No.1 - "O Fortuna" from "Carmina Burana"
Carl Orff (1895-1982)
Almost everyone would recognize this within its first two notes, with its booming operatic vocals and percussive instrumentation. Orff’s music is based on a 13th-century poem entitled “Carmina Burana”; "O Fortuna" laments fate and forms the beginning and end of Orff’s interpretation of the poetry. It also topped a list of the most-played classical music of the last 75 years.
No.2 - Adagio for Strings
Samuel Barber (1910-1981)
Samuel Barber may be known to many only for this piece, but his are among the most popular 20th century classical compositions. The Adagio for strings is actually a rearrangement of the second movement of his String Quartet in B minor, and its flowing melodies have been described as neoromantic. It has been voted the saddest piece of classical music ever composed.
No.3 - "Nessun Dorma"
Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)
Although Puccini only wrote 12 operas, he is regarded as the most important operatic composer of the 20th century, and perhaps second only to Verdi overall. His most famous aria is "Nessun Dorma," from the opera ”Turandot,” which was unfinished at the time of his death. It marks the climax of the opera, as the unknown prince attempts to woo the Princess Turandot.
No.4 - Pachelbel's Canon in D major
Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706)
Johann Pachelbel was an acclaimed composer of the middle-Baroque period, and is regarded as one of the most important composers of the period, for his contributions to the development of the choral prelude and fugue. He was a prominent German organist and teacher, and of the many works he composed, “Canon in D major” is by far his most famous. It is technically sophisticated, merging several different musical forms; however, it is the only Canon Pachelbel wrote, and perhaps unrepresentative of his work.
No.5 - "Toccata and Fugue"
J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
Perhaps the most famous piece of organ music, there is debate surrounding the authorship of "Toccata and Fugue," although most people accept it was Bach. Bach wrote prolifically, and this piece is just one of many that are instantly recognizable. It claims a place on our list because of how frequently it is used in popular culture; its heavy, brooding qualities have become synonymous with certain dramatic scenes.
No.6 - "Ride of the Valkyries"
Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
This piece comes from Wagner’s magnum opus "The Ring Cycle" (based on the German tale of Nibelungenlied and Norse mythology). The "Ride of the Valkyries" (the nine daughters of Odin), is part of the second of the four parts of "The Ring Cycle." This opera took him 26 years to finish, and his wider influence on new musical forms in the 19th century was enormous. His music was not universally liked; Rossini said of him: “Wagner has wonderful moments, and dreadful quarters of an hour.”
No.7 - Mars and Jupiter, from "Planets Suite"
Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
While the entire “Planets Suite” has been extensively borrowed from, Mars and Jupiter are by far the most recognizable. Mars (the Bringer of War) and Jupiter (the Bringer of Jollity) are excellent examples of the variety Holst could inject into his music. Mars is said to have influenced John Williams’ score for the Star Wars movies. Jupiter, though, is a much lighter piece altogether, and was created to fit the poem “I Vow To Thee, My Country,” by Cecil Spring-Rice. The Suite as a whole is an incredibly sophisticated and ambitious composition.
No.8 - "Also Sprach Zarathustra"
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
A relatively modern composer, Richard Strauss composed in the late Romantic era, and this piece, “Thus Spake Zarathustra,” is perhaps his most famous work, completed in 1896. It was inspired by a philosophical treatise by the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. The piece is actually divided into nine sections, of which the first section, entitled Sunrise, is the most famous.
No.9 - "Ode to Joy"
Beethoven (1770–1827)
This is perhaps the most famous part of the Ninth Symphony, Beethoven’s last masterpiece, completed in 1824. It is a testament to just how great his genius was, given that when he composed it he was totally deaf, and based it solely on what he heard in his head. Given how long a shadow he casts over classical music, we could probably have chosen 10 of his works, but “Ode to Joy” is an uplifting piece -- instantly recognizable.
No.10 - "Four Seasons"
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
A Baroque composer, Antonio Vivaldi’s most famous work is the “Four Seasons,” composed circa 1723. The four pieces were originally composed as an accompaniment to four sonnets, which may also have been written by Vivaldi. Because there are so many parts to the work, it has been used in a myriad of soundtracks, and because of its enduring popularity, if frequently appears on classical music compilations. Elements of Spring and Summer are perhaps the best-known, particularly the first movement from Spring, and Presto from Summer.