the single most popular work of classical music

[coffee]

What do you think it is? I'm not asking about the greatest or your favorite, but just the thing that is played the most - even if it's actually just an excerpt that is usually played.

I think I would guess Vivaldi's the Four Seasons.

Some other possibilities:

Orff's Carmina Burana
Grieg's Peer Gynt
Beethoven's 9th Symphony
Beethoven's 5th Symphony

[Conor71]

My first thought was Beethovens 9th! - I think Barbers Adagio For Strings would be pretty popular

[fridden]

My guess would also be Vivaldis Four season.
I also think Für Elise by Beethoven is a pretty popular work.

/fridden

[mc ukrneal]

God Save the Queen/King, known as America in the US (used in dozens of classical pieces, often as variations, and used by multiple countries as is, though with varying words).

If we exclude anthems, Vivaldi's Four Seasons would seem a good one.

[North Star]

Well Vivaldi's Four Seasons are played probably a lot individually and by single movements, too. Bach's Toccata & Fugue in D minor, Pachelbel Canon in D, the Hallelujah chorus from Messiah, Also Sprach Zarathustra's opening, then there are the wedding marches by Mendelssohn & Wagner.

[mc ukrneal]

Well Vivaldi's Four Seasons are played probably a lot individually and by single movements, too. Bach's Toccata & Fugue in D minor, Pachelbel Canon in D, the Hallelujah chorus from Messiah, Also Sprach Zarathustra's opening, then there are the wedding marches by Mendelssohn & Wagner.

Mendelssohn's Wedding march - yes, that must be a top one too. Lullaby by Brahms might be another.

[KeithW]

From a Uk angle, the answer appears to be Orff's O Fortuna as it is used in some TV show.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8432499.stm

I suspect that the looping muzak trak played by my local power company wins hands down though 

[Sequentia]

http://www.kickassclassical.com/classical-music-popular-famous-best-top-100-list.html

And in YouTube format:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TflCx5sjewA

[coffee]

A lot of very likely suggestions!

[Karl Henning]

Well, the strict request of the subject header is . . . wait for it . . . impossible. You knew that.

Close to it, though, must be the Pachelbel Canon.

[Scion7]

Actually, in the USA, the tune for "God Save the King/Queen" became "My Country Tis of Thee."

[Ataraxia]

di-di-di-DAAAAAH!!

[Karl Henning]

Actually, in the USA, the tune for "God Save the King/Queen" became "My Country Tis of Thee."

But it wasn't classical music until Ives wrote his set of variations on it ; )

[Hattoff]

Beethoven, long before Ives with that miserable dirge.

[Cato]

Orff's Carmina Burana "O Fortuna" song came first to my mind.

Wagner's Flight of the Valkyries must be in the top 10 at least.

[Lisztianwagner]

Hmm, I would guess Wagner's The Ride of the Valkyries, R. Strauss' Einleitung from Also sprach Zarathustra and J. Strauss' An der schönen blauen Donau.

[Karl Henning]

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
The Nutcracker
The Hallelujah Chorus

[Lisztianwagner]

Hmm, I would guess Wagner's The Ride of the Valkyries, R. Strauss' Einleitung from Also sprach Zarathustra and J. Strauss' An der schönen blauen Donau.

Oh, forgot to mention the opening of Beethoven's No.5!

[Karl Henning]

Oh, forgot to mention the opening of Beethoven's No.5!

Dave has that covered, Ilaria : )

di-di-di-DAAAAAH!!

[Gurn Blanston]

It's a hard item to prove one way or another. However, I can assert that it is Vivaldi's "4 Seasons" and add that it is the most recorded piece(s) of music ever. If that spills over into the 'most popular" category, then so be it.