Franz Schubert Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

Symphony No. 3 in D major, D 200Franz Schubert78rank/position

Schubert: 3. Sinfonie ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ Andrés Orozco-Estrada

Composed in 1815, it is a symphony in D major.

It consists of four movements, all written in a major key.

As it is still an early symphony, there are many passages reminiscent of Haydn; nevertheless, Schubert’s individuality is beginning to emerge, and it is said that the Allegretto of the second movement uses the 14th-century German folk song “Maria’s Lullaby” as its theme.

Symphony No. 7 “Unfinished Symphony”Franz Schubert79rank/position

Franz Schubert, Symphony No. 8 “Unfinished”

This work was composed in 1822 when Schubert was 25 years old.

The score was discovered several years after his death and received its premiere in 1865.

Schubert wrote the piece as a token of gratitude after being recommended as an honorary member of the Music Society.

Because the completed manuscript extends only to the second movement, it is known as the “Unfinished Symphony.” Many people have offered various speculations as to why it remained incomplete.

Symphony No. 8 (9) in C major “The Great,” D. 944Franz Schubert80rank/position

Schubert: Symphony No. 9 in C major, D 944 “The Great” — Karl Böhm, Vienna Philharmonic, 1976, Salzburg / シューベルト 交響曲 第9番 ザ・グレイト ベーム

This work was composed between 1825 and 1826.

The nickname “The Great” is widely believed to have arisen to distinguish it from Schubert’s Symphony No.

6, which is also in C major, hence calling it “The Great” (the larger symphony).

True to its name, it is a lengthy piece lasting over an hour, and Schumann praised it, referring to its “heavenly length.”

Winter Journey, Op. 89, D. 911, No. 1: ‘Good Night’Franz Schubert81rank/position

Schubert “Winterreise” complete recital — Daiki Katsumura (Baritone), Yukimasa Uozumi (Piano) — with bilingual subtitle captions

Composed in 1827, it is a song cycle for voice with piano accompaniment.

It sets poems by the German poet Wilhelm Müller and comprises 24 songs in total across Parts 1 and 2.

The fifth song, “Lindenbaum” (“Der Lindenbaum”), is particularly famous.

In addition, the opening song, “Good Night” (“Gute Nacht”), which can be regarded as an overture of sorts, reflects Schubert’s state of mind at the time—his health had already deteriorated, his life was difficult, and he had begun to be conscious of death.

Winterreise, Op. 89, D. 911 No. 5 “The Linden Tree”Franz Schubert82rank/position

Linden Tree (with lyrics) Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

Winterreise, the song cycle Schubert composed a year before his death, was written as his illness worsened and he became conscious of his mortality.

It depicts the inner landscape of a young man who, after a broken heart, journeys alone through a winter wilderness.

No.

5, “Der Lindenbaum” (The Linden Tree), is one of the most famous of all Schubert’s songs.

It expresses the young man’s feelings as he passes by the linden tree of his memories.

A piano accompaniment that evokes the rustling of leaves is overlaid with a beautifully poignant melody, resulting in an overall gently reflective tone.

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Impromptu in G-flat major, Op. 90 No. 3Franz Schubert83rank/position

Schubert – Impromptu in G flat major, Op. 90 No. 3 – pianomaedful

This piece is by Franz Schubert, a composer emblematic of the 19th-century Romantic era.

It is the third piece from his set of Impromptus composed in 1827, notable for its beautiful melody characterized by flowing sextuplet arpeggios.

Over gentle harmonies, the inner voices are ornamented, supporting a long-breathed, singing line.

This work, which conveys Schubert’s delicate sensibility and profound expressiveness, is also very popular among piano students.

The sense of meter is highly distinctive, so pay careful attention to which beat each phrase aligns with as you play.

Some arpeggios are broken chords, so as you learn them, memorize where the flats occur on the keyboard.

Holding long notes with the right hand while playing the arpeggios can be quite challenging at first, but similar figurations appear in works by other composers such as Liszt; with continued practice, you’ll be able to apply this technique to other pieces as well.

Impromptus No. 3 in B-flat major, D 935, Op. 142Franz Schubert84rank/position

Schubert: Impromptus No. 3 in B-flat major, D 935, Op. 142 / Performed by Akira Imai

Let us introduce a work by Franz Schubert, a leading figure of early 19th-century Austria.

Composed in 1827, this piece is written in a theme-and-variations form, consisting of a theme followed by five variations.

It is characterized by a familiar melody that includes quotations from incidental music by Schubert himself.

Each variation employs various techniques—such as dotted rhythms, ornamentation, and triplets—beautifully fusing Viennese Classical virtuosity with Romantic lyricism.

Among Schubert’s piano works, this impromptu is one of the most highly regarded and frequently performed.

It is a recommended piece for those beginning piano through intermediate players who wish to experience Schubert’s world.

In Japan, it has also been used in commercials for TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company), so you might find yourself thinking, “Oh, it’s that piece!” as you play it.