GMG Classical Music Forum

The Music Room => General Classical Music Discussion => Topic started by: dominicelliott on February 20, 2025, 10:00:02 PM

Title: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: dominicelliott on February 20, 2025, 10:00:02 PM
A piece of classical music that has transcended people who enjoy the genre and spread into the mainstream audience, to the point now where people will probably know the song, without knowing the name etc?

My opinion would be Prokofiev: Dance of the Knights, simply because of the Apprentice, but would love to hear other people's thoughts!
Title: Re: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: Brian on February 21, 2025, 06:37:06 AM
I think surely it would be one of the two big wedding marches, Mendelssohn's or Wagner's ("here comes the bride"). A Christmas carol might also be a good answer.

People also all seem to know Flight of the Bumblebee, the Brahms Lullaby, and "O fortuna" from popular culture and movies.
Title: Re: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: Cato on February 21, 2025, 06:59:46 AM
The opening 90 seconds of Also Sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss, who never gets royalties for his efforts!





A shame in one sense: how many people listen to the entire tone-poem?

Title: Re: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: Karl Henning on February 21, 2025, 07:29:28 AM
JS Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring and "Air on the G String." Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik Serenade. Quite possibly Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. 
Title: Re: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: DavidW on February 21, 2025, 07:39:27 AM
Quote from: Karl Henning on February 21, 2025, 07:29:28 AMJS Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring and "Air on the G String." Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik Serenade. Quite possibly Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.

Nice try! But it is Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March #1.

Check and mate. 8)

 ;D
Title: Re: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: ritter on February 21, 2025, 07:41:42 AM
Quote from: DavidW on February 21, 2025, 07:39:27 AM...

Check and mate. 8)

 ;D
Not quite... I give you Boléro...
Title: Re: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: Karl Henning on February 21, 2025, 07:51:53 AM
Quote from: ritter on February 21, 2025, 07:41:42 AMNot quite... I give you Boléro...
I'll take it!
Title: Re: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: San Antone on February 21, 2025, 07:53:24 AM
All I know is the classical music which is most popular with the masses (vis a vis the examples given here) is the kind I like the least.
Title: Re: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: Szykneij on February 21, 2025, 07:53:50 AM
Pachelbel Canon
Title: Re: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: DavidW on February 21, 2025, 07:56:31 AM
Quote from: San Antone on February 21, 2025, 07:53:24 AMAll I know is the classical music which is most popular with the masses (vis a vis the examples given here) is the kind I like the least.

Why can't they listen to Stockhausen like normal people? ;)
Title: Re: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: ChamberNut on February 21, 2025, 07:57:26 AM
Vivaldi's The Four Seasons (only the first movement of Spring).

Winner, you may now close thread.
Title: Re: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: Brian on February 21, 2025, 08:22:16 AM
It's funny how many different good examples have us confident that we have won!  ;D
Title: Re: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: hopefullytrusting on February 21, 2025, 08:24:17 AM
Quote from: Szykneij on February 21, 2025, 07:53:50 AMPachelbel Canon

I'd say this, or the opening to Beethoven's Symphony No. 5. :)
Title: Re: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: Cato on February 21, 2025, 08:46:16 AM
Quote from: dominicelliott on February 20, 2025, 10:00:02 PMA piece of classical music that has transcended people who enjoy the genre and spread into the mainstream audience, to the point now where people will probably know the song, without knowing the name etc?

My opinion would be Prokofiev: Dance of the Knights, simply because of the Apprentice, but would love to hear other people's thoughts!


The WW II Generation and earlier ones alive in the 1940's and 1950's would possibly say Prokofiev's March from The Love of Three Oranges because it introduced a very popular radio drama called The F.B.I. in Peace and War.
Title: Re: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: Florestan on February 21, 2025, 08:46:47 AM
OTOMH

Eine Kleine Nacht Musik - first theme of the first mvt
Turkish March from KV 331
Fuer Elise
Ode to Joy theme
Overture to Guillaume Tell, final movement
An die Schoene Blaue Donau, first waltz

Title: Re: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: Karl Henning on February 21, 2025, 09:06:50 AM
Quote from: DavidW on February 21, 2025, 07:39:27 AMNice try! But it is Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March #1.

Check and mate. 8)

 ;D
I wasn't really striving for Number One, but expanding upon Brian's short list.
Title: Re: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: Karl Henning on February 21, 2025, 09:07:56 AM
Quote from: San Antone on February 21, 2025, 07:53:24 AMAll I know is the classical music which is most popular with the masses (vis a vis the examples given here) is the kind I like the least.
The FM radio carpet bombing doesn't help!
Title: Re: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: foxandpeng on February 22, 2025, 05:40:40 AM
Quote from: San Antone on February 21, 2025, 07:53:24 AMAll I know is the classical music which is most popular with the masses (vis a vis the examples given here) is the kind I like the least.

Haha. Sounds like me.
Title: Re: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: foxandpeng on February 22, 2025, 05:41:08 AM
Quote from: dominicelliott on February 20, 2025, 10:00:02 PMA piece of classical music that has transcended people who enjoy the genre and spread into the mainstream audience, to the point now where people will probably know the song, without knowing the name etc?

My opinion would be Prokofiev: Dance of the Knights, simply because of the Apprentice, but would love to hear other people's thoughts!

Welcome, by the way..
Title: Re: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: pjme on February 22, 2025, 06:44:45 AM
Ok - most of the all-too-well known culprits have been mentioned.  >:D

Following works seem to gain in unprecedented (radio) "popularity"

Sibelius: Karelia suite -alla marcia
Ravel: slow movement from concerto in sol
Pärt: Für Alina, Spiegel im Spiegel
Voglio una casa sung by Lucillia Galeazzi
Saint Saens: Carnaval des animaux
Bits and pieces from Mozart's Requiem
Bachs first cello suite (first mov)
(and preferably transcribed for jazz ensemble, guitar, harp, accordeon, marimba...)
+
Gabriel's oboe


Title: Re: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: André on February 22, 2025, 08:16:26 AM
Bach's Toccata and Fugue in d minor has the most well-known first 30 seconds of anything (maybe).
Title: Re: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: Daverz on February 22, 2025, 03:55:56 PM
Either the opening of Boccherini's "Minuet" (from his String Quintet in E major, Op. 13, No. 5, G275) or the opening of Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik is used in nearly every TV/film scene at a ritzy dinner party.

Grieg's Morning Mood from Peer Gynt is familar from old cartoons.
Title: Re: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: (poco) Sforzando on February 22, 2025, 09:04:51 PM
The Moonlight Sonata, and the first 4 notes of Beethoven's 5th.
Title: Re: Which classical piece of music is the most well known
Post by: LKB on February 22, 2025, 09:09:52 PM
Quote from: DavidW on February 21, 2025, 07:56:31 AMWhy can't they listen to Stockhausen like normal people? ;)
:o  :o  :o ...