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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Ranking of Popular Classical Pieces (41–50)
Dance of DeathCamille Saint-Saëns43rank/position
An orchestral piece composed by Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns in 1874.
Inspired by the medieval European tradition of the Dance of Death, this work explores the universal themes of life and death.
Written for solo violin and orchestra, the violin symbolizes Death, its eerie yet captivating melody threading throughout the piece.
The intense rhythms and dynamic orchestration underscore the impermanence and urgency of the danse macabre.
Since its release, it has been performed by orchestras around the world and preserved in numerous recordings.
It’s a perfect piece for those who want to revel in a spooky atmosphere on Halloween night.
Chromatic Grand GallopFranz Liszt44rank/position
Liszt’s masterpiece “Grand Galop Chromatique.” Along with “Mazeppa” and “Feux follets” from the Transcendental Études, it is renowned as one of Liszt’s most difficult works.
The trickiest passages are undoubtedly the rapid figures that use the 4th and 5th fingers.
On top of an awkward layout that makes your fingers feel like they’re about to cramp, it bombards you with wide leaps and octaves.
It’s a piece that even capable advanced players find hard to execute accurately.
Compared to other Liszt works, its performative impact is somewhat lower, and from an artistic standpoint it can receive modest evaluations; still, for those who love the sound of augmented triads and whole-tone scales, it’s a piece that will hit the spot.
Andante spianato and Grand Polonaise brillante, Op. 22Frederic Chopin45rank/position
A concerto-like work for orchestra and piano, Andante spianato and Grande Polonaise brillante, Op.
22.
Later arranged as a solo piano version, this piece is known as one of Chopin’s most difficult works.
Its key feature is the ternary form with a coda.
Because the right hand’s ornamentation demands advanced technique, performers who struggle with delicate touch tend to avoid it.
If you enjoy music that is brilliant, bright, and refined, be sure to check it out.
white birchJean Sibelius46rank/position
This is a piano miniature noted for its elegant, translucent resonance.
Included on the acclaimed album “The Trees Suite,” it beautifully depicts the pale bark and leaves swaying in the wind with delicate touch and light, airy melodies.
Composed in 1914, the piece is deeply connected to Finland’s beautiful nature, and its calm, graceful melody is sure to soothe the listener’s heart.
With a richly expressive line full of subtle nuance, it is perfect for drawing out the piano’s expressive power.
Highly recommended for those seeking a radiant sonority or wishing to experience the landscapes of Nordic nature through music.
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 “Moonlight,” I. AllegrettoLudwig van Beethoven47rank/position
Ludwig van Beethoven’s masterpiece, Piano Sonata No.
14 in C-sharp minor, Op.
27 No.
2 “Moonlight,” opens with an achingly beautiful melody suffused with poignancy.
The first movement, marked by its gently repeating triplets, is known as a piece approachable even for beginner pianists.
Although the score is easy to read and the writing falls naturally under the hands, sustaining an even, accurate pulse while allowing the melody line to sing demands strong concentration and acute awareness in the fingertips.
Listen closely to the harmonic changes and immerse yourself in the piece’s world as you perform.
Symphony No. 5 “Fate”Ludwig van Beethoven48rank/position
A masterpiece among orchestral masterpieces composed by the great classical master Beethoven.
Its opening motif—“da-da-da-dum”—is widely known around the world.
Beethoven completed this work while gradually losing his hearing.
Consisting of four movements, it portrays a journey from anguish to joy through dramatic transformation: from the first movement, which symbolizes the arrival of inescapable fate, to the fourth movement, which drives inexorably toward its climax.
Premiered in Vienna in December 1808, it went on to establish itself as a central work in the orchestral repertoire.
In its formal beauty and structural perfection, it is a masterpiece whose intricacy is unmatched by other works.
String Quartet No. 2, Movement 1Alexander Borodin49rank/position
Known as a masterpiece brimming with lyrical beauty, this string quartet captivates with its sweet, lovestruck melodies and delicate fragility.
Highlights include the theme that begins in the cello and passes to the first violin, as well as the lively interplay among the instruments.
It is also a highly rewarding piece for performers.
Begun in July 1881 and completed by September—a remarkably swift pace—the work overflows with a warm resonance filled with love.
It is an ideal choice for those who wish to savor beautiful melodies and rich expressiveness.