Ranking of popular classical pieces

Etude Collection (Studies) No. 4, Op. 10-4 in C-sharp minorFrederic Chopin15rank/position

Etude 10-4 – Chopin – 4K – Etude Op. 10 No. 4 – Chopin – Piano – piano – CANACANA

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

Nobuyuki Tsujii Piano Sonata No. 8 (Pathétique) Second Movement

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.

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Sacred and Secular DancesClaude Debussy17rank/position

Debussy’s Danse sacrée et danse profane, featuring Gulnara Mashurova

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

Liebesleid (1995 Remastered Version)

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

Toru Takemitsu: November Steps

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?

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Toccata in C major, Op. 7Robert Schumann20rank/position

Samson François plays Schumann Toccata C Dur Op 7

One of the signature works by the great Romantic composer Robert Schumann, the Toccata in C major, Op.

7.

Composed in his youth, this virtuosic piano piece can be viewed as an ambitious work that challenged the limits of its time.

Samson François’s performance opens with bold chords and syncopations, and the unrelenting stream of sixteenth notes engulfs the listener like waves of emotion.

While deploying advanced technique, his interpretation fully conveys Schumann’s imaginative world and emotions—breathtaking in its brilliance.

Highly recommended for those who want to experience the essence of Romantic music or explore the possibilities of the piano as an instrument.

Pavane for a Dead QueenMaurice Ravel21rank/position

Ravel: Pavane for a Dead Princess

Maurice Ravel, one of France’s quintessential composers known for his delicate music, created Pavane for a Dead Princess, a masterpiece that guides listeners into a gentle passage of time.

With its warm, translucent melody, the piece unfolds like a watercolor painting.

Since its premiere in 1902, it has remained beloved by piano enthusiasts around the world.

The melody spun from a single piano in quietude offers a moment to forget the busyness of daily life.

Take a listen on a night when you need a breather, or during a calm morning.