As as music major, we know you can appreciate what classical music has to offer. You’re around symphonies, marching bands, operas, recitals, and musicals constantly. Everyday you probably hear the subtle nuances of classical music in all genres; even your favorite metal band.
Classical music taps into our primal emotions unlike any other kind of genre of music.
No words have to be spoken and still classical music can evoke the feeling of happiness, sadness, or torment. You can truly understand what the composer was feeling when they created the song. This emotional foundation is what paved the way for our melodical icons today. From Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra to The Beatles and Elvis Presley, where would they be without the influence of Beethoven and Bach?
So today, let’s take a moment to really dive in to the music that influenced it all!
We’ve teamed up with the Music Department here at Southern Miss to bring you a list of 8 classical music pieces that you, as a music major, need to know!
8 Classical Music Pieces Every Music Major Should Know
- Art of the Fugue by Johann Sebastian Bach
- Symphony No. 5 by Ludwig van Beethoven
- Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky
- Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
- “New World” Symphony No. 9 by Antonín Dvořák
- Symphony No. 3 in F Major by Johannes Brahms
- Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major by Johann Sebastian Bach
- “Messiah” (HWV 56) by George Frideric Handel
Want a quick listen? Check out this Spotify playlist we made of all the pieces!
Did you know most of the pieces listed above and you’re not even a music major? Maybe that means you should be! We can help you with that! Check out our music degree here.
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