Camille Saint-Saëns Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

The Carnival of the Animals, No. 7: AquariumCamille Saint-Saëns36rank/position

[068] Saint-Saëns: Aquarium (from The Carnival of the Animals)

The seventh movement of The Carnival of the Animals by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns is a piece that beautifully evokes the fantastical world of an aquarium.

The shimmer of high-register piano and glass harmonica, the pure tone of the flute, and the restrained resonance of the strings combine to depict a mysterious underwater landscape.

Its gentle tempo, flowing arpeggios, and glissandi are distinctive, exquisitely conveying the sensation of drifting through water.

Owing to its dreamlike quality, this piece has been featured widely across various media, and it is even said to have inspired certain scenes in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

Enjoy this cool, refreshing piece that will help you forget the summer heat!

The Carnival of the Animals: AquariumCamille Saint-Saëns37rank/position

Saint-Saëns – Aquarium

The suite The Carnival of the Animals by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns is known for its humorous depiction of a festival of animals.

One of its pieces adds a mysterious shimmer to Halloween night.

Rippling, wave-like piano arpeggios are overlaid with the glass harmonica’s transparent timbre, creating a fantastical, slightly eerie atmosphere—as if you’ve wandered into an otherworldly realm underwater.

There’s also a mysterious anecdote: at the composer’s request, the work was scarcely made public during his lifetime and was first performed publicly only in February 1922.

It has been praised as music that beautifully enhances visuals, even being used before official screenings at the Cannes Film Festival.

It’s the perfect piece when you want to stage a quiet, beautiful Halloween that still sends a little shiver down the spine.

The SwanCamille Saint-Saëns38rank/position

Saint-Saens – The Swan (Le Cygne) from Carnival of the Animals

Camille Saint-Saëns was a French musician who achieved worldwide renown as a pianist, organist, and conductor.

He published numerous musical works, including operas, ballet music, and pieces in the Baroque style.

This piece, The Swan—later widely known in its arranged form as The Dying Swan—was originally known by the title The Swan at the time.

Its reputation has grown over the years, and its structure reveals a high level of refinement in even the smallest details.

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Ryo

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Rondo CapricciosoCamille Saint-Saëns39rank/position

Ivry Gitlis Saint Saens Rondò Capriccioso violin

This piece was composed for the Spanish violinist Pablo de Sarasate, and as a result it incorporates Spanish-style elements.

It begins with a gentle, dreamlike atmosphere and then moves into a passionate rondo.

The second half becomes increasingly dazzling, racing all the way to the end—an exhilarating work.

“Capriccioso” means “capricious,” and the constantly shifting scenes in the music convey that sense of whimsy.

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HATSUMI

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Introduction and Rondo CapricciosoCamille Saint-Saëns40rank/position

Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso – Saint-Saëns

A masterpiece composed in 1863 by Camille Saint-Saëns, a musical giant born in France.

Written for the Spanish violin prodigy Pablo de Sarasate, this work is known as a virtuoso piece that fully brings out the violin’s charm.

The development that moves from the poignant melody of the introduction to a lively, Spanish-style rhythm captivates listeners and never lets go.

The sound world woven by the violin’s dazzling passages and passionate melodies is like listening to a story.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants to fully savor the splendor of violin music.

The Carnival of the Animals, No. 12: FossilsCamille Saint-Saëns41rank/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?

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KOH-1

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Suite ‘The Carnival of the Animals’ No. 7 ‘Aquarium’Camille Saint-Saëns42rank/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.