A masterpiece by Richard Wagner. Popular classical music.
We’ve put together a collection of masterpieces by Richard Wagner, the 19th-century German composer known as the “King of Music Drama”! He wrote the librettos for most of his own operas and was known not only as a composer but also as a man of letters, making him one of the figures who exerted broad influence across Europe in the latter half of the 19th century.
True to his title as the King of Music Drama, he wrote a great many music dramas; however, he also left works such as the Symphony in C major, as well as numerous piano pieces and songs.
Those familiar with wind bands may recognize Wagner’s name from “Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral.” This time, we’ve selected some of Wagner’s greatest works.
Please give them a listen!
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Masterpieces by Richard Wagner. Popular classical music (31–40)
Wedding March (Organ)Richard Wagner
There are various “Wedding Marches,” but Wagner’s piece has a more subdued, tender feel.
Alongside Mendelssohn’s work, it is a famous wedding march.
Performed on the organ, it strongly evokes the image of a church and feels very fitting for a wedding.
Wagner’s piece suits the organ particularly well.
Album Leaf for E. B. Kietz, WWV 64Richard Wagner
A rare piano piece that reflects Richard Wagner’s ceaseless spirit of exploration, Albumblatt for E.B.
Kietz, WWV 64.
Composed in 1840 as a token of friendship for Ernst Benedict Kietz, this work stands in contrast to the grandeur of Wagner’s operas, suffused instead with calm emotion and pure beauty.
Spun without episodes or lavish drama, its melodies quietly speak to the depth of friendship and personal feeling.
This piece is especially recommended for refined pianists who excel at conveying delicate emotions, as well as listeners eager to discover a different side of Wagner!
Albumblatt für F. B. Scott, WWV 108Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner, the revolutionary of the musical world.
While his name is chiefly known for his grand operatic works, his piano piece Albumblatt “For F.
B.
Scott,” WWV 108 stands in marked contrast to his dramatic oeuvre, pursuing a gentle, lyrical beauty.
Composed as a personal token of gratitude and commemoration for a friend and supporter, the work exudes intimacy and introspection throughout.
Why not enjoy performing it, savoring the subtle nuances that convey its profound emotional expression? After immersing yourself in Wagner’s monumental operas, playing this piece will offer a fresh and surprising contrast.
Prelude to Act III from LohengrinRichard Wagner
Lohengrin is one of the knights who appears in the legend of King Arthur.
He is the hero who arrived in a swan-drawn boat to rescue a princess who was about to be ensnared by intrigue.
This prelude is a highly brilliant piece performed at the beginning of Act III, which opens with the wedding scene of the princess.
If you listen closely to the oboe toward the end, you can hear the melody of the famous Bridal Chorus that follows.
Elegy in A-flat major, WWV 93Richard Wagner
The piano miniature Elegy in A-flat major, WWV 93, left by the innovative German composer Richard Wagner, shines with a distinctly unique charm even among his extensive body of work.
This simple and gentle piano piece shares a harmonic language with his music drama Tristan und Isolde and can be considered a valuable work for delving into the depths of Wagner’s musical world.
This brief and moving melody—something unimaginable from his grand operas—reveals its true worth in silence.
It is recommended for moments of relaxation or self-reflection, and even as an entry point into classical music.
Masterpieces by Richard Wagner. Popular classical music (41–50)
Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral from Act 2 of the opera LohengrinRichard Wagner
This piece begins with a majestic melody and gradually builds in exhilaration.
It is also highly popular in the wind ensemble repertoire.
The pure lines of the woodwinds leave a strong impression, and as the chorale-like theme is repeated, the instrumentation and dynamics expand step by step.
Depicting Elsa’s procession to the cathedral for her wedding, it conveys both purity and anticipation for marriage.
Since its premiere on August 28, 1850, it has continued to captivate many listeners.
It is a recommended work not only for opera fans but also for wind band enthusiasts.
A true masterpiece for anyone who wants to savor a solemn atmosphere and beautiful melodies.
“Ride of the Valkyries,” Act 3 from the opera The ValkyrieRichard Wagner
Also known as “Ride of the Valkyries,” this piece by Richard Wagner is very famous.
The greatest opera composer of the late Romantic era is the German Wagner, who sought a total work of art that unifies theater, literature, and music.
This piece, included in The Ring of the Nibelung, is performed at the beginning of Act III and depicts the Valkyries, including Brünnhilde, gathering the souls of fallen warriors on the battlefield.
The curtain rises immediately, and to the music, eight Valkyries gather on a rocky mountaintop, crying out.
The woodwinds’ tremolo and the strings’ upward runs heighten the tension, and the horns and trumpets play that famous melody.
It’s a piece that raises the performers’ adrenaline as well when played by an orchestra.