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 (71–80)
Carmen FantasyPablo de Sarasate71rank/position
This is a masterpiece composed by a celebrated Spanish virtuoso violinist.
Pablo de Sarasate was a violinist and composer active during the Romantic era, known for his pure tone and light, agile performance style.
This work is a fantasy based on melodies from Bizet’s opera Carmen, showcasing the violin’s allure to the fullest.
Beginning with an introduction, the famous themes from Carmen appear one after another, captivating listeners.
Its brilliant performance, employing a variety of techniques such as trills and glissandi, unfolds like a passionate Spanish landscape spreading before your eyes.
It’s a piece I would especially recommend to women interested in classical music.
Introduction from the symphonic poem “Also sprach Zarathustra”Richard Strauss72rank/position
You often hear the phrase on TV shows and commercials, but there may not be many people who know the title of the piece: Also sprach Zarathustra.
It was written by Richard Strauss, one of the most famous German composers around 1900.
The piece is a musical expression of the renowned prose poem by the philosopher and poet Nietzsche.
In the introduction, the scene where one morning Zarathustra awakens with the dawn and addresses the sun with gratitude is vividly recreated through masterful orchestration.
A Little Night MusicWolfgang Amadeus Mozart73rank/position
The creator of this masterpiece, whose gentle and graceful melody sinks into the heart, is the genius composer Mozart.
Evoking a nocturnal scene with a serene atmosphere, this work harmoniously blends light, approachable themes and was completed in Vienna in August 1787.
Consisting of four movements—from the bright and festive first movement, to the second that exudes the quiet of night, the dance-like third, and the lively fourth—it gently envelops the listener.
It is also used as the departure melody at Tobu Tojo Line Ikebukuro Station, making it a familiar tune in everyday life.
It’s a perfect piece when you want to enhance concentration or calm the mind.
Passion ContinentHakasé Tarō74rank/position
Composed by violinist Taro Hakase for MBS’s human-interest documentary program “Jounetsu Tairiku,” this theme is a popular piece that often comes up when people mention violin music.
Many have likely dreamed of performing it at least once.
Although it features an uptempo feel with fast, intricate runs, it can be played almost entirely in first position.
The piece essentially has two main sections: the opening melody and the chorus with sustained, powerful notes.
Practice the opening with precise rhythms and runs, and work on producing a rich tone in the chorus.
Start slowly, then gradually raise the tempo to match the original track—careful practice will quickly bring it into shape!
Polonaise No. 6 in A-flat major, Op. 53 “Heroic”Frederic Chopin75rank/position
Samson François’s performance of Polonaise No.
6 in A-flat major, Op.
53, cannot help but move the listener.
Throughout the work, one feels Frédéric Chopin’s patriotism and his longing for an oppressed Poland.
The powerful rhythms, brilliant melodies, and the striking sequence of octaves in the middle section vividly evoke the image of a hero.
The arpeggios that cascade from both hands steadily heighten the listener’s sense of anticipation.
François’s playing—both delicate and bold—conveys the work’s dramatic allure in its entirety.
It is a superb performance I would recommend not only to classical music enthusiasts but to all music lovers.
Pachelbel’s CanonJohann Pachelbel76rank/position
This is a work by Johann Pachelbel in which three violins play as if chasing a beautiful melody.
Its hallmark is the way the lines are layered upon one another.
Although there are no lyrics, the gentle, harmonious sonorities feel like a tender conversation, softly enveloping the listener’s heart.
Composed in the late 17th century, it became internationally famous after a June 1968 recording conducted by Jean-François Paillard.
It also gained wider recognition through its use in the 1980 film Ordinary People, and it’s now well known as wedding background music.
Its soothing, steady rhythm and seemingly endless, beautiful melody make it perfect for focusing on work or study.
It may be just the piece for those who want to clear their minds and approach things with calmness.
Brave Rider from ‘Album for Children’Robert Schumann77rank/position
This celebrated piece, distinguished by its exhilarating cascade of sounds and powerful rhythm, is included in the album “Album for the Young.” Composed in 1848 as a birthday present for his eldest daughter Marie, it lasts barely a minute yet displays remarkable musical richness and artistic sophistication.
Its energetic, staccato-driven phrases blend perfectly with the tension created by the key of A minor, vividly conjuring the image of a knight galloping on horseback.
Despite its simple structure, the work is highly expressive, making it ideal for those who want to captivate listeners in a short performance or who enjoy a robust, vigorous character.
It has also been selected as a set piece for international piano examinations and is beloved around the world.
Tufted puffinHakasé Tarō78rank/position
A beautiful instrumental piece inspired by the image of an auk swooping through the sky.
Taro Hakase’s emotionally rich violin weaves a grand melody that brilliantly captures the breath of nature and the pulse of life.
It was also used as the ending theme for the MBS/TBS program Jonetsu Tairiku, leaving a deep impression on many listeners.
The piece is notable for its structure: it begins in the calm of morning and unfolds as if depicting powerful, soaring wingbeats.
It’s a song to listen to when you’re about to take a new step forward or when you need courage.
Etude ‘Railway’ Op.27bCharles Valentin Alkan79rank/position
Charles-Valentin Alkan, one of the leading composers of French Romanticism.
His Étude “Le Chemin de fer” (The Iron Road) Op.
27b is considered one of his most difficult works.
The key feature of this piece is, above all, its dramatic shifts in tempo.
Right from the opening, rapid passages evoking a steam locomotive burst in.
Written largely in sixteenth notes, it keeps the right hand relentlessly busy and demands exceptional finger speed.
It’s a straightforwardly high-difficulty piece, so if you’re confident in your fingerwork, be sure to check it out.
Nocturne No. 8, Op. 27 No. 2Frederic Chopin80rank/position
A masterpiece by Frédéric Chopin that envelops the heart in an elegant, introspective atmosphere.
Its delicate melody evokes a quiet nightscape, punctuated by occasional surges of passion that leave a vivid impression.
Composed in 1836 and published the following year, this piece is among the most popular of Chopin’s nocturnes and is perfect for wedding performances.
Its gentle sonorities seem to bless the happy departure of the bride and groom, drawing guests into attentive silence.
The intimate ambiance unique to a solo piano work is part of its charm.