music, and at times even treated as a kind of jazz.
This piece, too, has melodies and harmonies closer to popular music than to so-called “classical” in the Mozartian sense.
The frequent use of repeated simple phrases, reminiscent of Steve Reich, also evokes a more modern, urban landscape rather than a pastoral one.
Symphonic Scherzo “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”Paul Dukas
Dukas was a French composer.
This piece was used in Disney’s 1940 animated film Fantasia.
You can almost picture the enchanted brooms fetching water over and over.
In this segment, the Sorcerer’s Apprentice was played by Mickey Mouse.
It’s a cinematic and very accessible classical work.
A Trumpeter’s HolidayLeroy Anderson
This lively, high-spirited piece is an orchestral work composed by Leroy Anderson in 1954.
Contrary to its title, “A Trumpeter’s Lullaby” (literally “holiday”), the three featured trumpets play nonstop, tackling intricate passages without a break.
It is said to express the feelings of a military bugler who, because his job requires sounding signals at fixed times rather than playing freely, wants to spend his day off blowing the trumpet to his heart’s content.