Camille Saint-Saëns Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

Capriccio on Danish and Russian AirsCamille Saint-Saëns41rank/position

Saint-Saëns – Caprice sur des airs Danois et Russes, op. 79

Premiered in 1887, this chamber work by Camille Saint-Saëns was written for an unusual quartet of flute, oboe, clarinet, and piano.

Composed to coincide with a concert tour for the Russian Red Cross Society, it was dedicated to Maria Feodorovna, the Danish princess who became Empress of Russia.

The flute stands on equal footing with the other woodwinds, singing beautiful Danish folk melodies and vibrant Russian tunes.

Though cast in a single movement, the piece is rich in color and variety, showcasing each instrument’s finest qualities to the fullest.

The Carnival of the Animals, No. 12: FossilsCamille Saint-Saëns42rank/position

Camille Saint-Saëns: Carnival of the Animals – Fossils (No. 12) (Piano Sheet Music)

Composed of 14 pieces, The Carnival of the Animals is a suite by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns and is also a very popular orchestral work for children.

Its playful wit and humorous parodies of famous pieces by other composers make it enjoyable for both adults and kids.

The twelfth movement, Fossils, is perfect for Halloween! Strongly parodic in style, it quotes melodies from his own Danse macabre as well as numerous French folk songs, creating a light, nimble atmosphere.

It’s not particularly difficult to play in a piano arrangement, so why not try it with a lively touch and plenty of humor?

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

KOH-1

Report a problem

Suite ‘The Carnival of the Animals’ No. 7 ‘Aquarium’Camille Saint-Saëns43rank/position

Saint-Saëns: Aquarium from The Carnival of the Animals — Pianist Yuki Kondo

Aquarium, one of the movements from The Carnival of the Animals composed by Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns.

Captivating for its fantastical, mysterious atmosphere, this piece, true to its title, musically depicts aquatic creatures drifting through an aquarium, the clarity of the water, and shimmering light.

Although composed in 1886, it was released in 1922 after Saint-Saëns’s death.

It was also used in a memorable scene in the anime Nodame Cantabile and is beloved by many.

It’s a perfect piece for the Halloween season if you want to savor a magical, otherworldly mood.

Aquarium from The Carnival of the AnimalsCamille Saint-Saëns44rank/position

Saint-Saëns: The Carnival of the Animals, No. 7 “Aquarium”

In the au commercial where, in the room behind the Santarō trio, Kagu-chan appears to be making something in a “Crane’s Gratitude”-style scene, the song playing in the background that creates a mysterious atmosphere is “Aquarium,” the seventh movement from The Carnival of the Animals.

It’s a piece by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns, notable for its memorable melody that evokes a sense of wonder, eeriness, and foreboding.

It perfectly matches Santarō’s feelings as he wonders what Kagu-chan is doing beyond the door in a non-human form.

The way the same melody continues calmly also adds to the enigmatic mood.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

SAKI

Report a problem