Arnold Schönberg Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

Five Piano PiecesArnold Schönberg1rank/position

G. Gould – Five Piano Pieces, Op. 23 (A. Schoenberg)

The person often said to be the first to dismantle the long-standing Western tonal music is the German composer Schoenberg (though some argue it was Hauer).

He created works ranging from atonal music to twelve-tone music, which treats all twelve pitches equally.

This piece is a famous work that served as a bridge from atonality to twelve-tone technique.

Three Piano Pieces, Op. 11Arnold Schönberg2rank/position

Schoenberg: Drei Klavierstücke, Op. 11 (Pollini)

Arnold Schoenberg, a leading Austrian composer of the 20th century, pursued atonal music and devised the revolutionary twelve-tone technique.

Completed in 1909, Three Piano Pieces, Op.

11 marks his break from traditional tonality and his search for freer musical expression.

Each of the three pieces features its own distinctive musical texture and dynamics, hinting at new forms and possibilities in music.

Schoenberg’s intensely introspective music can be difficult to grasp on first hearing, but for those interested in contemporary music, it is a work that invites a spirit of challenge.

Four Songs, Op. 2Arnold Schönberg3rank/position

Schoenberg: Four Songs, Op. 2 — Expectation; Pf. Rintaro Akamatsu; Sop. Yoshimi Sasaki

The Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg is known as an innovator of contemporary music.

He showed his talent at a young age by arranging operettas and received patronage and support from Gustav Mahler.

Four Songs, Op.

2 is one of Schoenberg’s early works, and while breaking away from Romantic influences, it marks his transition toward a unique musical style.

Its expressionist lyrical world—conveying aching feelings for a lover and a sense of oneness with nature—matches beautifully with Schoenberg’s characteristically innovative harmonies.

This piece, which lets you feel the process of Schoenberg’s musical evolution, is highly recommended for anyone interested in modern music.

Five Piano Pieces, Op. 23Arnold Schönberg4rank/position

Arnold Schönberg – Fünf Klavierstücke, op. 23 (Hajo Sanders)

Arnold Schoenberg’s Five Piano Pieces, Op.

23, composed in the early 1920s, stand at a transitional point toward his twelve-tone technique.

The five pieces, each pursuing a different musical approach, trace the development of Schoenberg’s innovative style.

In “Sehr langsam” (Very slow), he introduces a new texture using multiple pitch series, while in “Waltz” he explores a twelve-tone row—an intriguing set of works that distill his experimental methods.

Advanced players familiar with contemporary music are encouraged to take on the challenge of performing them.

Six Piano Pieces, Op. 19Arnold Schönberg5rank/position

2022 PTNA Special Class Semifinal: Schoenberg - Six Little Piano Pieces, Op. 19 Kitamura, Asuto

Arnold Schoenberg, an Austrian composer who represents modern music.

Among his works, the collection of solo piano pieces Six Little Piano Pieces, Op.

19 is particularly striking.

This series consists of short pieces imbued with a unique atmosphere and showcases an early phase of Schoenberg’s atonal style.

Though extremely concise, each note carries expressive intent that is deeply compelling.

Notably, the sixth piece is said to have been composed in memory of Gustav Mahler, with whom Schoenberg had a close friendship, and it conveys a profound sense of reflection.

A thought-provoking collection that I would recommend to anyone interested in music theory.

Fantasia for Violin and Piano, Op. 47Arnold Schönberg6rank/position

Arnold Schoenberg – Phantasy for Violin and Piano, Op. 47 (1949) [Score-Video]

Arnold Schoenberg was an Austrian composer known for his innovative approaches, including atonal music and the twelve-tone technique.

His Fantasy for Violin and Piano, Op.

47, was composed late in his life, in 1949.

Valued by many performers for its technical demands and expressive richness, this single-movement work contains a fully formed scherzo and trio, and is notable for its passionate and elegant performance indications.

Scholars have also noted connections to the fantasies of Mozart and Schubert.

It’s a highly recommended piece for those interested in contemporary music and for anyone who wants to experience the expressive capabilities of the violin.

Piano Concerto, Op. 42Arnold Schönberg7rank/position

Schoenberg: Piano Concerto, Gould & Craft (1961) – Schoenberg Piano Concerto Gould

Arnold Schoenberg, whose name is etched in music history as one of the defining composers of the 20th century.

His relentless drive to explore the unknown—through his pursuit of atonal music and the establishment of the twelve-tone technique—was carried on by many of his students, including Alban Berg, and laid the foundation for contemporary music.

His Piano Concerto, Op.

42, written in his later years, can be considered the culmination of his work.

Though cast in a single movement, it comprises four contrasting sections, showcasing his mature compositional craft to the fullest.

Taking on this piece—with its complex structure and harmonies and its demanding technical requirements—is no easy task, but it is sure to fill listeners with intellectual excitement.