CLASSIC FM 📻 2025 'Hall Of Fame'

Each Easter weekend, Classic FM broadcast its 'Hall Of Fame' which reveals the results of the world's biggest poll of classical music tastes. The 'Hall Of Fame' celebrates the top 300 pieces of classical music, as voted for by 4.6m Classic FM listeners.

This CST activities page lists the best or most recognisable tracks from the 'Hall Of Fame' (in my humble opinion) to provide an opportunity for members to celebrate some of the best classical music out there. The idea is to play clips from the Spotify playlist below to support musical memory recall. There is also a dementia friendly quiz question for each track to help with reminiscence and discussion.

Don't forget to ask members what their favourite classical music pieces are, so they can also be included.

As usual, a reminder that enjoyment and participation are more important than achievement. However, you can help members get the right answers by giving lots of prompts, such as initials or first words.

Thanks 👍

You can keep tabs on this year's Classic FM 'Hall Of Fame' here - https://halloffame.classicfm.com/2025/

& if your person living with dementia or your group enjoy relaxing with some of the best classical music, don't forget you can access Classic FLM 'Calm' 24/7 here https://www.classicfm.com/radio/how-to-listen/classic-fm-calm/

Round 1. Perhaps The Most Recognisable Pieces Of Classical Music From 201-300 (ish)

282 - 'Jerusalem', Hubert Parry

Q. Hubert Parry's 'Jerusalem' is sung before every meeting of which charitable organisation?

270 - 'Cavatina', Stanley Myers

Q. Which 1978 Vietnam war film featured this track as its theme?

267 - 'The Lion King', Hans Zimmer

Q. The 1994 movie 'The Lion King' included songs by Elton & Tim who?

264 - 'The Big Country', Jerome Moross

Jerome Moross's score for the 1958 epic Western movie 'The Big Country' was nominated for an Oscar. Who, pictured here, starred in the movie?

239 - 'Ave Maria', Franz Schubert

Q. Franz Schubert's 'Ave Maria' is a prayer to which saint?

233 - 'Fantasia On Greensleeves', Ralph Vaughan Williams

Q. Which Tudor king is said to have composed the original 'Greensleeves'?

223 - 'Fanfare For The Common Man', Stuart Copeland

Aaron Copland's 'Fanfare For The Common Man' was adapted to become a top ten hit in 1977 for which prog rock band?

210 - 'E.T. The Extra-Terrestrail', John Williams

What was E.T.'s catchphrase?

189 - 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', Felix Mendelssohn

Q. This overture features which piece of music that many of us might have walked up the aisle to?

186 - 'Braveheart', James Horner

This theme was written for the 1995 movie of the same name starring which Australian?

Round 2. Perhaps The Most Recognisable Pieces Of Classical Music From 151-200 (ish)

177 - 'Lakme Flower Duet', Leo Delibes

Q. This piece of music was used in the 1980s to advertise which airline?

174 - 'The Magnificent Seven', Elmer Bernstein

Q. Which actors starred in this 1960 movie?

172 - 'The Good The Bad And The Ugly', Ennio Morricone

Q. Who starred in this 1966 spaghetti western?

169 - 'Inspector Morse', Barrington Pheulong

Q. What was Inspector Morse's Christian name?

166 - 'Carmina Burana', Carl Orff

Q. Which 1970s aftershave used this piece of music for its advert?

165 - 'Nessun Dorma' (from the opera 'Turandot'), Giacomo Puccini

Who were 'The Three Tenors' who sang this at the 1990 'FIFA World Cup' in Rome?

159 - 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark', John Williams

Q. What was the name of the character in the movies & who played him?

149 - 'Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence', Ryuichi Sakamoto

Q. Which British singer-songwriter starred in this 1983 movie?

137 - 'Pirates Of The Caribbean', Klaus Badelt

Q. Who starred in this 2003 movie & as which character?

130 - 'Hymn To The Fallen' ('Saving Private Ryan'), John Williams

Q. Who starred in this 1998 Stephen Spielberg movie?

Round 3. Perhaps The Most Recognisable Pieces Of Classical Music From 101-150 (ish)

126 - 'Cinema Paradiso', Ennio Morricone

Q. On which Italian island was this 1988 movie set?

119 - 'Humming Chorus' ('Madame Butterfly'), Giacomo Puccini

Q. Which 1991 Broadway musical was based on this opera?

106 - 'Bolero', Maurice Ravel

Q. Which ice dancing couple won Olympic gold at Sarajevo in 1984 dancing to this piece of music?

103 - 'Out Of Africa', John Barry

Q. Which two actors starred in this 1985 movie?

100 - 'Sailing By', Ronald Binge

Q. This piece of music is played every night on BBC Radio 4's 'The Shipping Forecast'. What is your shipping area?

92 - 'By The Beautiful Blue Danube', Johann Strauss

Q. Which capital city of Austria sits on the river Danube?

81 - '5th Symphony', Ludwig Van Beethoven

Q. He wrote it over four years (1804-08) when what was happening to him?

83 - 'Land Of Hope And Glory', Edward Elger

Q. This piece of music is always performed at what annual event in 'The Royal Albert Hall'?

79 - 'Harry Potter', John Williams

Q. What were the names of the four 'Houses' at 'Hogwarts'?

76 - 'The Nutcracker', Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Q. This classical ballet features the following piece of music (complete the title) - 'Dance Of The ***** **** *****'?

Round 4. Perhaps The Most Recognisable Pieces Of Classical Music From 51-100 (ish)

66 - 'Dances With Wolves', John Barry

Q. Who starred as John Dunbar in this 1990 movie?

64 - William Tell Overture', Gioachino Rossini

Q. This piece of music was used as the TV theme for which masked hero & what was his friend's name?

62 - 'Zadok The Priest', George Frideric Handel

Q. This anthem has been performed at every Coronation since 1711 (George 11). In which year was Queen Elizabeth 11's Coronation?

53 - 'Star Wars', John William

Q. Name the characters in this 1977 movie?

52 - 'Jurassic Park', John Williams

Q. Where did they retrieve the dino DNA from to resurrect the creatures in this 1993 movie?

47 - 'Romeo And Juliet Balcony Scene', Craig Armstrong

Q. What were the names of the two feuding families?

45 - 'Messiah', George Frideric Handel

Q. Which well known chorus does this oratorio include?

44 - 'Gladiator', Hans Zimmer

Q. Who starred as Maximus Decimus Meridius in this 2000 movie?

41 - '1812 Overture', Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Q. This overture was composed to commemorate Russia's successful defence against French forces led by which emperor?

38 - 'Death In Venice', Gustav Mahler

Q. Who starred in this 1971 movie?

Round 5. Perhaps The Most Recognisable Pieces Of Classical Music From 1-50 (ish)

37 - 'The Four Seasons', Antonio Vivaldi

Q. Name as many winter, spring, summer and fall flowers as you can within a minute or two?

35 - 'Swan Lake', Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Q. Which 2000 movie saw the main character, when grown up, dance as the Swan with his father overcome with emotion watching?

34 - 'Pachelbel's Canon', Johann Pachelbel

Q. Which 1980 movie featured this piece of music as its theme?

30 - 'Clair De Lune', Claude Debussy

Q. What is the literal translation of 'Clair De Lune'?

22 - 'Rhapsody In Blue', George Gershwin

Q. 'Rhapsody In Blue' is a musical portrait of which early 20th century city?

18 - 'Symphony No. 9 (From The New World)', Antonin Dvorak

Q. This piece of music served as the theme for which 1970s advert?

17 - 'Adagio For Strings', Samuel Barber

Q. This piece of music featured in the 1980 movie 'Elephant Man'. Who starred in that movie as Joseph Merrick?

14 - 'The Mission' (including 'Gabriel's Oboe'), Ennio Morricone

Q. Who played the part of Father Gabriel in this 1986 movie?

13 - 'Lord Of The Rings', Howard Shore

Q. Who wrote the books on which the movies were based?

11 - 'Schindler's List', John Williams

Q. How many Jews did Oskar Schindler secretly save from the concentration camps by employing them in his factories: a. 120, b. 520 or c. 1,200?

Final Round. Your Top 10 Highlights

10 - 'Jupiter' ('The Planets Suite'), Gustav Holst

Q. Name the planets included in this opus?

8 - 'Piano Concerto No. 5' ('Emperor'), Ludwig van Beethoven

Q. How tall was Napoleon Bonaparte - a. 5ft, b. 5ft 3in or c. 5ft 6in?

7 - 'Miserere', Gregorio Allegri

Q. When Mozart was a child he heard this piece of music being sung in which Vatican chapel (this painting is on the ceiling)?

5 -'Enigma Variations' (including 'Nimrod)',  Edward Elgar

Q. When and where is this played every year?

4 - 'Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis', Ralph Vaughan Williams

Q. In 1908 Ralph Vaughan Williams travelled to Paris to study orchestration with which Maurice?

3 - 'The Lark Ascending', Ralph Vaughan Williams

Q. Ralph Vaughan Williams was related to which naturalist, geologist and biologist (who was his great uncle) (think Galapagos & 'HMS Beagle')?

2 - 'The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace', Karl Jenkins

Q. After the flood in the Noah's Ark Bible story, what did a dove bring back to the ship?

1 - 'Piano Concerto No. 2', Sergei Rachmaninov

Q. Which 1945 movie starring Celia Johnson & Trevor Howard was this the theme for?

Here is your Spotify playlist ... https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1946ymZV2yABd7iQmbnuSM?si=1d50c75878ba4299

Round 1. Answers

282 - 'Jerusalem', Hubert Parry

Q. Hubert Parry's 'Jerusalem' is sung before every meeting of which charitable organisation?

'WOMEN'S INSTITUTE'

270 - 'Cavatina', Stanley Myers

Q. Which 1978 Vietnam war film featured this track as its theme?

'THE DEER HUNTER'

267 - 'The Lion King', Hans Zimmer

Q. The 1994 movie 'The Lion King' included songs by Elton & Tim who?

ELTON JOHN & TIM RICE

264 - 'The Big Country', Jerome Moross

Jerome Moross's score for the 1958 epic Western movie 'The Big Country' was nominated for an Oscar. Who, pictured here, starred in the movie?

GREGORY PECK

239 - 'Ave Maria', Franz Schubert

Q. Franz Schubert's 'Ave Maria' is a prayer to which saint?

MARY, THE MOTHER OF CHRIST

233 - 'Fantasia On Greensleeves', Ralph Vaughan Williams

Q. Which Tudor king is said to have composed the original 'Greensleeves'?

HENRY V111

223 - 'Fanfare For The Common Man', Stuart Copeland

Aaron Copland's 'Fanfare For The Common Man' was adapted to become a top ten hit in 1977 for which prog rock band?

'EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER' (* ALSO INCLUDED IN THE PLAYLIST)

210 - 'E.T. The Extra-Terrestrail', John Williams

What was E.T.'s catchphrase?

"E.T. PHONE HOME"

189 - 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', Felix Mendelssohn

Q. This overture features which piece of music that many of us might have walked up the aisle to?

'THE WEDDING MARCH'

186 - 'Braveheart', James Horner

This theme was written for the 1995 movie of the same name starring which Australian?

MEL GIBSON

Round 2. Answers

177 - 'Lakme Flower Duet', Leo Delibes

Q. This piece of music was used in the 1980s to advertise which airline?

'BRITISH AIRWAYS'

174 - 'The Magnificent Seven', Elmer Bernstein

Q. Which actors starred in this 1960 movie?

YUL BRYNNER, ELI WALLACH, STEVE MCQUEEN, CHARLES BRONSON, ROBERT VAUGHN, JAMES COBURN, HORST BUCHOLZ & BRAD DEXTER

172 - 'The Good The Bad And The Ugly', Ennio Morricone

Q. Who starred in this 1966 spaghetti western?

CLINT EASTWOOD

169 - 'Inspector Morse', Barrington Pheulong

Q. What was Inspector Morse's Christian name?

ENDEAVOUR

166 - 'Carmina Burana', Carl Orff

Q. Which 1970s aftershave used this piece of music for its advert?

'OLD SPICE'

165 - 'Nessun Dorma' (from the opera 'Turandot'), Giacomo Puccini

Who were 'The Three Tenors' who sang this at the 1990 'FIFA World Cup' in Rome?

PLACIDO DOMINGO, LUCIANO PAVAROTTI & JOSE CARRERAS 

159 - 'Raiders Of The Lost Ark', John Williams

Q. What was the name of the character in the movies & who played him?

INDIANA JONES / HARRISON FORD

149 - 'Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence', Ryuichi Sakamoto

Q. Which British singer-songwriter starred in this 1983 movie?

DAVID BOWIE

137 - 'Pirates Of The Caribbean', Klaus Badelt

Q. Who starred in this 2003 movie & as which character?

JOHNNY DEPP / CPT. JACK SPARROW

130 - 'Hymn To The Fallen' ('Saving Private Ryan'), John Williams

Q. Who starred in this 1998 Stephen Spielberg movie?

TOM HANKS

Round 3. Answers

126 - 'Cinema Paradiso', Ennio Morricone

Q. On which Italian island was this 1988 movie set?

SICILY

119 - 'Humming Chorus' ('Madame Butterfly'), Giacomo Puccini

Q. Which 1991 Broadway musical was based on this opera?

'MISS SAIGON'

106 - 'Bolero', Maurice Ravel

Q. Which ice dancing couple won Olympic gold at Sarajevo in 1984 dancing to this piece of music?

JANE TORVILL & CHRISTOPHER DEAN - link to dance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNCSij0hUp8&t=1s 

103 - 'Out Of Africa', John Barry

Q. Which two actors starred in this 1985 movie?

MERYL STREEP & ROBERT REDFORD

100 - 'Sailing By', Ronald Binge

Q. This piece of music is played every night on BBC Radio 4's 'The Shipping Forecast'. What is your shipping area?

VARIOUS

92 - 'By The Beautiful Blue Danube', Johann Strauss

Q. Which capital city of Austria sits on the river Danube?

VIENNA

81 - '5th Symphony', Ludwig Van Beethoven

Q. He wrote it over four years (1804-08) when what was happening to him?

HE WAS GOING DEAF

83 - 'Land Of Hope And Glory', Edward Elger

Q. This piece of music is always performed at what annual event in 'The Royal Albert Hall'?

'LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS'

79 - 'Harry Potter', John Williams

Q. What were the names of the four 'Houses' at 'Hogwarts'?

GRYFFINDOR, HUFFLEPUFF, RAVENCLAW & SLYTHERIN

76 - 'The Nutcracker', Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Q. This classical ballet features the following piece of music (complete the title) - 'Dance Of The ***** **** *****'?

"SUGAR PLUM FAIRY"

Round 4. Answers

66 - 'Dances With Wolves', John Barry

Q. Who starred as John Dunbar in this 1990 movie?

KEVIN COSTNER

64 - William Tell Overture', Gioachino Rossini

Q. This piece of music was used as the TV theme for which masked hero & what was his friend's name?

THE LONE RANGER & TONTO

62 - 'Zadok The Priest', George Frideric Handel

Q. This anthem has been performed at every Coronation since 1711 (George 11). In which year was Queen Elizabeth 11's Coronation?

2ND JUNE 1953

53 - 'Star Wars', John William

Q. Name the characters in this 1977 movie?

LUKE SKYWALKER, PRINCESS LEIA, CHEWBACCA, HANS SOLO & DARTH VADAR

52 - 'Jurassic Park', John Williams

Q. Where did they retrieve the dino DNA from to resurrect the creatures in this 1993 movie?

MOSQUITO BLOOD PRESERVED IN AMBER

47 - 'Romeo And Juliet Balcony Scene', Craig Armstrong

Q. What were the names of the two feuding families?

MONTAGUES & CAPULETS

45 - 'Messiah', George Frideric Handel

Q. Which well known chorus does this oratorio include?

'HALLELUJAH CHORUS'

44 - 'Gladiator', Hans Zimmer

Q. Who starred as Maximus Decimus Meridius in this 2000 movie?

RUSSELL CROWE

41 - '1812 Overture', Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Q. This overture was composed to commemorate Russia's successful defence against French forces led by which emperor?

NAPOLEON BONAPARTE

38 - 'Death In Venice', Gustav Mahler

Q. Who starred in this 1971 movie?

DIRK BOGARDE

Round 5. Answers

37 - 'The Four Seasons', Antonio Vivaldi

Q. Name as many winter, spring, summer and fall flowers as you can within a minute or two?

PANSY, SNOWDROP

DAFFODIL, CROCUS, TULIP, BLUEBELL, MAGNOLIA

SUNFLOWER, ROSE, GERANIUM, HYDRANGEA

CHRYSANTHEMUM, RHODODENDRON

35 - 'Swan Lake', Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Q. Which 2000 movie saw the main character, when grown up, dance as the Swan with his father overcome with emotion watching?

'BILLY ELLIOT'

34 - 'Pachelbel's Canon', Johann Pachelbel

Q. Which 1980 movie featured this piece of music as its theme?

'ORDINARY PEOPLE'

30 - 'Clair De Lune', Claude Debussy

Q. What is the literal translation of 'Clair De Lune'?

"CLEAR LIGHT OF THE MOON" OR "MOONLIGHT"

22 - 'Rhapsody In Blue', George Gershwin

Q. 'Rhapsody In Blue' is a musical portrait of which early 20th century city?

NEW YORK

18 - 'Symphony No. 9 (From The New World)', Antonin Dvorak

Q. This piece of music served as the theme for which 1970s advert?

'HOVIS'

17 - 'Adagio For Strings', Samuel Barber

Q. This piece of music featured in the 1980 movie 'Elephant Man'. Who starred in that movie as Joseph Merrick?

JOHN HURT

14 - 'The Mission' (including 'Gabriel's Oboe'), Ennio Morricone

Q. Who played the part of Father Gabriel in this 1986 movie?

JEREMY IRONS

13 - 'Lord Of The Rings', Howard Shore

Q. Who wrote the books on which the movies were based?

J.R.R. TOLKIEN

11 - 'Schindler's List', John Williams

Q. How many Jews did Oskar Schindler secretly save from the concentration camps by employing them in his factories: a. 120, b. 520 or c. 1,200?

1,200

Final Round. Answers

10 - 'Jupiter' ('The Planets Suite'), Gustav Holst

Q. Name the planets included in this opus?

MARS, VENUS, MERCURY, JUPITER, SATURN, URANUS & NEPTUNE. EARTH WAS NOT INCLUDED & PLUTO WAS NOT YET DISCOVERED

8 - 'Piano Concerto No. 5' ('Emperor'), Ludwig van Beethoven

Q. How tall was Napoleon Bonaparte - a. 5ft, b. 5ft 3in or c. 5ft 6in?

5FT 6IN (HE WAS 5FT 2IN IN FRENCH MEASUREMENTS AND THIS LED TO HIM BEING BELIEVED TO BE SHORTER THAN HE REALLY WAS)

7 - 'Miserere', Gregorio Allegri

Q. When Mozart was a child he heard this piece of music being sung in which Vatican chapel (this painting is on the ceiling)?

'SISTINE CHAPEL'

5 -'Enigma Variations' (including 'Nimrod)',  Edward Elgar

Q. When and where is this played every year?

'THE CENOTAPH', WHITEHALL, LONDON ON 'REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY' ON OR NEAREST TO 11TH NOVEMBER

4 - 'Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis', Ralph Vaughan Williams

Q. In 1908 Ralph Vaughan Williams travelled to Paris to study orchestration with which Maurice?

MAURICE RAVEL

3 - 'The Lark Ascending', Ralph Vaughan Williams

Q. Ralph Vaughan Williams was related to which naturalist, geologist and biologist (who was his great uncle) (think Galapagos & 'HMS Beagle')?

CHARLES DARWIN

2 - 'The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace', Karl Jenkins

Q. After the flood in the Noah's Ark Bible story, what did a dove bring back to the ship?

OLIVE SPRIG

1 - 'Piano Concerto No. 2', Sergei Rachmaninov

Q. Which 1945 movie starring Celia Johnson & Trevor Howard was this the theme for?

'BRIEF ENCOUNTER'