Franz Schubert Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

Schubert’s LullabyFranz Schubert64rank/position

Schubert's Lullaby by Tetsuo Nomoto

Franz Schubert’s “Schubert’s Lullaby” is arguably the most famous lullaby in the world.

With its gentle, soothing melody that lulls one to sleep, it’s a very simple and beautiful piece.

The tender, unadorned lyrics—perfectly matched to the words that say, “Sleep in your mother’s arms”—leave a strong impression.

When performing a lullaby, the beauty of the sound is paramount.

Even when playing it on the piano, focus on producing a rounded, gentle tone, calm your mind, and play with tenderness.

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yuri

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Schubert MedleyFranz Schubert65rank/position

Classical Masterpieces: 24 Schubert Pieces [For Work]

This is a medley of masterpieces left by Franz Schubert, known as the king of Lieder, whose musical style embraced free modulation and elements of program music.

His expansive, free-flowing music is captivating, and he remains a composer loved around the world today.

Scherzo in B-flat major, D.593Franz Schubert66rank/position

Schubert / Scherzo in B-flat major, D. 593 / Performed by Kyoko Nakagawa

Schubert composed Two Scherzos, whose light waltz rhythm feels pleasantly buoyant, in 1817.

In terms of his creative output, that year is not generally considered particularly noteworthy, and this work, too, was not published until much later—1871, long after Schubert’s death.

The piece introduced here is No.

1.

While it features a distinctive, dance-like right-hand arpeggio, it does not demand advanced technique; it is a piece that even beginners who have become reasonably comfortable with the piano should be able to play.

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KOH-1

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SerenadeFranz Schubert67rank/position

Schubert “Serenade”

Called Schubert’s Serenade, it’s the fourth song in the song cycle “Swan Song.” Since a serenade means appealing to one’s beloved from beneath their window, this piece too faithfully pleads love to a sweetheart.

But Japanese men can’t really do something that cheesy, can they? The mood of the piece is still a love scene, isn’t it?

Piano Quintet “The Trout,” Fourth MovementFranz Schubert68rank/position

Schubert Ensemble: Schubert “Trout” Quintet, 4th Movement.

In the summer of 1819, while visiting northern Austria, I was asked by an amateur musician to compose a quintet based on my 1817 song “Die Forelle” (The Trout).

I quickly began working on the idea and completed the “Trout” Quintet within the same year.

The piece vividly depicts a trout playing in a brook and its dramatic capture by an angler.

Piano Sonata No. 16 in A minor, Op. 42, D. 845, First MovementFranz Schubert69rank/position

Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 16 in A minor, D 845, Op. 42 – I. First movement; Pf. Yurino Izumi

A piano piece known as one of the few sonatas Franz Schubert, a master of Romantic music, published during his lifetime.

It is characterized by unstable harmonies and bold modulations, expressing Schubert’s distinctive “transfigured sorrow.” The first movement, notable for its somber, emotionally rich melody, is in sonata form and develops a powerful yet poignant theme in A minor.

The opening subject, presented in a “question-and-answer” manner that creates a musical dialogue, is also striking.

With its complex emotional expression and palpable tension, this work is an ideal piece for those looking to refine their piano technique.

Piano Sonata No. 18 in G major, D 894, Op. 78 “Fantasy”Franz Schubert70rank/position

2023 PTNA Special Class Semifinal: Schubert – Piano Sonata No. 18 “Fantasy,” D 894, Op. 78, pf. Manami Suzuki

Composed around 1826, when Franz Schubert was 28, this four-movement masterpiece is known as the “Fantasy Sonata,” a name derived from the word “Fantasia” written on its first edition.

While Schubert’s Piano Sonatas Nos.

19, 20, and 21 are especially famous, No.

18 is also highly popular.

Robert Schumann, a leading composer of the German Romantic tradition and a renowned critic, praised it as “perfect both in form and spirit.” Even today, this “Fantasy Sonata” is regarded as one of Schubert’s most esteemed works and is an essential part of a pianist’s repertoire.

It was the last work published during Schubert’s lifetime, and, true to a composer who wrote many songs and dances, it features not only great beauty but also movements that compellingly incorporate dance rhythms—making it a piece you’ll want to hear all the way to the end.