Classical Pieces You've Probably Heard but Might Not Remember the Name
William Tell Overture- Rossini (Most famous part at 8:45, but why not listen to the whole thing?) I’m adding hints, at least to the ones I recognized culturally. This one is “go, horsey, go!”
Also Sprach Zarathustra- Strauss Slow, dramatic entry scene, IN SPAAACE.
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik- Mozart People running out of a fancy wedding or something. Also known as DUN, dun DUN, dun DUN dun DUN dun DUUUUN.
Symphony 94, Mvt. 2 “Surprise Symphony”- Haydn ?
Toccata and Fugue in d Minor-Bach Halloween organ!
Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2- Chopin Picture a tiny old woman playing piano in a sunlit room with lots of flower vases, about the spill the tragic secrets of her past to some timid young visitor.
Rondo alla Turca- Mozart the babysitter from The Incredibles: “Time for some COGNITIVE ENRICHMENT!”
Sinfonie de Fanfares: Rondeau- Jean-Joseph Mouret Royalty is coming. Or someone is getting married. Or royalty is getting married. Also the PBS Masterpieces theme.
The Four Seasons: Spring- Vivaldi (I just linked to the whole thing because it’s great) Again, someone is getting married, but this one is strings instead and a lot less frumpy.
Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring- Bach That one that amateur guitarists love where the notes are all up and down but all the same length. Also used in movie weddings.
O Fortuna (from Carmina Burana)- Carl Orff SONG OF DOOM. Also song of “baby on fire!” in The Incredibles.
Funeral March- Chopin ?
Orpheus in the Underworld: Infernal Galop (A.K.A. Can Can)- Offenbach Well, “aka can-can” says it all.
Pomp and Circumstance (You probably graduated to this)- Elgar Oh yes, Baaaa dun dun dun duun duuuuun… Also if you were a bandie you had to play it for 3 years before graduating to it.
Gayane: Sabre Dance- Aram Khachaturian Comically hectic productivity, a circus clown juggling while standing on a ball, or perhaps a rapidly-approaching termite infestation. Could go any way, really.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Wedding March- Mendelssohn The song movies play right AFTER they both say “I do.”
Carmen: Les Toreadors- Bizet I can’t be the only one who remembers when ‘Hey Arnold’ did this. “Bullfights and swordfights, rolling in manuuure!”
The Ride of the Valkyries- Wagner Good song for a naval battle I guess? I can only think of the mini golf course I went to as a kid with the creepy castle on Hole 18 that played this.
Für Elise- Beethoven That one every amateur piano player loves to play because the beginning is just E and E-flat over and over. Also ballet and piano recital scenes in movies.
Dance of the Hours- Ponchielli Hello mudda, hello fadda, here I am at, Camp Granada…
Rigotello: La Donna e Mobile- Verdi More than a few sophisticated movie villains (or snobby good guys) have this playing on a Victrola. Also, tell me you don’t picture Pavaroti no matter who’s actually singing.
Night on Bald Mountain- Mussorgsky ?
Romeo and Juliet: Love Theme- Tchaikovsky More movie-love, usually building up to admitting they live each other.
Entry of the Gladiators- Julius Fucik I have one word for you: CIRCUS.
Lakmé: Flower Duet- Delibes OMG ALIAS. Nadia’s spy backstory in Film Noir!
Peer Gynt: In the Hall of the Mountain King- Greig Mischievous Tiptoeing in Movies song. Also something growing out of control, slowly at first and then quickly, and (comically) exploding.
Rodeo: Hoedown- Copland The title says it all tbh.
Peer Gynt: Morning Mood- Greig Sunrise/waking up Movie Song du jour.
New World Symphony Mov. [2][4]- Dvorak Well now I’m thinking of “An American Tail” and I’m crying…
Ave Maria (You knew this, but did you know that it was by Schubert?) Nothing to add. I’m not a music snob, really, but if you didn’t know this, YOU SHOULD.
Canon in D- Pachelbel This is the one that the pretty Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas song comes from. :-)
Add others if you want! Have fun!
Dies Irae (from Requiem) - Verdi Scary scenes in cartoons, especially involving storms, holes, or treacherous waterfalls.
Flight of the Bumblebee - Rimsky-Korsakov Oh come on, everyone knows this one! It sounds too much like the title for you to forget what it’s called! Also: Drumline.
Finale to the 1812 Overture - Tchaikovsky Naval battle! Cannon! Fireworks! 4th of July in ‘Murica! Even though it’s about that *other* war going on in 1812!
Der Holle Rache kocht in meiner herzen (aka the Queen of the Night aria) - Mozart The one that fancy ladies in movies use to try and break champagne glasses.
Libiamo ne’ lieti calici - Verdi ?
Largo al factotum - Rossini Does your cartoon need a classical tune for your rotund Italian chef to sing while tossing pizza dough? Have we got a song for you!
Overture to The Barber of Seville - Rossini Fast-paced, sneaky-things-are-afoot movie song.
The Blue Danube Waltz - Strauss Da-da-da dum dum. *plink plink* *plink plink*. As heard in Jack’s entry to First Class in “Titanic,” and a million other places. (Veggie Tales “Stuff Mart,” anyone?)
Moonlight Sonata (mvmt. 1) - Beethoven The ultimate pretty-and-sad piano and/or ballet scene song.
Symphony No. 5 - Beethoven dun dun dun DUUUUUN.
I’m sure there are more but these were some of the first that came to mind as missing!
I think this one’s missing, one of my favourites:
Danse Macabre - Camille Saint-Saëns
This is one of the best classical music master-posts I’ve ever seen. I’m so proud of yall
Pavane for a Dead Princess- Maurice Ravel. Apparently it’s in Dark Knight Rises? I just think it’s pretty.
And
Tales from the Vienna Woods- Johann Strauss II. Contains the melody playing on Rose’s music box in Titanic just before Cal gives her the Heart of the Ocean.
