The 10 Best Classical Music Songs of All Time

From Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” to Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5 in C Minor,” these are the 10 best classical music songs of all time.

Introduction

Classical music is timeless. It’s the kind of music that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and from all walks of life. It’s the kind of music that can be enjoyed in a number of different ways, whether it’s through live performances, or simply listening to recordings.

There are so many great classical music pieces out there, it’s impossible to compile a definitive list of the very best. However, we’ve tried to put together a list of 10 of the most popular and well-loved classical music pieces of all time. We’ve included a mix of well-known pieces, as well as some hidden gems that we think deserve more attention.

We hope you enjoy our list!

10. “Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso – Maestoso ed assai energico” from Symphony No. 3 in D Major, Op. 29 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

This piece is the first movement of Tchaikovsky’s third symphony, completed in 1875. It is one of his most popular and well-known works, and is considered one of the great Symphony No. 3s of the Romantic era. The opening melody, played by the cellos and basses, is famous for its simplicity and beauty.

9. “Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18: II. Adagio sostenuto” by Sergei Rachmaninoff

This concerto is one of the most popular pieces of classical music ever written, and it’s adagio second movement is especially beloved. It was composed in 1901, and the first performance was given by the composer himself with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra.

8. “Requiem in D Minor, K. 626: III. Dies irae” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

The “Dies irae” movement of Mozart’s Requiem is one of the most well-known and popular pieces of classical music ever written. It is a setting of the Latin Requiem Mass, which is a funeral mass for the dead. The “Dies irae” is the first movement of the Requiem, and it is a dramatization of the Day of Judgment from the Christian Bible. The music is dark and foreboding, and it reflects the gravity of the situation. The “Dies irae” is one of the most famous pieces of classical music, and it is often performed at funerals and memorials.

7. “The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

This timeless holiday classic was composed by Tchaikovsky in 1892 as part of his ballet “The Nutcracker.” The work has since become one of the most popular and performed ballets in the world, and its signature tune, “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” is instantly recognizable.

6. “Canon in D Major” by Johann Pachelbel

“Canon in D Major” is one of the most popular pieces of classical music of all time. It is often used in weddings, and it has been covered by many artists, including pop singers like John Legend and Yo-Yo Ma. The piece was written by Johann Pachelbel, a German composer, in the 1600s. It is a canon, which means that it is a repeating melody with different instruments playing the same melody at different times. The melody is very simple, but it is very beautiful.

5. “Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125: II. Molto vivace” by Ludwig van Beethoven

This is the second movement of Beethoven’s final symphony, and it’s marked “motto vivace,” or “very lively.” The piece is in sonata form, which means it has three sections: an exposition, development, and recapitulation. The first section introduces the main themes of the piece, the second section develops them, and the third section brings them back.

The second movement is in D minor, which is a dark and stormy key. But despite its minor key, this movement is incredibly joyful. That’s because of its fast tempo and its optimistic theme. This theme is introduced by the strings in the very first measures of the piece. Then it’s taken up by the woodwinds, and finally by the brass. The whole orchestra comes together to play this cheerful theme.

4. “Clair de lune” by Claude Debussy

“Clair de lune” is one of the most popular and well-known classical pieces of all time. The French composer Claude Debussy wrote it in 1890 as part of a suite of piano music called “Suite bergamasque.” The word “Clair de lune” means “moonlight” in French, and the piece is meant to evoke the feeling of moonlight shining on a calm lake. The piece is written in 3/4 time and is in the key of D-flat major. It is often performed as a solo piano piece, but has also been arranged for orchestra and other instrumental combinations.

3. “The Four Seasons: Winter, Op. 8 No. 4: II. Largo” by Antonio Vivaldi

This ethereal piece by Vivaldi is from his set of concertos known as “The Four Seasons.” It depicts a winter scene, with all the beauty and mystery that entails. The music is written in such a way that you can almost hear the snow falling. It’s truly a work of art.

2. “Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2: Moonlight Sonata: I. Adagio sostenuto” by Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2: Moonlight Sonata” is one of the most popular classical music pieces of all time. The Moonlight Sonata is so named because the first movement, marked Adagio sostenuto, was said to evoke the moonlight shining on a lake.

Beethoven composed the Moonlight Sonata in the summer of 1801, while staying in the village of Heiligenstadt, just outside Vienna. He was in failing health, and Heiligenstadt was a place where people went to “take the waters” and try to improve their health. The beautiful countryside and peaceful atmosphere may have inspired Beethoven to compose this tranquil sonata.

The Moonlight Sonata was published in 1802, dedicated to his student Countess Giulietta Guicciardi. It became extremely popular, and has been a staple of piano repertoire ever since.

1. “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: XVIII. Alla Turca: Allegretto” by Sergei Rachmaninoff

This song is from Sergey Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.” The “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini” is a composition for piano and orchestra written in 1934 by Sergei Rachmaninoff. It is based on the 24th Caprice (Caprice XXIV) in A minor, Op. 1, composed by Niccolò Paganini in 1817.

The “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini” was premiered by the composer himself, accompanied by the Philadelphia Orchestra under Leopold Stokowski. It was well-received by both audiences and critics, and has become one of the most popular works in the classical music repertoire.

This particular song, “Alla Turca: Allegretto,” is the 18th and final variation of the “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.” It is in A minor and marked Allegretto.