Felix Mendelssohn Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

Six Pieces for Children, Op. 72 No. 1Felix Mendelssohn21rank/position

Mendelssohn: Six Children’s Pieces, Op. 72, U171, G major, Pf. Rintaro Akamatsu

Felix Mendelssohn’s Six Children’s Pieces, Op.

72, is a collection well-suited to beginning piano students.

No.

1, in particular, captivates the listener with its charming melody.

Its buoyant waltz rhythm and lively staccato add color to the piece, and the structure is easy for early-elementary learners to grasp.

With few accidentals and requirements limited to fundamental piano technique, it is also highly recommended for recital programs.

By practicing light, agile fingering, students can achieve an even more expressive performance.

Six Pieces for Children, Op. 72 No. 2Felix Mendelssohn22rank/position

Mendelssohn: Six Children's Pieces, Op. 72 – No. 2 in E-flat major, Piano. Rintaro Akamatsu (Pf.)

Alongside the Songs Without Words, Mendelssohn’s Six Pieces for Children are among his more approachable works and are perfect as practice material.

The piece introduced here is No.

2; though short, its refined and graceful melody is delightful to play.

The left hand is basically an arpeggiated accompaniment, so it’s important to make the right-hand main theme clear.

Since accidentals appear regularly, be sure to read the score carefully, and rather than playing mechanically, follow the indicated dynamics to shape an expressive performance.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

KOH-1

Report a problem

6 Pieces for Children, Op. 72 No. 3Felix Mendelssohn23rank/position

Mendelssohn: 6 Kinderstücke Op. 72: III. Allegretto, MWV U 164

Without needing to master difficult techniques, Mendelssohn’s piano miniatures “Six Children’s Pieces, Op.

72” let you savor the graceful beauty of Romantic music.

The third piece in the set, in addition to its beauty, conveys a charming, playful lightness that evokes children at play—a fresh and bright work.

Be sure to clearly differentiate the flowing, beautiful legato passages from the buoyant staccatos and repeated dotted rhythms, aiming for a performance with vivid contrast.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

yuri

Report a problem

Six Songs, Op. 34: No. 2 ‘On Wings of Song’Felix Mendelssohn24rank/position

Barbara Bonney – Auf Flugeln des Gesanges (Mendelssohn)

The second song of Six Songs, Op.

34, composed in 1834, is a beautiful Lied based on a poem by Heine.

Its graceful melody depicts a dreamlike scene in which the lover is invited to a utopian realm.

On the banks of the Ganges, a garden blooms under the moonlight with red flowers and water lilies.

There, violets and roses converse while a young deer listens.

Characterized by the rich expressiveness typical of the Romantic era, this piece leaves a deep impression on listeners.

In Japan, it is also well known for being used as the arrival melody for Kintetsu limited express trains.

HerbstliedFelix Mendelssohn25rank/position

Herbstlied, No. 4 – Sechs Lieder-Duette, Op. 63 – Mendelssohn

Among the works of Felix Mendelssohn, a composer who represents the German Romantic movement of the 19th century, the piece known as a symbol of autumn is “Herbstlied” (Autumn Song).

Published in 1844, this song sets a poem by the poet Karl Klingemann to music, portraying the transience of life through the shifting scenes of autumn while singing of the eternity of love and hope.

Its melody, tinged with quiet melancholy yet imbued with hope, perfectly suits an autumn evening.

Showcasing Mendelssohn’s delicate sensibility, this work is recommended for those who wish to reflect on life while feeling the arrival of autumn.

Wedding MarchFelix Mendelssohn26rank/position

Mendelssohn A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Wedding March

When it comes to wedding entrance songs, this is probably the first piece that comes to mind for many people.

The “pa-pa-pa-paaan” tune—it’s a classic masterpiece.

With its grand, leisurely orchestral melody, it’s brimming with celebratory spirit, just as the title suggests.

A recommended classical piece for couples who want a traditional wedding.

“On Wings of Song” from “Six Songs”Felix Mendelssohn27rank/position

List: 7 Songs (Mendelssohn) On Wings of Song pf. Kana Onda

A work arranged by Liszt from No.

2 of Mendelssohn’s song cycle “Six Songs.” The text of this song is based on a poem from Heinrich Heine’s 1827 collection “Book of Songs,” and its romantic content sings of taking one’s beloved to India—a distant Eastern land then thought of as a fairy-tale realm.

While preserving the gentle, song-like atmosphere of the original, it also bears Liszt’s signature brilliance and beautiful sonorities, making for a single piece that is both elegant and evocative.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

HATSUMI

Report a problem

Fantasia on “The Last Rose of Summer,” Op. 15Felix Mendelssohn28rank/position

Mendelssohn “The Last Rose of Summer” – Fantasia on ‘The Last Rose of Summer’; pf: Kuniko Hiraga

“The Last Rose of Summer” is a poem written in 1805 by the Irish poet Thomas Moore, later published in 1813 set to a traditional Irish folk melody.

In Japan, it is widely known as the school song “Niwa no Chigusa” (“The Flowers in the Garden”), and it has also been frequently quoted in classical music.

Among the most famous is Mendelssohn’s Fantasia on “The Last Rose of Summer,” Op.

15.

While incorporating the original tune, Mendelssohn’s refined sensibility elevates it brilliantly into a piano piece.

The opening gently presents the main theme’s melody, but the middle section suddenly plunges into a dramatic, urgent development—beginning with a presto agitato that feels like a rush of stirred emotions.

The way the main theme occasionally resurfaces in song-like phrases, and the way the piece ends as if fading into silence, creates a wonderfully dreamlike atmosphere.

That said, performing it requires at least an intermediate level of technique, and it will be quite challenging for someone only just approaching that level.

In the presto agitato, where sixteenth notes are struck in alternation between the right and left hands, be careful not to merely run through the notes; stay keenly aware of the distinct roles of each hand.

Shaping contrasts in tempo and character throughout the entire piece, and keeping in mind the imagery conveyed by the original poem, will also deepen your expressiveness.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

KOH-1

Report a problem

“Six Duets,” Op. 63, No. 4: “Song of Autumn”Felix Mendelssohn29rank/position

F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy – Herbstlied

The Six Duets comprise six pieces—1.

Pour Out My Love; 2.

The Parting of the Migratory Birds; 3.

Greeting; 4.

Autumn Song; 5.

Folk Song; 6.

Lilies of the Valley and Flowers—forming a set of duets that amply demonstrates Mendelssohn’s talent as a vocal composer.

Autumn Song is a work in which Mendelssohn set a poem by Nikolaus Lenau to a beautiful melody, a masterpiece that evokes the quiet sentiment of autumn.

Ah, how swiftly the dancing circle ends, and spring turns to winter.

Ah, how quickly all joys are transformed into the silence of sorrow.

Soon the last reverberation fades, soon the last singer is gone, and dreams and love, sweet as spring, quickly vanish.

Only one thing does not disappear: longing—something that never fades.

This is the general sense of the lyrics.

Soprano: Barbara Bonney; Mezzo-soprano: Angelika Kirchschlager.

Hear My Prayer, O LordFelix Mendelssohn30rank/position

Mendelssohn – Hear my Prayer (Durham Cathedral Consort of Singers)

This work is a sacred piece composed in 1834, written for orchestra and mixed chorus.

It features a gentle, emotional ballad-like character and a melody that brings calm and comfort.

The lyrics are a prayer to God, pleading for help, and speak of threats from enemies, loneliness, and fear.

It is often performed during the Christmas season and at religious ceremonies, and it is popular in church and sacred music concerts.

Even if you don’t usually listen to religious music, why not give this beautiful piece a try?