Popular Classical Music

What do you think the most popular pieces of classical music are? I would like to learn some more popular pieces, but with more of a background music feel (So not Chopin's military or heroic polonaise or anything like that). I could think of these songs (which i already have): Clair De Lune, Chopin's Nocturne Op 9, the post humus Csharp minor Nocturne, Debussy's Arabesques, Moonlight Sonata.

I want to learn another piece like the above, that non piano playing people actually recognise. Can you give me any ideas?!?

 

Fur Elise :wink:

 

Entertainer
Mozarts Rondo alla turca
chopins grande valse

 

Brahms' ever-famous Lullaby in A flat

 

All good, although very overplayed. I don't know your level, but you should try the Für Elise anyway if you like popular pieces so much .

 

Eine Kleine Nacht Musik -- Mozart

All of Mozart's Piano Concertos (On my local classical radio station, the most played concerto belongs to Mozart...though I forget which number the concerto is)

Tchaikovsky--Piano Concerto no.1

Satie-- Gymnodpedie no.2 (? or is it the third?)

Bach-- Toccata and Fugue in D (for Organ)

Chopin--revolutionary etude, fantasy impromptu, raindrop prelude, Funeral march from piano sonata op.35, minute waltz

Vivaldi-- The Seasons

Liszt- LaCampanella

 

I won't start on La Campanella before you've tried some Für Elise 8) .

 

Beethoven-Fur Elise
-1st Movement of Pathetique Sonata
Chopin-Nocturne in Eb, Op. 9 no. 2
-Military Polonaise
-Heroic Polonaise
-Revolutionary Etude
-Triestesse Etude (op. 10 no. 3 in E)
-Funeral March
-Grande Valse
Bach-Prelude in C major from Well Tempered Clavier Book 1
-Toccata and Fugue in D minor
-Aria from the Goldberg Variations
-Menuet in G from the Notebook of Anna Magdalena Bach
Mozart-"Facile" Sonata (I forget the opus number)

I hope this helps; most of this music should be familiar to listeners.

 

if I'm correct the number is kv545

 

mozart sonata in c 595 i think brahms lullaby chopin 3rd mvt of sonata 2 chopin scherzo no.2

 

Every single second of every single movement of every single Mozart piano concerto is worth memorizing for the sake of musical delight and happiness.

I would focus most on 5, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27.

To narrow it down some more: 5, 19, 20, 23, 24, and 25.

To narrow it down again: 20, 23, and 24 are probably Mozart's best piano concerti, although all those listed above are very important and perfect.
(The fight for the better concerto of 23 & 24 basically represents the duel between good & evil)