they’re the definition of classic
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top ten
iconic pieces of classical music for
this list we’re choosing compositions
based on their quality overall
recognition and lasting impact
we’re focusing on instrumental passages
and or sections as those whose main
focus are vocals will be explored in
another list
we’re also excluding those pieces that
have become synonymous with specific
ceremonies like here comes the bride
pomp and circumstance and the Hallelujah
Chorus
number 10 the William Tell Overture from
William Tell jokey no Rossini this
instrumental intro to the Opera William
Tell is most famous in recent times for
the use of its finale as the Lone Ranger
theme Ranger but the jokey no Rossini
composed overture is actually a
12-minute long piece divided into four
parts including the prelude dawn storm
rendezvous
and the already mentioned march of the
Swiss soldiers
with each part written for specific
instruments the overture sets the stage
for the Opera in the Swiss Alps by
seamlessly transitioning between slow
and dynamic and then pastoral and lively
number nine The Nutcracker Suite pyotr
ilyich tchaikovsky
accompanied by a score crafted by pyotr
ilyich tchaikovsky the nutcracker did
not find immediate success upon its
premiere in the late 1800s
but that didn’t discourage the Russian
composer from choosing eight numbers
from the to act ballet to form what’s
known as the nutcracker suite’ for live
performance luckily for him and for us
it was a hit
and today we can enjoy the magic and
beauty of this romantic composition
which is filled with unforgettable
melodies complex harmonies and
instruments like Bobo’s French horns a
celesta harps and more
number eight
eine kleine Nachtmusik wolfgang amadeus
mozart
reason why Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote
this little serenade may be unknown but
that doesn’t take anything away from the
chamber ensemble compositions beauty and
popularity
originally composed for violins viola
cello and double bass eine kleine
Nachtmusik has found a home among string
orchestras these days and is notable for
its grace energy and overall gentle
atmosphere
number seven ina Layton Arizona napkin
from also sprach zarathustra he shouts
house
it may have become ingrained in modern
public consciousness after Stanley
Kubrick immortalized it in his movie
2001 a Space Odyssey
but the he shouts Klaus tone poem has
been a classical music staple ever since
it was first performed in the late 19th
century
while the majority of people are
probably most familiar with its
introduction also known as sunrise in
English thus spake Zarathustra actually
contains nine sections in total
each of which was given a title from
chapters of the Friedrich Nietzsche
novel
number six The Barber of Seville
chiquinho Rossini
this is arguably the be-all and end-all
of opera buffa for when it comes to
comedy within music there are few
compositions that have stood the test of
time as well as Rossini’s to act work of
art
by combining an Italian libretto by
Cesare Sabini
that was in turn based on a Pierre
Beaumarchais play Rossini created a
versatile and light-hearted piece that’s
worthy of being called a masterpiece on
top of this The Barber of Seville
continues to be performed today and it’s
overture was even immortalized in pop
culture in a Looney Tunes cartoon short
number 5 Phil ELISA Ludwig van Beethoven
written for solo piano this Ludwig von
Beethoven composition finds itself at
the halfway point of our list
not only is field elisa one of the
German composers most popular pieces
ever but it’s also mellow and pleasant
not to mention memorable and playable
ELISA of its title may still be
unconformity
him asleep uh blushed score is so widely
recognized around the world number four
right of the Valkyries from diva cava
recalde Wagner
this is the now-famous prelude to
devalue cooler which is the second of
four operas collectively known as the
Ring des Nibelungen
and by VCAL vogner this ensemble piece
is a highly appropriate introduction to
an opera about Norse female figures with
the power to choose the fate of fighting
soldiers
thanks to its tension building nature
and climactic ending the Rite of the
Valkyries is the perfect accompaniment
to the battle cry and as such has
appeared in multiple movie and TV
productions
number three Symphony number nine Ludwig
von Beethoven
as Beethoven’s Symphony number 9 and D
minor is considered one of his greatest
musical works it’s not surprising that
it’s ranked so highly on our list
and even though it’s final movement ode
to joy’ contains one of the earliest
cases in which a major composer includes
vocals and a symphony it’s the fact that
the extended musical composition in its
entirety is the closest wherever likely
to get to a literal interpretation of
joy in musical form that lands it here
not only is the Ninth Symphony one of
the planet’s most performed symphonies
it has also influenced countless other
composers thereafter
number two the Four Seasons antonio
vivaldi undoubtedly the Italian
composer’s most famous composition this
collection of four violin concertos has
found a permanent place in the hearts of
classical music lovers and artists alike
in the centuries since its completion
as each concerto was written with one of
the four seasons in mind each musical
work contains unique notes intricate
moments and varied textures intended to
evoke the time of year it was named
after
in short the four seasons isn’t only
multifaceted and beautiful but it was
also instrumental in the evolution of
the concerto as a classical music style
before we unveil our number one pick
here are a few honorable mentions
mmm
number one Symphony number five you’d
vic von Beethoven
reaching the summit of our list is the
Beethoven composition frequently called
the victory symphony not only is it one
of the composer’s most famous pieces but
it’s also one of the most famous
symphonies in all of classical music
especially notable for its now-familiar
opening motif that appears throughout
the entire symphony to bring together
each of the four movements Symphony
number five is innovative technically
complex and emotionally affecting
all you have to do is give it a listen
to see why it’s had such a major
influence on others and has a deep and
far-reaching legacy do you agree with
our list what’s your favorite piece of
classical music for more entertaining
top 10s published every day be sure to
subscribe to watchmojo.com
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top ten
iconic pieces of classical music for
this list we’re choosing compositions
based on their quality overall
recognition and lasting impact
we’re focusing on instrumental passages
and or sections as those whose main
focus are vocals will be explored in
another list
we’re also excluding those pieces that
have become synonymous with specific
ceremonies like here comes the bride
pomp and circumstance and the Hallelujah
Chorus
number 10 the William Tell Overture from
William Tell jokey no Rossini this
instrumental intro to the Opera William
Tell is most famous in recent times for
the use of its finale as the Lone Ranger
theme Ranger but the jokey no Rossini
composed overture is actually a
12-minute long piece divided into four
parts including the prelude dawn storm
rendezvous
and the already mentioned march of the
Swiss soldiers
with each part written for specific
instruments the overture sets the stage
for the Opera in the Swiss Alps by
seamlessly transitioning between slow
and dynamic and then pastoral and lively
number nine The Nutcracker Suite pyotr
ilyich tchaikovsky
accompanied by a score crafted by pyotr
ilyich tchaikovsky the nutcracker did
not find immediate success upon its
premiere in the late 1800s
but that didn’t discourage the Russian
composer from choosing eight numbers
from the to act ballet to form what’s
known as the nutcracker suite’ for live
performance luckily for him and for us
it was a hit
and today we can enjoy the magic and
beauty of this romantic composition
which is filled with unforgettable
melodies complex harmonies and
instruments like Bobo’s French horns a
celesta harps and more
number eight
eine kleine Nachtmusik wolfgang amadeus
mozart
reason why Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote
this little serenade may be unknown but
that doesn’t take anything away from the
chamber ensemble compositions beauty and
popularity
originally composed for violins viola
cello and double bass eine kleine
Nachtmusik has found a home among string
orchestras these days and is notable for
its grace energy and overall gentle
atmosphere
number seven ina Layton Arizona napkin
from also sprach zarathustra he shouts
house
it may have become ingrained in modern
public consciousness after Stanley
Kubrick immortalized it in his movie
2001 a Space Odyssey
but the he shouts Klaus tone poem has
been a classical music staple ever since
it was first performed in the late 19th
century
while the majority of people are
probably most familiar with its
introduction also known as sunrise in
English thus spake Zarathustra actually
contains nine sections in total
each of which was given a title from
chapters of the Friedrich Nietzsche
novel
number six The Barber of Seville
chiquinho Rossini
this is arguably the be-all and end-all
of opera buffa for when it comes to
comedy within music there are few
compositions that have stood the test of
time as well as Rossini’s to act work of
art
by combining an Italian libretto by
Cesare Sabini
that was in turn based on a Pierre
Beaumarchais play Rossini created a
versatile and light-hearted piece that’s
worthy of being called a masterpiece on
top of this The Barber of Seville
continues to be performed today and it’s
overture was even immortalized in pop
culture in a Looney Tunes cartoon short
number 5 Phil ELISA Ludwig van Beethoven
written for solo piano this Ludwig von
Beethoven composition finds itself at
the halfway point of our list
not only is field elisa one of the
German composers most popular pieces
ever but it’s also mellow and pleasant
not to mention memorable and playable
ELISA of its title may still be
unconformity
him asleep uh blushed score is so widely
recognized around the world number four
right of the Valkyries from diva cava
recalde Wagner
this is the now-famous prelude to
devalue cooler which is the second of
four operas collectively known as the
Ring des Nibelungen
and by VCAL vogner this ensemble piece
is a highly appropriate introduction to
an opera about Norse female figures with
the power to choose the fate of fighting
soldiers
thanks to its tension building nature
and climactic ending the Rite of the
Valkyries is the perfect accompaniment
to the battle cry and as such has
appeared in multiple movie and TV
productions
number three Symphony number nine Ludwig
von Beethoven
as Beethoven’s Symphony number 9 and D
minor is considered one of his greatest
musical works it’s not surprising that
it’s ranked so highly on our list
and even though it’s final movement ode
to joy’ contains one of the earliest
cases in which a major composer includes
vocals and a symphony it’s the fact that
the extended musical composition in its
entirety is the closest wherever likely
to get to a literal interpretation of
joy in musical form that lands it here
not only is the Ninth Symphony one of
the planet’s most performed symphonies
it has also influenced countless other
composers thereafter
number two the Four Seasons antonio
vivaldi undoubtedly the Italian
composer’s most famous composition this
collection of four violin concertos has
found a permanent place in the hearts of
classical music lovers and artists alike
in the centuries since its completion
as each concerto was written with one of
the four seasons in mind each musical
work contains unique notes intricate
moments and varied textures intended to
evoke the time of year it was named
after
in short the four seasons isn’t only
multifaceted and beautiful but it was
also instrumental in the evolution of
the concerto as a classical music style
before we unveil our number one pick
here are a few honorable mentions
mmm
number one Symphony number five you’d
vic von Beethoven
reaching the summit of our list is the
Beethoven composition frequently called
the victory symphony not only is it one
of the composer’s most famous pieces but
it’s also one of the most famous
symphonies in all of classical music
especially notable for its now-familiar
opening motif that appears throughout
the entire symphony to bring together
each of the four movements Symphony
number five is innovative technically
complex and emotionally affecting
all you have to do is give it a listen
to see why it’s had such a major
influence on others and has a deep and
far-reaching legacy do you agree with
our list what’s your favorite piece of
classical music for more entertaining
top 10s published every day be sure to
subscribe to watchmojo.com
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