Franz Schubert Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

String Quartet No. 12 in C minor, D 703Franz Schubert91rank/position

Schubert: “Quartettsatz” D703 Amadeus (1977)

Composed beginning in 1820, this string quartet remained unfinished, with only the first movement completed and the second abandoned in sketch form.

Because it consists of just a single movement, it is sometimes referred to as a fragment.

It is characterized by tremolo figures moving chromatically, creating an intensely turbulent, passionate atmosphere.

The performance is by the Amadeus Quartet.

String Quartet No. 14 in D minor, D 810 “Death and the Maiden”Franz Schubert92rank/position

Schubert : String Quartet No.14 D minor D810(Death and the Maiden)

It is a string quartet composed in 1824.

It was published posthumously in 1831.

Because it quotes the motif from Schubert’s song “Der Tod und das Mädchen” (Death and the Maiden), the quartet itself is also commonly known as “Death and the Maiden.” At the time, Schubert’s body was ravaged by illness.

From this work—whose every movement is written in a minor key—we can glimpse Schubert’s state of mind during that period.

Unfinished SymphonyFranz Schubert93rank/position

Franz Schubert Symphony No.8 “Unfinished” D 759, Leonard Bernstein

Composed in 1822, this is one of Schubert’s most representative works.

The first and second movements were completed, and it is performed in that form.

Schubert stopped composing partway through the third movement, but in fact he is known for abandoning many works in a similar unfinished state.

The performance is by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra conducted by Leonard Bernstein.

Moments Musicaux, Op. 94, D. 780, No. 3 in F minorFranz Schubert94rank/position

Schubert / Moments Musicaux No. 3 in F minor, D 780, Op. 94 / Performance: Akira Imai

Moments Musicaux is a collection of six piano pieces composed between 1823 and 1828 and published in 1828.

Among them, No.

3 is particularly famous; it had already been included in another collection published in 1823 under the title “Air Russe (Russian-style Song).” Today, it is a very popular piece frequently used in commercials and other media, so many people have likely heard it.

Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel, D118Franz Schubert95rank/position

Schubert: Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel (Schubert)

This song was composed in 1814, when Schubert was 17 years old.

It sets a text from Goethe’s Faust, Part I.

Not only is it Schubert’s first Goethe song, but some commentators also regard it as the very moment of birth for the German-language art song—the German Lied.

Many other composers, including Wagner, Spohr, and Verdi, have also set this poem to music.

wild roseFranz Schubert96rank/position

Heidenröslein (Schubert’s folk/children’s song)

This commercial shows Atsuko Takahata and Kengo Kora asking questions at a laboratory to find out what kind of effects Attack has.

Takahata, who can’t believe it whitens without even scrubbing, gradually becomes convinced as she watches the research process, clearly conveying the product’s astonishing effectiveness.

The music that further accentuates the fresh atmosphere of the predominantly white visuals is Franz Schubert’s Heidenröslein (Wild Rose).

With the piano at the center, it brings a sense of lightness within the refreshing mood and conveys a relaxed, everyday feeling.

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Wild Rose D257Franz Schubert97rank/position

Schubert: Heidenröslein (Goethe) Schubert: Wild Rose (Goethe)

It is a work published in 1821.

This song sets to music Goethe’s poem “Heidenröslein” (“Wild Rose”), written around 1799.

It is said that the poem reflects Goethe’s remorse for betraying the daughter of a pastor with whom he had fallen in love and for breaking her heart.

In fact, not only Schubert but also many other composers—such as Beethoven, Schumann, and Brahms—set this poem to music.

Among them, Schubert’s Heidenröslein is especially beloved for its bright, charming, and approachable character.

To Music, Op. 88 No. 4, D 547Franz Schubert98rank/position

Franz Schubert: An Die Musik, D 547 – Felicity Lott

Composed in 1817, it is a song with piano accompaniment.

It sets to music a poem by his friend Ritter von Schober.

In D major and cut time (2/2), the music is written with clarity, yet it employs effects that make the voice and piano sound as if they are in dialogue.

It is regarded as a masterpiece that directly expresses Schubert’s love and gratitude for music.

Demon KingFranz Schubert99rank/position

Franz Schubert: Erlkönig

A song composed by Franz Schubert when he was 18.

It is said he was so moved by Goethe’s poem that he completed it in a single night.

The piece depicts a father fleeing from the Erlking while galloping through the night on horseback, clutching his ailing son.

The piano’s repeated notes evoke the horse’s gallop and the parent and child’s anxiety and urgency, brilliantly expressing the Erlking’s seductive enticements, the father’s desperation, and the boy’s terror.

First performed in 1821, it has since been performed continually by many singers and pianists.

Its unique blend of fear and poignancy makes it perfect for Halloween.

Demon King (Easy Piano Version)Franz Schubert100rank/position

Erlkönig / Schubert (Easy Piano Version)

From its gentle melody to the tragic story hidden beneath, this piece captivates listeners.

Composed by Franz Schubert at the age of 18, it portrays the love between father and son and the inevitability of death.

The piano accompaniment evokes the sound of a horse’s hooves, heightening the tension of the narrative.

Although it is challenging to sing all four distinct roles alone, beginners can still give it a try with a simplified piano version.

Some of you may have even been moved after playing excerpts of the piano score printed in your textbooks.

It’s recommended for those interested in classical music or who enjoy pieces with strong storytelling.

Through this work, why not experience Schubert’s genius for yourself?