Ranking of popular classical pieces

Sonatine No. 8, Movement IMuzio Clementi36rank/position

Sonatina Album, Volume 1: No. 8, 1st Movement — Clementi, Op. 36 No. 2

If you’re looking for a piano piece with rich resonance and a light, graceful melody, I would recommend this work.

Written in the bright key of G major, it beautifully balances a brilliant, dynamic melody with a robust, supportive accompaniment.

Though published in 1797 as an educational piece, it possesses ample artistry to stand as a concert work.

A highlight is the interplay between the elegant first theme—rich in stepwise motion—and the bustling, restless second theme.

Combining technical interest with musical allure, this piece is perfect for those who want to showcase the piano’s expressive range or who favor a dazzling, powerful character.

Spanish Rhapsody, S.254Franz Liszt37rank/position

[Ultimate Virtuosity] I tried playing the highest-difficulty piece in Vienna, Rapsodie espagnole! Listening along with the pianist’s inner voice opens up a new world…?! Sweat, sweat?! [Liszt]

Among Franz Liszt’s works, the piece regarded as particularly difficult—even for a pianist famed for transcendental virtuosity—is the Rhapsodie espagnole (Spanish Rhapsody).

Composed from impressions he gained during his 1845 visit to Spain, the work weaves in melodies of Spanish folk dances throughout and offers a dazzling display of pianism.

Its virtuoso passages, scattered across the entire piece, are frequently chosen for international competitions, yet only a very small number of pianists can perform it.

It is truly a repertoire piece for professionals who possess advanced technique, expressive depth, and robust stamina.

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43, Variation 18: Andante cantabileSergei Rachmaninov38rank/position

Variation 18 from Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Rachmaninoff) Ayumi Yokouchi

Sergei Rachmaninoff, the great composer, was also a gifted pianist and produced many masterpieces during his lifetime.

Among them, the one I especially recommend for its moving beauty is the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op.

43, Variation 18 “Andante cantabile.” A work often mentioned alongside it for its emotional impact is Vocalise, but whereas Vocalise features a melancholy, wistful melody, this piece is crafted with an inspiring melody that evokes hope—the complete opposite in character.

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Clair de lune, the 3rd piece from the Suite bergamasqueClaude Debussy39rank/position

Clair de Lune - Debussy

The masterpieces created by Claude Debussy are distinguished by a dreamlike atmosphere, as if expressing moonlight through sound.

The beautiful melodies woven by the piano’s gentle timbre seem to conjure before your eyes a nightscape bathed in moonlight.

This work, whose revised edition was published in 1905, was also featured on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” broadcast in August 1971, and it has become widely beloved in Japan.

It is a recommended piece for times when you want to soothe a tired heart or spend a leisurely moment.

Surrendering yourself to its elegant melody will help you step away from the bustle of everyday life and spend your time in a calm, peaceful state.

12 Etudes Op. 25-6Frederic Chopin40rank/position

Chopin, Frédéric / 12 Etudes Op. 25 No. 6 in G-sharp minor, piano – Rieko Nezu

Among Chopin’s works, the Etude Op.

25, No.

6 is said to be one of the most difficult.

It demands exceptional flexibility of the hands and fingers, featuring repeated passages in double thirds of high difficulty.

Many players stumble right at the opening chromatic double-thirds, which also appear frequently in Liszt’s works.

In this sense, the piece can be seen as a gateway to repertoire for ultra-advanced pianists.

Performances that achieve beautifully articulated, evenly voiced tone are remarkable—be sure to check them out.

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Jesu, Joy of Man’s DesiringJ.S.Bach41rank/position

Bach: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring

Johann Sebastian Bach, known as the “Father of Music.” The chorale that closes his church cantata Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, composed in 1723, is likely something everyone has heard at least once.

Its warm yet majestic sonorities evoke a deep sense of peace and unwavering hope.

Beloved as a staple at celebrations such as weddings, it is also widely known in the piano arrangement by Myra Hess.

Its quiet, refined harmonies won’t disrupt your thoughts; rather, they gently enhance your concentration.

Give it a listen as background music to clear your mind while studying or doing desk work.

Like a melodyJohannes Brahms42rank/position

Brahms: "As if it were melody" — from the album "Poésie: Playing Poetry (Song)"

The moment you try to put it into words, it disappears.

Such delicate feelings are depicted in music in the first song of Johannes Brahms’s collection Fünf Lieder, Op.

105.

Based on a poem by Klaus Groth, something that flits through the heart flows like a melody, blossoms like a flower, and drifts like a fragrance—yet the instant it is spoken, it fades like mist.

This paradoxical beauty is woven in sound.

Premiered in Vienna in February 1887, the work is written for low voice and piano, and it holds a deep afterglow within restrained emotion.

Played in a quiet graduation moment—say, during the presentation of diplomas—it can gently let feelings that words cannot fully convey seep into the heart.