5 Masterworks of Classical Music

Guaranteed to get you hooked...

Most contemporary music is instantly accessible. You can find the beat and identify the chorus with hardly any effort. The music is made to be enjoyed by as many as possible, and there are few barriers to entry.

The same cannot be said, however, of classical music.

For most people, there’s a bit of a learning curve that goes into enjoying classical music. You have to learn how to listen actively, and how to follow the development of a piece across multiple movements. Because of this extra effort, many people don’t take the time to truly dive into and appreciate this incredible world.

But that said, not all classical music is hard to get into. This article highlights five pieces that are readily accessible and perfect for a first-time listener.

If you’ve ever wanted to get into classical but don’t know where to start, this is the perfect place to begin (the links you need are below)…

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1) Saint-Saëns - Danse Macabre

Skeletal strings and haunting melodies provide a vivid example of musical storytelling in this piece. Here, Death is represented by a solo violin, and he calls out the dead from their graves to dance before him.

The back-and-forth, call-and-answer motifs you hear throughout the piece represent Death leading the souls through a danse macabre. Apart from being incredibly entertaining, this work of genius by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns is an eerily soul-stirring — pun intended — piece of music.

2) Dvořák - Symphony No. 9 “From the New World”

Interspersing bombastic themes with intimate pastoral flourishes, this symphony has everything you could ask for. Composed while Dvořák was living in NY, it’s an incredible blend of European grandeur and American folk melodies.

Specifically, Dvořák was inspired by the Native American spirituals he discovered while working in Manhattan as a visiting professor. That, coupled with homesickness for his Czech homeland and simultaneous excitement at being in America, led him to create one of the most emotionally thrilling symphonies of the 20th century.

3) Strauss II - The Blue Danube

This is a piece you’ll surely recognize, perhaps for its prominent feature in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. Swaying melodies and graceful rhythms take you on a journey down the Danube (or through outer space) and remain stuck in your head long after that journey ends

The Blue Danube is a timeless waltz that captures the elegance of 19th-century Vienna. It’s a must-listen for anyone who wants to tap into the spirit of Viennese balls and relive the beauty of a bygone era.

4) Shostakovich - Jazz Suite No. 2

This is an unforgettable piece of music. In it, Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich embraces the playful side of jazz with a surprising departure from his symphonic works.

This suite showcases a lighter, sultry side of classical music that you’re sure to love. It has catchy tunes, vibrant rhythms, lively brass. Be careful when you listen, though! Once the melody enters your head, it’s hard to get it out.

5) Holst - Jupiter, The Bringer of Jollity

This is best described as a vivid tapestry of musical grandeur, from Gustav Holst’s orchestral suite The Planets. It is a piece of bold brass, sweeping strings, and triumphant melodies. Here, Jupiter takes center stage, embodying the exuberant and majestic force of joy through the full might of the orchestra.

The rising fanfares and rhythmic drive you hear throughout represent the boundless optimism and vitality that Jupiter bestows, his regal energy lifting the music with each bold, swelling phrase. Apart from its undeniable brilliance, this piece offers a jubilant celebration of life’s vigor and splendor — perfectly capturing the essence of the king of the gods.