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What are the Top 100 classical music pieces in the opinion of KBPS (89.9) listeners? At the end of each calendar year, KBPS asks listeners to send in five of their favorite classical music pieces and those recommendations are compiled to make up the Top 100 for the year.  Since 2001, I’ve been constructing a spreadsheet of those recommendations.  The spreadsheet is available to readers.  Under Links look for the KBPS Top 100 link.  Download the Excel spreadsheet.  The current spreadsheet includes the 2008 recommendations.  Note: KBPS did not run a Top 100 in 2002.

KBPS, a public radio station in Portland, Oregon, is not just any run of the mill station.  Instead, it is one of a rare and dying breed of classical music stations that feature the best in listening 24 hours a day.  This station is ad free and supported by listeners.  Sure, most of us enjoy other types of music, but for the classical music lover, there comes a period in every day when it is time for the “classical music fix.”  For me, that is about 95% of my listening day.  Apparently the brain is starved if it does not have the opportunity to process music and far be it from me to go on a classical music diet.

This year there was a slight glitch in the Top 100 list as the tabulators did not make a distinction between the Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 and the Brandenburg Concertos as an entire group.  If you check the spreadsheet you will see Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 comes in as selection #81 while the combined Brandenburg Concertos occupy spot number 3.  Checking the playlist on KBPS you will see that the Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 was played twice in the 2008 countdown. The countdown dates run from December 26th through December 31st, 2008.

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony always comes in as the top selection and Dvorak’s Ninth Symphony generally captures the second spot.  Who are the top recommended composers?  Read on for the answer.

On the spreadsheet I have provided the user with a weighting system.  Folks at KBPS can use this system if they want to apply inside knowledge to the analysis.  For example, if a particular year had a high number of submissions, then give that year an additional weight.  I assume KBPS has more listeners now than they had a few years ago due to streaming the music over the Internet.  In addition, the station increased the strength of their signal so folks farther from the broadcasting tower can pick up the station.  The weighting system is found in row one of the spreadsheet.

Here are a few observations one picks up from the spreadsheet.  Despite his great body of classical work, Haydn made the list for the first time in 2006 and repeated in 2007 with his Trumpet Concerto.  Otherwise, a zero.

Who are the top composers?  Beethoven is no surprise with 14 listings.  Bach also has 14 compositions.  Mozart is third with 13 pieces and Tchaikovsky is in the top group with 9 compositions.  One would think Mozart would top the list.

Here are a few surprises of the 2008 season.  Handel’s Royal Fireworks made it for the very first time.  Brahms first symphony failed to make the list after cracking the Top 100 for five consecutive years.  Bach made it with “Sheep May Safely Graze” whereas Anton Bruckner’s 7th Symphony has yet to make the Top 100 list.  You likely pick up my bias that major works deserve more attention than individual songs.  This is a personal opinion and one definitely not shared by KBPS listeners who participate in the countdown.

I’ve been on a one person crusade to have KBPS run a Top 50 Symphonies.  Maybe you will join me in a letter writing campaign to bring this about.  I think it would be a wonderful idea to know what symphonies rise to the top among KBPS listeners.

Readers picking up this blog in foreign lands and outside the local broadcasting radius can capture the KPBS signal through this link. Go to Listen Online and then select a format for listening. If you enjoy this station, I highly recommend you also become a supporting member.  Remember the strength in numbers, so play your role and help to maintain this wonderful classical music station by making a financial contribution.  Disclaimer: I have no connection with KBPS other than as a supporter and listener.

Lowell Herr

Photograph:  Entrance to concert hall in Bratislava, Slovakia, where Mozart gave a performance at age eight.  According to our guide, the 1762 appearance was the only time he performed in Bratislava.

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