Where Have I Heard This?
Where Have I Heard This? 30 Classical Pieces in Films, Ads, and TV
From Zarathustra in "2001: A Space Odyssey" to the marches that often appear in ads. We've listed 30 familiar classical pieces and the films, ads, TV shows, and games that used them, with the famous part of each piece and sources.
Thus Spoke Zarathustra (opening "Sunrise")Richard Strauss · 2001: A Space Odyssey, WALL-EThe opening, where a trumpet rises over a low rumble with a "bah-bum, bah-bum!" and the timpani poundThe Blue DanubeJohann Strauss II · Squid Game, 2001: A Space OdysseyThe first waltz melody flowing over a "boom-chk-chk" beat after the quiet introduction fadesRide of the Valkyries (from the music drama "Die Walküre")Richard Wagner · Apocalypse Now, What's Opera, Doc? (Looney Tunes)A theme where the brass charge in with a 'ba-ba-ba-BUM-bum!' over swirling strings"O Fortuna" from Carmina BuranaCarl Orff · Excalibur, The DoorsThe majestic second half, where a chorus that was chanting in whispers suddenly explodes and races ahead"In the Hall of the Mountain King" from the Peer Gynt SuiteEdvard Grieg · M, The Social NetworkThe finale, where a theme that tiptoes along gets faster and louder until it explodesWilliam Tell Overture (Finale)Gioachino Rossini · The Lone Ranger, A Clockwork OrangeA finale that gallops like horses "clip-clop, clip-clop" after a trumpet signal"Infernal Galop" (Can-can) from Orpheus in the UnderworldJacques Offenbach · Moulin Rouge, The Little MermaidA breathless "ba-ra-bam, ba-ra-bam" galop that brings to mind can-can dancers kicking up their skirtsEine kleine Nachtmusik, 1st movementWolfgang Amadeus Mozart · Amadeus, Mario Bros.The opening melody, where all the strings strike up together with a bold "dah, da-dah, da-da-da-dah"Symphony No. 5 "Fate", 1st movementLudwig van Beethoven · Saturday Night Fever, The Breakfast ClubThe four notes of fate knocking at the door: "da-da-da-dum!"Symphony No. 9 "Choral," 4th movement, "Ode to Joy"Ludwig van Beethoven · Die Hard, A Clockwork OrangeThe great chorus where the choir and orchestra burst into the joyful "Freude!" melodyFür EliseLudwig van Beethoven · Taiwan garbage trucks, A Charlie Brown ChristmasThe piano's opening melody going up and down: "E-D#-E-D#-E-B-D-C-A"Symphony No. 9 "From the New World", 4th movementAntonín Dvořák · Apollo 11 moon landingA theme that creeps in tensely with "ba-dum, ba-dum" and is then blasted out by the brass"Habanera" ("Love Is a Rebellious Bird") from CarmenGeorges Bizet · Up, Family GuyThe opening phrase, where Carmen sings "Love Is a Rebellious Bird" slipping down by semitones"Toreador Song" from CarmenGeorges Bizet · The Bad News Bears, Five Nights at Freddy'sThe proud refrain of the bullfighter Escamillo: "Toreador, en garde!""Scene" from Swan Lake (Act 2, No. 10)Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky · Dracula, Black SwanA mournful swan theme sung by the oboe over trembling strings, followed by a brass climax1812 OverturePyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky · V for Vendetta, Boston Pops Fourth of July concertA triumphant finale where cannon fire and bells ring out together"Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" from The NutcrackerPyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky · Fantasia, Baileys Christmas adThe signature Christmas melody, shimmering on the celestaThe Four Seasons: "Spring", 1st movementAntonio Vivaldi · The Other Woman, The Sopranos (Season 4, Episode 13)The opening melody of a lively string ensemble announcing the new springCanon in D majorJohann Pachelbel · Ordinary People, Cosmos (Carl Sagan documentary)A melody where the violins follow one another like a round over the same bass lineAir on the G String ("Air" from Orchestral Suite No. 3)Johann Sebastian Bach · Se7en, The Spy Who Loved MeA calm string melody sung in long lines over a slow bassToccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565Johann Sebastian Bach · Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, FantasiaThe chilling first note struck down by the organ, a byword for horror"Hallelujah" from MessiahGeorge Frideric Handel · Dumb and Dumber, History of the World, Part IA grand chorus shouting "Hallelujah!", the piece during which audiences standPomp and Circumstance March No. 1Edward Elgar · US graduation ceremonies, Last Night of the BBC PromsThe majestic march melody you think of at graduationsThe Planets: "Jupiter"Gustav Holst · Rugby World Cup theme "World in Union," hymn "I Vow to Thee, My Country"The majestic middle-section melody that became the Rugby World Cup themeNight on Bald MountainModest Mussorgsky · Fantasia, Kingdom Hearts Final MixIntense orchestral music depicting the frenzy of demons and witches"The Swan" from The Carnival of the AnimalsCamille Saint-Saëns · the ballet "The Dying Swan," Pyeongchang Winter Olympics galaAn elegant melody sung by the cello as if gliding over waterBoléroMaurice Ravel · 10, ice dance at the Sarajevo Winter OlympicsA piece where a single melody keeps growing over a snare drum rhythmAdagio for StringsSamuel Barber · Platoon, The Elephant ManA string ensemble that builds slowly, like sorrow welling up"Wedding March" from A Midsummer Night's DreamFelix Mendelssohn · Korean wedding processionals, the wedding of the Princess Royal in the UKWedding procession music that begins with a trumpet fanfare"Clair de lune" from Suite bergamasqueClaude Debussy · Ocean's Eleven, TwilightA piano melody that spreads quietly like moonlight