Emmanuel Chabrier Popular Song Rankings [2026]

Ballet songEmmanuel Chabrier8rank/position

Chabrier: Songs of the Ballet, Barbizet, 1982

Emmanuel Chabrier, a composer who epitomized late 19th-century France, is known as a pioneer who laid the foundations of modern French music ahead of Debussy and Ravel.

One of his signature piano works, Songs of the Ballet, showcases his talent at its finest.

The beautiful words by the poet Catulle Mendès are exquisitely fused with Chabrier’s delicate music.

This moving composition, interweaving a hymn to transient beauty with a sense of mourning, evokes the fragility and preciousness of life through the piano’s richly resonant sound.

Boulée FantasqueEmmanuel Chabrier9rank/position

Chabrier: Bourrée fantasque Pf. Mari Terada: Mari Terada

Emmanuel Chabrier injected fresh energy into the French musical scene of the late 19th century, leaving original works across a wide range of genres, including opera and piano music.

Bourrée fantasque is a late masterpiece that conjures a fantastical world based on the traditional dance of the Auvergne region.

Its mercurially shifting harmonies and rhythms, and the kaleidoscope of sounds that sweep across every corner of the keyboard, are truly breathtaking! While the piece demands considerable virtuosity, it is a perfect choice for advanced pianists seeking to explore the instrument’s full potential.

Impromptu in C majorEmmanuel Chabrier10rank/position

Chabrier: Impromptu, Doyen (1954) — Chabrier Impromptu, Doyen

The Impromptu in C major, left to us by the 19th-century French composer Emmanuel Chabrier.

Within a brief creative period of just fourteen years, he continued to produce works brimming with inventiveness and humor, and from this impromptu one can keenly feel his Romantic sensibility and expressive richness.

His skill at deftly depicting subtle shades of emotion is especially remarkable! A moving masterpiece I would recommend to everyone who loves music.

If you play it with passion, you will surely feel a connection to Chabrier’s very soul.

Whimsical BourréeEmmanuel Chabrier11rank/position

Chabrier: Bourrée Fantasque, Doyen (1954) — シャブリエ『気まぐれなブーレ』、ドワイアン（1954年）

Emmanuel Chabrier was a composer who, ahead of Debussy and Ravel, made major contributions to the development of modern French music.

While studying law, he taught himself composition, and within a brief 14-year career as a composer, he fully displayed his talent in piano music.

Bourrée fantasque is a piece marked by its lively rhythms and dynamic development.

It is said that Chabrier’s own performances produced a powerful sound, as if a storm were raging.

Rhapsody “Spain”Emmanuel Chabrier12rank/position

Chabrier: Rhapsody “España”

French composer Emmanuel Chabrier composed the orchestral rhapsody España in 1883, inspired by his travels to Spain.

The work was originally conceived as a piano duet, but was ultimately arranged for orchestra.

Influenced by the Spanish jota dance, this piece had a profound impact on later Spanish-inflected works in French music and continues to inspire many composers.

It is a masterpiece recommended not only for those familiar with classical music but for anyone seeking passionate music!

Collection of Little Pictures, No. 6: PastoralEmmanuel Chabrier13rank/position

Chabrier / 10 Picturesque Pieces: No. 6 Pastorale / Performed by Mariko Kaneda

Emmanuel Chabrier was a composer active in 19th-century France.

His music is full of lively rhythms and humor, and he displayed his talents to the fullest in his piano works as well.

The collection Pieces pittoresques is among the most popular of Chabrier’s piano compositions.

No.

6, “Idylle,” is characterized by a gentle melody, with colorful harmonies and delicate nuances.

This piece, which paints the beauty and tranquility of nature in sound, is sure to offer listeners a pleasant sense of serenity.

Album of Small Paintings No. 7: Village DanceEmmanuel Chabrier14rank/position

Chabrier: From the Picturesque Pieces – 'Idylle' & 'Village Dance' – Annie d’Arco (piano)

Village Dance is a lively, rhythmic piece composed in 1881 by the French composer Emmanuel Chabrier, depicting the sounds of a rustic dance.

Its richly expressive character—alternating between brisk tempos and more relaxed passages—makes it feel as if you’re watching a whirling circle of dancers.

When practicing, focus on finger independence and clear dynamic contrasts.

If you perform it with the feeling of being in the French countryside, you’re sure to bring out the work’s charm.