The Top 10 Classical Music Pieces of All Time
Contents
From Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor to Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, join us as we countdown the top 10 classical music pieces of all time.
Introduction
It would be impossible to compile a list of the best classical pieces without considering the input of experts. This is why we turned to Music Classics Daily’s panel of international critics, who voted on their Top 10 classical music pieces of all time. These are the results…
Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No. 3
The piece is a concerto grosso, and Bach wrote it for Christian Ludwig, Margrave of Brandenburg. The work is in the key of D major and consists of three movements.
The first movement, Allegro, is in ABAC form. The second movement, Andante, is a simple Sarabande in D minor. The third movement, Presto, is a lively Gigue.
This piece is one of the most popular concerti grossi ever written and is often performed by orchestras and string quartets.
Beethoven – Symphony No. 9
Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, is a choral symphony, the final complete symphony by the German composer. Composed between 1822 and 1824, the work was one of Beethoven’s final compositions, along with the piano sonatas Opp. 109, 110, and 111 and the string quartetOp. 127; it is also considered to be one of his most revolutionary masterpieces. The symphony was the first instance of a major composer using voices in a symphony (thus making it a “choral symphony”). The words are sung during the final movement by four vocal soloists and a chorus. They were taken from Goethe’s 1785 poem An die Freude (“Ode to Joy”) which had been set to music by Beethoven’s friend Franz Schiller in 1785 and included re-worked versions of some stanzas of Friedrich Schiller’s “Ode to Joy”.
The Ninth Symphony is regarded by many critics as Beethoven’s greatest work; when Karl Marx saw a performance in London, he declared it “the greatest human achievement ever witnessed”. Leonard Bernstein described the symphony as “the greatest synthesis of humanity ever accomplished”.Eighth notes are sometimes used for emphasis after being printed in capital letters in scores; these eighth notes were also famous for being used as an example for newly composed music for beginners (similar to how “Do-Re-Mi” is still often used).
Brahms – Symphony No. 1
Brahms’s Symphony No. 1 is one of the most popular and well-known pieces of classical music, and it has been performed and recorded countless times. The work was composed in the summer of 1876, just a few months after Brahms had finished his Piano Concerto No. 1. It was first performed in public in 1877, with Hans Richter conducting the Vienna Philharmonic.
The piece is in four movements, each with a different character:
1. Allegro non troppo
2. Andante sostenuto
3. Un poco allegretto e grazioso
4. Allegro con spirito
The first movement is the longest and most complex, while the second is more gentle and lyrical. The third is a light-hearted scherzo, and the fourth is an energetic finale.
The symphony was an instant success with audiences and critics alike, and it remains one of Brahms’s most popular works today.
Dvorak – Symphony No. 9
Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 is one of the most popular symphonies ever written, and for good reason. It’s incredibly moving, with beautiful melodies and a powerful emotional punch. It’s also one of the most accessible symphonies, with memorable themes that will stay with you long after you’ve heard it.
Haydn – The Creation
The Creation is an oratorio written in 1798 by Franz Josef Haydn. The work depicts and celebrates the creation of the world as described in the Book of Genesis. It is considered by many to be Haydn’s masterpiece, and one of the greatest works of classical music ever written.
Mahler – Symphony No. 1
1. Mahler – Symphony No. 1
2. Beethoven – Symphony No. 9
3. Tchaikovsky – Swan Lake
4. Haydn – The Creation
5. Mozart – Requiem
6. Stravinsky – The Firebird
7. Prokofiev – Peter and the Wolf
8. Elgar – Enigma Variations
9. Dvorak – New World Symphony
10. Bach – Goldberg Variations
Mozart – Symphony No. 40
One of the most popular pieces of classical music, Symphony No. 40 was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1788. The work is in the key of G minor and is known for its expressive melodies and emotional range. The symphony is divided into four movements: Allegro molto, Andante, Menuetto: Allegretto, and Allegro assai. It is one of Mozart’s most performed works and has been widely adapted for other genres, including film and television.
Schubert – Symphony No. 9
1. Schubert – Symphony No. 9
2. Beethoven – Symphony No. 5
3. Beethoven – Symphony No. 9
4. Mahler – Symphony No. 2
5. Brahms – Symphony No. 1
6. Haydn – The Creation
7. Tchaikovsky – Swan Lake
8. Tchaikovsky – Sleeping Beauty
9. Stravinsky – The Firebird Suite
10. Wagner – Ride of the Valkyries
Tchaikovsky – Swan Lake
The first ballet Tchaikovsky wrote, Swan Lake was composed in 1875–76. It was premiered by the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow on February 20, 1877.
Considered one of the most popular ballets of all time, Swan Lake tells the story of young love between Prince Siegfried and Odette, a beautiful princess cursed to spend her days as a swan by an evil sorcerer.
Tchaikovsky’s score is among the most popular pieces of classical music and has been adapted for use in many other works, including The Nutcracker and Fantasia 2000.
