Johannes Brahms Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

A German Requiem, Op. 45Johannes Brahms78rank/position

Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ MDR-Rundfunkchor ∙ Solisten ∙ David Zinman

Composed between 1857 and 1867, when Brahms was between 24 and 35 years old.

It is said that the death of his mentor, Schumann, served as the motivation for the composition.

The term “Requiem” refers to the Catholic Church’s Mass for the Dead.

However, as a Protestant, Brahms did not use the Latin liturgical text; instead, he selected his own lyrics from the German Bible and other sources.

For this reason, it was composed not as liturgical music, but as a work intended for concert performance.

Piano Quintet, Op. 34Johannes Brahms79rank/position

Suntory Hall Chamber Music Garden 2017 Opening “Produced by Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi” Brahms: Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34 – from the performance on September 15, 2017

It is a work composed in 1864 and published in 1865.

Brahms initially conceived the piece as a string quintet, but it did not go well, so he rewrote it as a sonata for two pianos.

Later, following advice from those around him, he revised it again into a piano quintet—a well-known episode associated with this work.

Incidentally, the sonata for two pianos was published in 1871 as Op.

34b.

Piano Concerto No. 1Johannes Brahms80rank/position

Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1, Pollini. Abbado / Vienna Philharmonic

Composed between 1854 and 1857, this work was not originally written as a piano concerto.

It began as a sonata for two pianos, then was reworked into a symphony, but that attempt was unsuccessful.

After various twists and turns, the piece was finally completed.

At the time of its premiere, it was not well received, and there are stories that the audience even jeered.

Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 83Johannes Brahms81rank/position

J.BRAHMS:PIANO CONCERTO No.2 Op.83 KRYSTIAN ZIMERMAN,L.BERNSTEIN,WIENER PHILHARMONIKER

Composed between 1878 and 1881, this work is unusual for Brahms in that it features a bright, cheerful character, whereas many of his pieces are strict and weighty in tone.

It is among his most famous compositions and is also one of the more challenging pieces for pianists, demanding a high level of technical skill.

Boasting a symphonic scale, it was described by contemporary music critics as a “symphony with piano.” The piece was dedicated to Brahms’s composition teacher, Eduard Marxsen.

Variations and Fugue on a Theme by HandelJohannes Brahms82rank/position

J. Brahms: Handel Variations / Brahms: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel

A masterpiece that showcases the full extent of Johannes Brahms’s talent as one of Germany’s foremost composers.

Written in 1861 when he was 28, this work unfolds 25 variations and a fugue based on a theme by Handel.

It fuses Brahms’s distinctive classical beauty with innovative virtuosity, resulting in a work that demands advanced piano technique.

While paying homage to Baroque music, it also weaves in Romantic expressiveness, making it highly recommended for those who wish to savor the profound allure of classical music.

Experience this landmark set of variations that has secured its place in music history.

Horn Trio, Op. 40Johannes Brahms83rank/position

Horn Trio in E-flat major, Op. 40 (4th movement) / Brahms

It is a work composed in 1865.

Among Brahms’s chamber pieces, this is the only one that features the horn.

The third movement is said to reflect Brahms’s feelings in mourning his mother, who passed away in the same year the piece was composed.

Double Concerto for Violin and Cello, Op. 102Johannes Brahms84rank/position

Franz Welser-Möst conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Brahms: Concerto for Violin and Cello in A minor, Op. 102 (excerpt) / November 24, 2018 / Suntory Hall

Composed in 1887, this is a double concerto featuring violin and cello as solo instruments.

Though symphonic in scope, it is considered a difficult work that demands double stops from the soloists.

After completing his Fourth Symphony in 1886—his final symphony—Brahms had been contemplating a Fifth.

Around the same time, he had fallen out with his longtime friend, the violinist Joseph Joachim.

Wishing to mend their strained relationship, Brahms tried to compose with Joachim’s advice.

There is an anecdote that this desire led him to shift his idea from a symphony to a concerto.