What is classical music known for? Classical music has lasted for hundreds of years because it is beautiful, hard to understand, and has a huge amount of music to choose from. There are a few pieces of classical music that have become well-known because they have been used in important events like graduations, weddings, classic movies, and even cartoons! We’ll take a closer look at a few of the many famous pieces of classical music on this list.
Read more: What is Classical Music Definition.
What is Classical Music Known for : Most Famous Pieces of All Time
Bach wrote Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565.
This piece by Bach might not have the most memorable name, but you’re sure to know the famous first few bars. It has become associated with intense or even scary moments in movies and pop culture. This may be because it was used in the opening credits of the movie Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, which is a very well-known movie (1931). The first piece on our list of some of the most famous pieces of classical music ever written is Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor. This piece shows how talented and strong of a composer Bach was.
Ludwig Van Beethoven’s “Für Elise” is Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor.
During Beethoven’s lifetime, this piece was never put out in print. In fact, “Für Elise” wasn’t found until 1827, forty years after he died. So, no one really knows who the Elise in the title was. Some music experts think that the title may have been copied wrong and that the original name was “Für Therese.”
But no matter who the lucky person is to whom this piece is dedicated, we can all agree that it is one of the most charming pieces of piano music ever written. Beethoven’s Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor has been reinterpreted many times because of its simple but catchy melody and timeless beauty.
Ludwig Van Beethoven’s “Moonlight” is Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No.2.
Unlike “Für Elise,” Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” became a popular favorite during his lifetime and is still one of the most loved pieces he ever wrote. Beethoven wrote his Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor when he was in his early thirties. He gave it to Countess Giulietta Guicciardi, who had studied piano with Beethoven.
If you’ve ever taken piano lessons, been with someone who did, or even just tried to play some familiar music on the piano, you probably know the beginning of the Moonlight Sonata very well.
Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
This Beethoven symphony starts with what may be the four most famous notes of all time: da da da duuum! Some critics have said that this opening sounds like Fate knocking on the door. We can’t be sure what Beethoven had in mind when he wrote this opening to his Symphony No. 5 in C minor, but there’s no doubt that it’s one of the 10 most famous pieces of music ever made. It’s been used in movies, commercials, and even pop songs, even though it’s classical music.
Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, “Choral”
This is the last complete symphony by Beethoven. It was first done in 1824 in Vienna, and it is still done all over the world. The 9th Symphony was the first time that a major composer added voices to a symphony. This opened up a new way for composers to show their creativity and gave the human voice new power and a place among the best orchestra instruments in the grandest pieces.
A lot of people think that Beethoven “saved the best for last” because the Ode to Joy is used in the last movement of the symphony. No matter what your favorite part is, it’s clear that Beethoven’s Choral Symphony is groundbreaking, powerful, and truly iconic.
Charles Gounod wrote “Ave Maria.”
When Charles Gounod, who was thirty at the time, decided to make up a melody for the words “Ave Maria,” he made it fit over a well-known keyboard piece: Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I, Prelude No. 1 in C major, BWV 846. Gounod wrote “Ave Maria” for a solo voice and piano, but it is also often played with a wide range of instruments.
We think this piece is a stunning example of how borrowing from one of the best and reusing it with a lot of skill and thought can lead to something both new and familiar that is still very good.
Handel’s “Messiah” tells the story of Jesus.
It is hard to say what about Handel’s Messiah makes it so famous. This Baroque oratorio was originally written for the Christian holiday of Easter. It is now almost always played during the Christmas season as well, and its artistic power goes far beyond any one holiday or religion.
Messiah is a grand and shining example of how classical music can move people and tell stories in a way that no other art form can. It is full of memorable melodies and famous choruses.
Serenade No. 13 in G Major, K 525, “Eine kleine Nachtmusik” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was so brilliant that he spent 30 of his 35 years making music. His name is now known by almost everyone in the world. The first movement of “A Little Night Music,” or “Eine kleine Nachtmusik,” is probably his best-known piece.
Outside of the concert hall and classical recordings, you’ll probably hear it used to calm people on hold and sell a wide range of products. With his well-known sense of humor, the composer might have found this funny.
