Ranking of popular classical pieces
Timeless classical masterpieces composed hundreds of years ago are still loved today.
We encounter them in many moments of our everyday lives, don’t we?
If you’re a classical music fan, you might go to hear orchestral performances; and if you play the piano or violin, there’s a good chance you’ve performed some of these pieces yourself.
We’ll introduce these classical masterpieces—arguably a genre listened to and cherished around the world like no other—in a ranking format!
It’s a ranking packed with masterpieces that we hope not only beginners to classical music but also dedicated fans will enjoy.
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Classical Music Popularity Rankings (11–20)
The Pigeon and the BoyHisaishi Joe11rank/position
This is the piece that Pazu plays as a morning call on the bugle in Castle in the Sky.
In the film, Pazu plays it alone, but here it’s arranged for a brass ensemble.
It begins with a trumpet solo, then horn, trombone, tuba, and others join to form a fanfare for brass ensemble.
Midway through, the ending theme from Castle in the Sky, “Carrying You,” is woven in, allowing listeners to enjoy a sense of musical storytelling.
Pazu’s trumpet, performed first thing in the morning, has been a hot topic among brass players—professional-level playing that would catch a scout’s ear.
Even pros need to warm up, and many say they envy the ability to hit high notes from early in the day.
Pazu’s performance was played by studio musician Susumu Kazuhara, who is active in film scores, jazz, and karaoke backing tracks, and it is a superb performance.
Symphony No. 7Ludwig van Beethoven12rank/position
Beethoven, one of the most important composers in the history of music, is revered in Japan as the “Saint of Music,” and his monumental achievements are beyond words.
Among the many pieces familiar to everyone—from symphonies and orchestral works to rhapsodies and chamber music—we would like to introduce his highly popular Symphony No.
7, frequently featured in dramas and films.
Though classical in form, its rhythm-centered construction is strikingly innovative.
Wagner praised it as the “apotheosis of the dance,” while some other composers criticized it.
It’s accessible even to classical music beginners and highly recommended.
By the way, while some of his other symphonies bear titles like “Fate” and “Pastoral,” the Seventh is untitled—which is interesting in its own right.
La CampanellaFranz Liszt13rank/position
The delicate melody, modeled after the sound of bells, is striking, with beautiful leaps and ornaments in the high register resonating throughout.
The piano piece, revised in 1851, is characterized by passionate expressiveness that embodies the essence of Romantic music and by virtuosic performance demands.
Inspired by Niccolò Paganini’s playing in 1831, Franz Liszt arranged the theme of a violin concerto for piano.
Frequently used as background music in films and television shows, it has captivated many listeners.
This work is recommended for those who want to study in a quiet environment with focus.
Its bell-like, transparent timbre will calm the mind while maintaining a moderate sense of tension.
I Want YouErik Satie14rank/position
French composer Erik Satie is known for his unique musical style, which set him apart from contemporaries like Debussy and Ravel.
After setbacks during his time at the Paris Conservatory, he continued composing while working as a pianist in Montmartre cafés, producing numerous experimental works.
Among his most famous pieces is Je te veux, written for voice and piano.
Its waltz melody, carried by sensual lyrics, evokes a sense of nostalgia and bittersweet sentiment.
Romantic yet tinged with a certain bite that suggests an adult, slightly poisonous love, this masterpiece is one to enjoy on the piano as well.
Etude Collection (Studies) No. 4, Op. 10-4 in C-sharp minorFrederic Chopin15rank/position
A fiercely passionate piece that grips the listener’s heart and won’t let go.
Its rapid sixteenth-note passages and continuous intricate figures in both hands create an impact like a storm.
Composed in August 1832, this work is acclaimed as having artistic value that far surpasses a mere study.
It is recommended not only for those aiming to improve their piano technique, but also for anyone who loves passionate music.
While the performance demands advanced technique, the sense of accomplishment is all the greater.
If you want to experience the appeal of classical music, why not give it a try?
Piano Sonata No. 8 “Pathétique,” Second MovementLudwig van Beethoven16rank/position
Piano Sonata No.
8 “Pathétique,” a hallmark of Beethoven’s early piano works.
Among its movements, the second is often said to be one of the most beautiful melodies Beethoven ever wrote, and it has been used frequently as incidental music in films and television dramas.
The melody itself is simple and the range is not particularly wide, but because the other parts have substantial thickness, the melody can easily get buried unless one plays while listening carefully to the balance.
Listen calmly, keeping in mind the gracefully flowing, unhurried melody that warmly envelops the listener’s heart, and the weighty chords that support it.
Sacred and Secular DancesClaude Debussy17rank/position
Among Claude Debussy’s works, Danses sacrée et profane is one in which Impressionist elements are particularly prominent.
Composed to explore new possibilities for the harp, the piece is said to represent Debussy’s attempt to break away from conventional musical frameworks through a quest for freer forms and harmonies.
Consisting of two contrasting sections—the solemn “Sacred Dance” and the buoyant “Profane Dance”—this work fully showcases Debussy’s gift for expressing silence, nature, and abstract images through sound.
Sorrow of LoveFritz Kreisler18rank/position
A masterpiece steeped in the nostalgic charm of old Vienna, where wistfulness and elegance meld: Liebesleid.
Composed by the Austrian violin virtuoso Fritz Kreisler, it stands as a quintessential work of salon music.
Infused with a bittersweet emotion beneath its sweetly singing melody, the piece survives in a recording made by Kreisler himself in May 1910, and its vocal, singing tone has not faded with time.
In 1923, George Balanchine adopted it for ballet, and it has since been cherished not only in concert halls but also in the world of stage art.
Its gently swaying waltz rhythm and graceful sonority make it perfect for calming the mind while working or for focusing on study.
November StepsTakemitsu Tōru19rank/position
The Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu’s November Steps.
Composed for biwa, shakuhachi, and orchestra, this work brought Takemitsu wide international recognition.
It opened a new frontier by fusing Western and traditional Japanese instruments.
The piece was initially titled Water Ring, but the title was changed to one meaning November due to comments that the original evoked a bathtub and because the premiere was to take place in November.
It’s apparently not intended as an autumnal piece, but doesn’t the shakuhachi’s breathy tone somehow sound like the rustling of fallen leaves?
BoleroMaurice Ravel20rank/position
This is a representative orchestral work by the French composer Maurice Ravel.
It is known as a ballet score commissioned by Ida Rubinstein and premiered at the Paris Opéra in November 1928.
Its distinctive structure features two melodic ideas repeated with almost no alteration over a steady rhythm maintained by the snare drum.
At the beginning, the flute quietly presents the main theme, requiring exquisite control from the performer.
The same melody is then passed from one instrument to another, ultimately expanding into a massive sonority.
It’s recommended for those who want to savor orchestral coloristic changes in depth, as you can enjoy the process of this gradual enlargement.