The 5 Most Well-Known Classical Music Pieces
Contents
The 5 most well-known classical music pieces are: 1) Canon in D Major by Johann Pachelbel 2) The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi 3) Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven 4) The Nutcracker Suite by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky 5) The Planets by Gustav Holst.
Introduction
Classical music is art music produced or rooted in the traditions of Western music, including both liturgical (religious) and secular music. While a more precise term is also used to refer to the period from 1750 to 1820 (the Classical period), this article is about the broad span of time from before the 6th century AD to the present day, which includes the Classical period and various other periods. The central norms of this tradition became codified between 1550 and 1900, which is known as the common-practice period.
Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony No. 5 in C minor
Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor is one of the most well-known pieces of classical music. The work was composed in 1804–1808 and first performed in Vienna in 1808. The symphony is in four movements and is about 30 minutes long.
The first movement, Allegro con brio, is the most famous section of the work and has been used in countless films, TV shows, and commercials. The second movement, Andante con moto, is a slow section that provides contrast to the first movement. The third movement, Scherzo: Allegro, is a fast and lighthearted section. The final movement, Presto – Allegro assai, is the longest and most complex section of the work.
Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 is one of the most important works of western classical music and has had a profound influence on subsequent composers.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Requiem
One of the most popular classical music pieces ever composed, Mozart’s Requiem was unfinished at the time of the composer’s death in 1791. The work was completed by Mozart’s student Franz Xaver Süssmayr and has since been performed countless times all over the world. The piece is often used at funerals and memorial services, making it one of the most widely recognized classical compositions.
Johann Sebastian Bach – Mass in B minor
A true classic, Bach’s Mass in B minor is one of the most well-known and beloved pieces of classical music. Composed over the course of his lifetime, the work was not completed until shortly before Bach’s death in 1750.
One of the greatest works of choral music ever written, the Mass in B minor is a monumental achievement, featuring some of Bach’s most beautiful and moving music. The piece was composed for both small and large forces, and can be performed with just a handful of singers or a massive choir. No matter who is performing it, though, the Mass in B minor always leaves a lasting impression.
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Swan Lake
Swan Lake is a ballet composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1875–76. Despite its initial failure, it is now one of the most popular of all ballets. The scenario, initially in four acts, was fashioned from Russian folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer’s curse. The choreographer of the original production was Julius Reisinger (Václav Reisinger). The ballet was premiered by the Bolshoi Ballet on 20 February 1877 at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Although it is presented in many different versions, most ballets are based on the 1895 revival of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, first staged for the Imperial Ballet on 15 January 1895, at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.
Swan Lake is considered to be one of Tchaikovsky’s greatest works. The music has become one of his most famous compositions and has been used in many films and television shows.
