Johannes Brahms Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

Violin Sonata No. 3, Op. 108Johannes Brahms85rank/position

Brahms / Violin Sonata No. 3, Movement 1, Op. 108: Sengawa Avenue Hall

Composed between 1886 and 1888.

With some other composers’ violin sonatas, one sometimes feels that the balance between the instruments is off, that one overwhelms the other; but in Brahms’s violin sonatas the instruments never clash and maintain a beautiful harmony throughout.

This piece conveys the emotions Brahms was experiencing at the time—feelings of loneliness brought on by the deaths of friends.

After this work, Brahms went on to write many pieces in minor keys.

Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77Johannes Brahms86rank/position

Brahms // Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 (Solo Violin: Kazuhito Yamane)

Johannes Brahms, a master of German Romantic music.

One of his signature works is the Violin Concerto, dedicated to his close friend Joseph Joachim.

Composed in 1878 when he was 45, this piece brilliantly fuses symphonic weight with the dazzling virtuosity of the solo violin.

Over roughly 40 minutes, the vast orchestral forces and solo violin weave a musical world that profoundly moves listeners.

Ranked alongside the concertos of Beethoven and Mendelssohn, this work is recommended not only for classical music enthusiasts but for anyone seeking a deeply affecting musical experience.

Symphony No. 2, Op. 73Johannes Brahms87rank/position

Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73: 4. Allegro con spirito

This is a gem of a symphony composed by Brahms, a leading figure of German Romanticism, while staying at a summer retreat surrounded by Austria’s beautiful nature.

Consisting of four movements, it begins with a gentle theme, unfolds into a wistful cello melody, lively rhythms, and culminates in a powerful finale.

Premiered in December 1877 to great success, the piece is notable among Brahms’s symphonies for its particularly bright, hopeful atmosphere.

Evoking a sense of tranquility and beauty in nature, it is a highly recommended piece for those looking to become more familiar with classical music.

Symphony No. 3, Op. 90Johannes Brahms88rank/position

♪ Brahms: Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90 / Sergiu Celibidache conducting the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra

This is Brahms’s third symphony, composed around 1883 when he was 50.

Perhaps because Brahms revered Beethoven, the conductor who premiered it, Hans Richter, praised the work with Beethoven’s Symphony No.

3 “Eroica” in mind, calling it “Brahms’s Eroica.” Its premiere by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra was a great success and received high acclaim from audiences.

The piece was also used in the 1961 film Goodbye Again starring Ingrid Bergman.

Symphony No. 4Johannes Brahms89rank/position

Brahms: 4. Sinfonie ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ Andrés Orozco-Estrada

Johannes Brahms was both a composer and a pianist.

One of the masterpieces he left behind is this work, completed during his Vienna period in 1885.

Inspired by a Bach cantata, Brahms built the piece on classical forms while creating new music through his own distinctive imagination.

Beginning with a tragic theme, moving through beautiful melodies in the horns and woodwinds and a rhythmic, valiant development, and culminating in a powerful, passionate finale, its structure profoundly moves listeners.

It is a highly recommended piece for those who want to experience the fusion of tradition and innovation in classical music.

ElegyJohannes Brahms90rank/position

Brahms: Nänie (Song of Lament)

This work was composed between 1880 and 1881.

Brahms wrote this choral piece in mourning for his close friend, the painter Anselm Feuerbach, as a memorial.

The text is based on a poem by Schiller.

Although it is not widely known, it is a masterpiece.

LullabyJohannes Brahms91rank/position

Brahms' Lullaby

We present a masterpiece by Johannes Brahms, one of Germany’s “Three Bs.” Composed in 1868, this work was gifted to celebrate the birth of a close friend’s child.

With its gently rocking melody and soothing lines, it has lulled babies to sleep around the world.

It’s said that a hidden counter-melody contains an expression of love for a former sweetheart.

More than 150 years on, this piece continues to be cherished by many.

It’s recommended not only for classical music fans but also for those raising children.

May it bring you a moment of peace.