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.
- [Masterpiece Classics] A special showcase of gem-like masterpieces so beautiful they’ll move you to tears
- [Orchestra] Introducing famous and popular pieces
- Cool classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
- Classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
- [Classical] Introducing Recommended Moving/Touching Pieces
- Timelessly beautiful classical masterpieces. Recommended classical music.
- Classical piano masterpieces: legendary performances from around the world you should hear at least once
- Taro Hakase’s famous and popular songs
- Ludwig van Beethoven Popular Songs Ranking [2026]
- Franz Liszt Popular Song Ranking [2026]
- Pick up Beethoven’s famous and representative works!
- Pyotr Tchaikovsky Popular Song Rankings [2026]
- [Classical] A comprehensive introduction to famous love pieces: recommended popular works
Ranking of Popular Classical Pieces (21–30)
Joy of LoveFritz Kreisler22rank/position
Viennese dance music that is resplendent and full of elegance.
If you like that atmosphere, this work by Fritz Kreisler is recommended.
It is often mentioned as part of a trilogy together with “Liebesleid” (Love’s Sorrow) and “Schön Rosmarin” (Beautiful Rosemary), and is a celebrated piece.
Published around 1905, it also has a history of being released on SP record in 1911, and it was featured on the TV Tokyo program “100 Years of Music.” Sergei Rachmaninoff’s piano arrangement is also well known, so if you’re interested, be sure to check it out.
Use it as background music while you work, and you’ll likely feel more elegant and focused.
ChaconneTomaso Antonio Vitali23rank/position
Tommaso Antonio Vitali was an Italian composer active from the 1700s to the mid-1740s.
He was known for a musical style influenced by his father, Giovanni Battista Vitali, and by Arcangelo Corelli, and he was also highly regarded as a violinist.
His renowned masterpiece, the Chaconne, is a virtuosic work for violin, and many famous violinists have left celebrated performances of it.
Mephisto Waltz No. 1, S.514 “Dance in the Village Inn”Franz Liszt24rank/position
This is a devilish dance known as a tour de force of virtuosity that has left its mark on the history of piano performance.
Premiered in 1861, it depicts a seductive village tavern ball, captivating listeners from the outset with driving rhythms and powerful fifth-chord sonorities.
The middle section features delicate writing that imitates a nightingale’s song, offering a beauty that contrasts with the passionate waltz.
Arranged from an orchestral work for solo piano, it has been performed by world-renowned pianists such as Vladimir Ashkenazy.
With its innovative Romantic-era harmonic progressions and feverish technical demands, this piece is recommended for pianists aiming for a dazzling stage presence and for those who wish to take on the pinnacle of classical music.
Sonatina No. 1, Movement I, Op. 20-1Friedrich Kuhlau25rank/position
This is a C-major piece distinguished by a clear structure and an approachable melody.
Marked by a lively tempo and lucid melodic lines, it was published in Leipzig in 1819 and carries a sparkling, uplifting character.
In the first movement, a bright and vigorous main theme is woven into sonata form and unfolds alongside smooth, lyrical melodies.
Each phrase conveys a hopeful expression, and the rhythmic vitality—suggestive of a child’s growth—leaves a strong impression.
Performing with a clear tone and mindful, moderate dynamic contrasts enables richer expressivity.
This piece is recommended for those who want to fully savor the charm of Classical-era music or who enjoy bright, brilliant musical styles.
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2Franz Liszt26rank/position
Hungarian Rhapsody No.
2 by Franz Liszt—the piano wizard who composed numerous fiendishly difficult pieces requiring transcendental technique—is no exception in its level of difficulty, and even professional pianists often struggle to perform it.
Beginning with a weighty atmosphere and gradually growing more brilliant, it is truly breathtaking.
Its bright, beautiful melodies and powerful rhythms have captivated piano students and enthusiasts for many years.
Mastering it demands considerable practice, but by all means, enjoy its dramatic world as you take on the challenge!
Piano Concerto in F majorGeorge Gershwin27rank/position
Composer George Gershwin, who shines brilliantly in American music history.
With his original musical style that fused jazz and classical, he created masterpieces such as Rhapsody in Blue and Porgy and Bess.
One of his signature works is the Piano Concerto in F, premiered in 1925.
At its debut at Carnegie Hall, Gershwin himself played the piano and is said to have captivated the audience.
This concerto, consisting of three movements, is notable for the lively Charleston rhythms of the first movement, the graceful blues of the second, and the passionate ragtime of the third.
Seamlessly incorporating elements of jazz while respecting the formal beauty of classical music, it is truly a groundbreaking work.
ZigeunerweisenPablo de Sarasate28rank/position
Zigeunerweisen, composed in 1878 by the Spanish composer Pablo de Sarasate.
This violin concerto is a supreme work of classical music in which the fast passages in the violin’s upper register convey profound sorrow.
Every phrase is breathtakingly powerful, and as you listen, you can’t help but feel your emotions surge! As an aside, it’s also extremely rare for a 19th-century piece in that a recording survives of the composer himself performing it, made in 1904.
