Most popular classical music - mini survey

[stormx]

Hi !!

i was wondering what are the classical pieces MOST FAMOUS among the BIG PUBLIC (that is, considering people that never, or very rarely listen to classical music).

 Let us divide this mini-poll into the following categories:

1) single piano piece.
2) piano sonata movement.
3) piano concerto movement.
4) symphony movement.

I refer to single movements, because people usually never know the whole piece.

Mi choices are:

1) Fur Elise.
2) Mozart piano sonata K331, third movement (Rondo Alla Turka).
3) Tchaicovsky piano concerto n° 1, first movement.
4) Beethoven 5° symphony, first movement.

What are your choices?

[freakofnature]

Mi choices are:

1) Fur Elise.
2) Mozart piano sonata K331, third movement (Rondo Alla Turka).
3) Tchaicovsky piano concerto n° 1, first movement.
4) Beethoven 5° symphony, first movement.

I would choose the same except the first movement of the Moonlight sonata by Beethoven for 2) ...

FoN

[Nightscape]

Actually, according to the worldwide poll done by Classic FM radio last year, the results are as follows:

1)Debussy "Clair de Lune"
2)Beethoven "Moonlight" sonata
3)Rachmaninoff 2nd piano concerto  (also #1 on the list)
4)Beethoven 6th symphony "Pastoral"

[stormx]

Nightscape, i do not know how that survey was conducted, by except for Moonlight, i am pretty sure that the BIG PUBLIC does not know the other pieces you mentionned. 

By the way, both the 5° or 9° Beethoven symphonies are far best known than the Pastoral for the mass...

[Daevren]

I guess the first is a survey under the general audience and the second one under the classical audience

[Nightscape]

I did think it was a bit odd that the pastoral was higher in the list, however, I didn't conduct the survey so I can't be sure of the validity.  But I do stand by the other choices..... the average everyday person might now know the names  of these pieces, but surely they have heard them countless, countless times in movies (clair de lune and moonlight all over the place) , commercials, and even pop and rock songs (melodies from the Rach 2).  A piece like Fur Elise is actually heard less frequently than you think (although played by almost every single piano student).


Also keep in mind that there is sooo much famous classical music it is impossible to say off the top of one's head what is more popular or not.  (There are many very very famous works I have not heard myself yet.  I would imagine the same is true for all of you. )  The only valid method is through wide spread surveys (of which this is one).  Although this survey was probably of people who actually listen to classical music.

[hodi]

1. Fur Elise
2. Rondo Alla Turka
3. 2nd movement from mozart's 21 concerto
4. Beethoveno symphony 5 first movement

[apion]

1. Fur Elise
2. Rondo Alla Turka
3. 2nd movement from mozart's 21 concerto
4. Beethoveno symphony 5 first movement

This is as good a list as any.