9 Pieces of Classical Music in Movies
2024年6月28日
Have you ever watched a film and heard a piece of music that felt familiar, but you just couldn't place it? Chances are, it was classical music. Soundtracks are a crucial element of movies: they establish the mood of different scenes, evoke emotions in the audience, and can even win prestigious awards! In fact, since the 7th academy awards in 1935, the best film score has been selected each year, showing just how important music is in the cinematic experience. Let's learn some more about classical music in movies and look at 9 pieces which have been used in blockbuster movies.
The History of Classical Music in Cinema
When cinema began in the 1890s, silent films used live music performances, heavily including classical compositions, to bring the action on the screen to life since there was no dialogue to do so. Music was used as a powerful storytelling tool, carefully selected to convey the mood of different scenes. The Golden Age of Hollywood began in the 1930s, a period during which many of the most popular movies that defined Hollywood for years to come were created, such as "Casablanca", "Citizen Kane", and "The Wizard of Oz". Composers at the time, such as Max Steiner who conceived the soundtrack for "King Kong", drew inspiration from classical stars such as Beethoven and Mozart and blended elements from their compositions into their original works. In modern cinema, classical music remains a strong inspiration for composers such as John Williams, Hans Zimmer, and Ennio Morricone, who paved the way for contemporary film scoring. From "Star Wars" to "Inception" to "The Good, The Bad And The Ugly", we owe all these iconic soundtracks, and many more, to the wide catalogue of music by classical composers.
9 Movies Featuring Classical Music
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9. Kingsman — "Pomp and Circumstance Op.39 – 1. March No.1 'Land of Hope and Glory'", Edward Elgar
In the 2014 film "Kingsman: The Secret Service", Elgar's popular march is used near the end of the movie. The antagonist, Valentine, uses SIM cards to control the population. Towards the end of the film, the protagonists Eggsy and Merlin ruin Valentine's plan by triggering the SIM implants in his supporters to explode and kill them. What sounds like a bloody and violent pretext becomes almost funny and surreal. Elgar's grandiose and uplifting march is associated to graduations, contrasting the brutality of this scene with dark humor, visually seen through the fireworks representing the exploding heads. The grandiose nature of the march also contributes to the climax, making it more dramatic and impactful.
8. The Pianist — "Nocturne in C♯ Minor", Frédéric Chopin
The 2002 film by director Roman Polanski tells the story of Władysław Szpilman, a Polish and Jewish pianist who lived in Warsaw during World War II. In the opening scene of the film, Szpilman plays Chopin's "Nocturne in C# Minor" on a broadcast for the Polish radio, before being interrupted by bombs sent by the German army in the siege of Warsaw. The serenity of Chopin's music sharply contrasts the brutality of the Nazi bombardment, marking the change in tone and emphasizing the destruction of the Nazis.
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7. Apocalypse Now — "Ride of the Valkyries", Richard Wagner
"Apocalypse Now" by Francis Ford Coppola takes place during the Vietnam War and follow Captain Willard as he journeys from South Vietnam to Cambodia to assassinate Colonel Kurtz. Troops play Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries", composed in the 1850s, as they attack a village. The music's dramatic melody is often associated to heroic battles, contrasting the brutality of the attack, and highlighting the horror of war.
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6. The King's Speech — "Symphony No.7 – 2. Allegretto", Ludwig van Beethoven
Colin Firth portrays King George VI in "The King's Speech", who has to learn to overcome his stutter with the help of a speech therapist in order to address the nation effectively. The second movement of Beethoven's 7th symphony plays as King George VI delivers his speech to the British people in 1939, announcing that Britain has declared war on Germany. Beethoven's rhythmic pulse creates tension in this climax and pushes the music forward, thus emphasizing the weight of the King's speech.
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5. Se7en — "Air on the G String", Johann Sebastian Bach
In this David Fincher movie, detectives Somerset and Mills investigate a series of murders inspired by the seven deadly sins. Somerset goes to a library to research the sins as part of an investigation, as a guard plays Bach's famous "Air on the G String" in the background. The delicate and tender notes of this piece contrast the dark information Somerset uncovers, creating an unsettling sense of disconnect between the music and the visuals of the movie.
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4. Amadeus — "Requiem – Lacrimosa", Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
The 1984 film tells a fictional version of the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and features many of Mozart's works. "Lacrimosa" plays after his death as others grieve him. In latin, lacrimosa translates to tearful, and the music perfectly establishes the grieving and sorrowful mood of this scene.
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3. 2001: A Space Odyssey — "The Blue Danube", Johann Strauss II
Created by Stanley Kubrick in 1968, the film is praised for its revolutionary visual effects at the time. In this scene, Strauss' waltz accompanies grandiose visuals of space and planets. The delicate and majestic "Blue Danube" emphasizes the weightlessness of space, and creates a sharp contrast by juxtaposing traditional classical music with the technological advancements of space exploration.
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2. Ocean's Eleven — "Suite bergamasque – 3. Clair de lune", Claude Debussy
The 2001 hit motion picture, starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and many more, follows a group of criminals as they plan a heist in Las Vegas. After succeeding the heist, the group meets in front of the famous Las Vegas Bellagio fountains, as Debussy's "Clair de lune" plays in the background. The peaceful and tranquil melody of Debussy's piece offers a sense of closing for the film, and mimics the group's relief and satisfaction for having accomplished the heist. After nearly 2 hours of action and tension, the softness of this melody creates a satisfactory ending for the audience.
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1. Fantasia — "Sorcerer's Apprentice – Main Theme", Paul Dukas
French composer Paul Dukas completed the symphonic poem "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" in 1897, and was later used in Walt Disney's "Fantasia", in 1940. "Fantasia" features no dialogue, so relies heavily on music to convey emotions, create mood, and properly tell the story. Duka's work takes audiences through the chaos that ensues as Mickey Mouse has to stop the magic broom from flooding his sorcerer's castle. The animation is carefully synchronized with the music, blending sound and visuals and often enhancing certain actions and sequences.
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