# Classical Music Top 40 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 18, 2006, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-top-40/380925 "2006-11-18T07:01:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2006, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-top-40/380925/1 "2006-11-18T07:01:31Z")
OK so I’m listening to Mendelssohn’s _Incidental Music for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”_ and I’m thinking, _This is just about the most accessible, unchallenging, listener-friendly classical music ever written; it’s like Classical Top 40._ Then I realize that it’s not, actually, one of those pieces considered as the \*actual \*Classical Top 40. Then I’m thinking, well what \*are \*those pieces? Here’s the best I could do. What did I miss? The first movement of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony Mozart’s “_Eine Kleine Nacht Musik_” Strauss’s “Tales from the Vienna Wood” Brahm’s Lullaby Ravel’s Bolero Pachelbel’s Canon Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor The other Strauss’s “_Also Sprach Zarathustra_” Wagner’s “The Ride of the _Valküre_” Khachaturian’s Saber Dance Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture The fourth movement of Beethoven’s Ninth _ **Runners up:** _ Bach’s “Sheep May Safely Graze” and “Air on a G String” Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King” Leoncavallo’s “I Pagliacci” That duet from _The Pearl Fishers_ Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumblebee” This is all top-of-the-heady; please nominate others. ---
**Author:** ![Stealth\_Potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Stealth\_Potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stealth_Potato)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2006, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-top-40/380925/2 "2006-11-18T08:42:57Z")
Bach’s Brandenburg concertos. Not actually classical, but then not all the ones you listed are classical either, so what the hey. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2006, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-top-40/380925/3 "2006-11-18T09:07:14Z")
I would put the first movement of Mendelssohn’s “Italian Symphony” over the Midsummer Night Dream stuff even – it’s even more accessible, better known, and instantly likeable. Also: Beethoven’s “Für Elise” Mozart Piano Sonata in C (K???) First movement of Mozart’s 40th Symphony The William Tell Overture ---
**Author:** ![bundykala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@bundykala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bundykala)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2006, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-top-40/380925/4 "2006-11-18T11:45:25Z")
In addition to the ones already mentioned there are: The Sorceror’s Apprentice - Dukas (all thanks to Fantasia) Claire de Lune - Debussy The Swan - Saint-Saens Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy - Tchaikovsky Firebird Suite - Stravinsky Rhapsody in Blue - Gershwin First Gymnopedie - Satie Rondo alla Turca in A Minor - Mozart Emporor Waltz - Strauss And then there’s the less well known but impossible to leave out Battle on the Ice by Prokofiev. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2006, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-top-40/380925/5 "2006-11-18T14:23:44Z")
> [@Rodgers](#): > > Mozart Piano Sonata in C (K???) Are you thinking of Concerto No. 21 (K 467)? And I’ll add to the list: Tchaikowsky’s _1812 Overture_ Bizet’s _Carmen Suite #1_ with the March of the Toreadors ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2006, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-top-40/380925/6 "2006-11-18T15:02:03Z")
[QUOTE=C K Dexter Haven] Are you thinking of Concerto No. 21 (K 467)? [/QUOTE] I’m sure he means the [Sonata #16, K. 545](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Sonata,_K._545_(Mozart)). I’d add: Smetana: _The Moldau_ and substitute _The Blue Danube_ for the J. Strauss choices already mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2006, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-top-40/380925/7 "2006-11-18T16:14:03Z")
Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” Barber’s “Adagio for Strings” Vivaldi’s Spring concerto of “The Four Seasons” Bach’s “Prelude in C” ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-top-40/380925/8 "2006-11-18T21:49:22Z")
Voted by the listeners of a classical music station: [http://theclassicalstation.org/top100.shtml](http://theclassicalstation.org/top100.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2006, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-top-40/380925/9 "2006-11-18T22:33:35Z")
[QUOTE=rowrrbazzle] Voted by the listeners of a classical music station: [http://theclassicalstation.org/top100.shtml](http://theclassicalstation.org/top100.shtml) [/QUOTE] Depends which station you ask the listeners of! Classic FM, a very bland British ‘classical music’ station (heavy inverted commas), has done numerous surveys. Bruch’s violin concerto (no. 1 if anybody has heard the others) is a common winner, threatened by the Elgar cello concerto. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2006, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-top-40/380925/10 "2006-11-18T23:13:24Z")
[QUOTE=Stealth Potato] Bach’s Brandenburg concertos. Not actually classical, but then not all the ones you listed are classical either, so what the hey. 😃 [/QUOTE] There’s Classical and there’s classical, just like there’s Catholic and there’s catholic. I’m pretty sure you knew exactly what I meant–what everyone means–when they use the term “classical music.” ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2006, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-top-40/380925/11 "2006-11-18T23:21:02Z")
[QUOTE=Rodgers01] I would put the first movement of Mendelssohn’s “Italian Symphony” over the Midsummer Night Dream stuff even – it’s even more accessible, better known, and instantly likeable. Also: \*\* Beethoven’s “Für Elise” \*\* Mozart Piano Sonata in C (K???) First movement of Mozart’s 40th Symphony **The William Tell Overture** [/QUOTE] Bolded items: **Bingo**. See, by “top 40,” I mean the pieces that any Joe in the elevator would be able to hum along with, even if they didn’t know what it was called. The Mendelssohn you mention, while overfamiliar to any classical listener, doesn’t quite meet that criterion, IMO. Good candidate for runner up though. And the Mozart, if you mean K279, then I don’t think so. The 40th is more widely familar, but again, I don’t see an average Joe humming along. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-top-40/380925/12 "2006-11-18T23:22:08Z")
[QUOTE=bundykala] In addition to the ones already mentioned there are: The Sorceror’s Apprentice - Dukas (all thanks to Fantasia) Claire de Lune - Debussy The Swan - Saint-Saens **Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy - Tchaikovsky** Firebird Suite - Stravinsky **Rhapsody in Blue - Gershwin** First Gymnopedie - Satie **Rondo alla Turca in A Minor - Mozart** Emporor Waltz - Strauss And then there’s the less well known but impossible to leave out Battle on the Ice by Prokofiev. [/QUOTE] Three Bingos, with a lot of good runners up. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-top-40/380925/13 "2006-11-18T23:22:47Z")
No list is complete without Rossini’s “William Tell” Overture. And “The Barber of Seville” Overture, too. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2006, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-top-40/380925/14 "2006-11-18T23:25:05Z")
[QUOTE=C K Dexter Haven] Are you thinking of Concerto No. 21 (K 467)? And I’ll add to the list: Tchaikowsky’s _1812 Overture_ [mentioned above] **Bizet’s _Carmen Suite #1_ with the March of the Toreadors** [Bingo] [/QUOTE] The second movement of K467 is a good runner up too. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2006, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-top-40/380925/15 "2006-11-18T23:26:59Z")
[QUOTE=Biffy the Elephant Shrew] I’m sure he means the [Sonata #16, K. 545](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Sonata,_K._545_(Mozart)). [/QUOTE] Yeah, that one, not the piano concerto. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2006, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-top-40/380925/16 "2006-11-18T23:33:48Z")
[QUOTE=Biffy the Elephant Shrew] I’m sure he means the [**Sonata #16, K. 545**](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Sonata,_K._545_(Mozart)). [bingo] I’d add: Smetana: _The Moldau_ and substitute _The Blue Danube_ for the J. Strauss choices already mentioned. [/QUOTE] The Blue Danube is what I heard in my head while I was typing Tales from the Vienna Woods. But I don’t see The Moldau on this list. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2006, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-top-40/380925/17 "2006-11-19T06:14:23Z")
No love for Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring? ☹ How about Mozart’s _Le Nozze di Figaro_ Overture? ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2006, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-top-40/380925/18 "2006-11-19T06:50:46Z")
[QUOTE=JohnT] No love for Bach’s Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring? ☹ How about Mozart’s _Le Nozze di Figaro_ Overture? [/QUOTE] Yeah, had JJoMD in a post I was writing when I looked up and saw the time; I was late for work. Now where was I? [QUOTE=monstro] **Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata”** [bingo] Barber’s “Adagio for Strings” **Vivaldi’s Spring concerto of “The Four Seasons”** [bingo] Bach’s “Prelude in C” [/QUOTE] I think the Barber would be in a Funereal Top 40, but not in a general one. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2006, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-top-40/380925/19 "2006-11-19T13:32:45Z")
Copland’s “Appalachian Spring” Grofe’s “On the Trail,” from the “Grand Canyon Suite” Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance March #4” Tchaikowsky’s 1st Piano Concerto Selected portions from the Messiah, including certainly the “Hallelujah Chorus” Wagner, “Ride of the Valkyries” Is Moussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” well enough known? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2006, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-top-40/380925/20 "2006-11-19T14:02:48Z")
Wagner: Lohengrin: Bridal Chorus Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in c# minor Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto #2: 3rd movement Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto #1: opening of first movement Chopin: Sonata #2: Funeral March [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-top-40/380925.md?page=2)