Top 10 Best Known Classical Melodies:
Classical music should be placed in a pedestal. This countdown of the top 10 best known classical melodies is for those who enjoy the genre.
10. Overture to William Tell, Gioachino Rossini
An overture that is 12 minutes long, divided into 4 parts: depiction of the storm, the morning after the storm, a call to the cows, and a call to arms. This overture’s popularity in recent years can be likened to Looney Tunes popular cartoons.
9. Minuet in G Major, Christian Petzold
This composition has been thought to be a composition of Sebastian Bach for his wife, Anna Magdalena. However, it is actually from Petzold written into a notebook bearing her name. Bach didn’t intend to have it credited as one of his works and the notebooks were supposed to be for his wife alone.
8. Dawn from Thus Spake Zarathustra, Richard Strauss
This is a tone poem written by Strauss in 1896 consisting of 9 parts. The first part is well-known to a lot of people because it was used by Stanley Kubrick for his 2001 film, A Space Odyssey. Even Elvis Presley used it in his concerts.
7. Ode to Joy, Ludwig van Beethoven
In German, it means Ode an die Freude, a poem written by Friedrich Schiller. This poem became popular because of Beethoven’s melody.
6. Eine Kleine Nachtmuisik, Wolfgang A. Mozart
A 15-minute long performance, the first of its four parts is probably the most recognizable. It was used in Milos Forman’s film, Amadeus. Many people don’t know that this was written by Mozart while he was sick with the flu for someone who asked for “some happy music” for an event.
5. Toccata in d minor, Johan S. Bach
It is said that Bach made this while he was so bored playing with the organ.
4. Ride of the Valkyries, Richard Wagner
This song appeared in the second part of the four-part opera, Die Walkure. This became popular as it was used in the cartoon, Kill the Wabbit, with Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny.
3. Hallellujah Chorus, George F. Handel
Handel got the text from the Bible book of Revelations, King James Version. It is usually played during Christmas.
2. Here Comes the Bride, Richard Wagner
Who wouldn’t recognize this wedding march song? But did you know that Wagner didn’t call it Here Comes the Bride, though it was used in the opera Lohengrin during the wedding march.
1. Symphony #5, Ludwig van Beethoven
Someone who has been living under a rock has not heard this famous melody. Did you know that Beethoven was completely deaf when he started this?
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