Classical music about water, rivers, and the sea

Water moves, and music moves, so composers have loved to write about rivers, rain, and the sea. This page sorts 16 pieces by the kind of water in them.

Rivers

The Moldau, by Smetana. The music follows a river in the Czech lands from two small springs to the city of Prague. Two flutes play the springs at the start. Read The Moldau listening guide.

Water Music, by Handel. In 1717, King George I sailed up the River Thames in London on a summer evening. About 50 musicians played from a barge beside him. The king liked the music so much that he asked for it again and again. Read the Water Music guide.

“The Blue Danube,” by Johann Strauss II. The most famous waltz of all is named for the river that runs through Vienna. Game: sway like a boat for the slow start, then waltz.

“The Trout,” by Schubert. A fish darts in a clear stream. The piano part ripples the whole time.

The sea

“The Sea and Sinbad’s Ship” from Scheherazade, by Rimsky-Korsakov. The strings rise and fall like waves under the ship. Rimsky-Korsakov knew the sea well. He served as an officer in the Russian navy. Read Scheherazade for kids.

The Hebrides Overture, by Mendelssohn. Mendelssohn took a boat to a sea cave on a Scottish island when he was 20. He wrote down the opening tune that same trip. The low strings roll like the swell. Read Mendelssohn for kids.

“Dawn” from Four Sea Interludes, by Britten. High violins hang in the air like cold light over a gray sea. Britten lived on the east coast of England. Read Britten for kids.

La mer, by Debussy. Three pictures of the sea for a large orchestra. Try the last one, “Dialogue of the Wind and the Sea.” Read Debussy for kids.

The Flying Dutchman overture, by Wagner. A ghost ship in a storm. The horns call, and the strings whip up the waves.

Under the water

“Aquarium” from The Carnival of the Animals, by Saint-Saëns. The tune floats while the pianos shimmer. Game: swim around the room in slow motion.

“The Sunken Cathedral,” by Debussy. An old story from Brittany tells of a cathedral under the sea that rises on clear mornings. In this piano piece, the bells and the organ grow louder as it comes up, then sink away.

Rain

“Raindrop” Prelude, by Chopin. One note repeats through the whole piece, like a drip from a roof. The nickname came from other people.

“Gardens in the Rain,” by Debussy. A fast piano piece. The rain pours, eases, and the sun comes out at the end.

Fountains

“Fountains,” by Ravel. The French title is “Jeux d’eau,” which means “water games.” The notes splash from the top of the piano to the bottom. Read Ravel for kids.

Fountains of Rome, by Respighi. Four fountains at four times of day, from dawn to sunset.

A big one for older children

“Become Ocean,” by John Luther Adams. A piece from 2013 that lasts about 40 minutes with no breaks. The orchestra swells and falls back in slow waves. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Music.

How composers make water

Sound	How they do it
Ripples	Fast notes that rise and fall, often on a harp, a piano, or strings
Waves	The whole orchestra grows louder, then softer
Drips	One note, over and over
Deep water	Low instruments that hold long notes
Sparkle	High, bright sounds from a flute, a triangle, or a celesta

Games to play

• River or sea? Play a piece without the title, and let your child guess the kind of water.
• Paint it. Use blue paint and a wet brush while the music plays.
• Make a rainstorm. Rub your palms, snap your fingers, pat your knees, and stomp. Then go back the other way.
• Follow the river. Draw a long river, and add one thing for each part of The Moldau.

Draw each piece on a listening journal page. For more themes, read classical music about storms and weather and classical music about animals.