Classical Music used as film themes

[one eyed jack]

Finlandia by Sibelius was used in Die Hard 2. Incidentally the Die Hard films have used classical pieces to denote the bad guys in all three films. Maybe someone can remeind us what they were in 1 and 3.

[Jacques]

Die Hard 3 was "Symphony No 9" by Beethoven- I think????

[Jayr]

You could say that any soundtrack by John Williams is a Classical soundtrack, so by definition you'd have to include:

Star Wars (all six)
Close Encounters
Superman 1
Jurassic Park (only the 1st maybe the 2nd)
Schindlers List
Indiana Jones (all 3)

Actually basically any Spielberg/Lucas film!

[RetroDon]

One of the most effective themes that springs to my mind is Khachaturian's Adagio of Spatacus, better known as the theme to "The Onedin Line". It makes me shiver, a fantastic haunting piece that reminds me as much of dark winter sunday evenings as it does the show. The show ran for about 10 years, and spookily enough my mother was watching it in the maternity ward just before I was born.

[Pervert]

You missed out his contributions to the Potter films, among others.

And if you include Williams, that opens the door to many others (Elfman, Shore, Horner, Jerry Goldwhatever, and the all-time classic Bernard Herman).

[one eyed jack]

Don't mean to get all anorakky on you Jayr but i think when you use the word classical about a film soundtrack we should highlight the difference as some people get confused with the terminology classical which really doesnt apply to film soundtracks even if they are orchestrated and conducted in such a fashion.

Yes, I'm a big soundtrack fan with a collection that spans John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, Basil Poledouris, Hanz Zimmer, John Barry, Michael kamen etc.

I even had the pleasure of meeting Jerry Goldsmith and Elmer Bernstein many years ago. I'll never forget the look on Elmer bernsteins face when i cited and interest in his music and spoke as if I knew whati was talking about. he was even surprised I was at his tribute to Miklos Roza at The Barbican.

I told him I iz one cultured back man ah'ight. Don't com' tes me! He was in stitches...I don't think he knew what I was saying but he laughed politely anyway.

[Juicekrew]

For an exhaustive roll call of music used both in film and adverts you could try purchasing 'Classical favourites' subtitled 'the advertisers guide to classical music'. It's a 4 dis set containing everything from barber's Adagio for strings to Gershwin preludes, encompassing Hollywood films to Mobile phone adverts.

It's on the Pegasus label cat num: PEG BX 415

Fantastic rendition Debussy's of clair de lune( more prevailent since there's a bastardised 'Dance' version doing the rounds at the moment) and one of my favourites along with Prokofiev's 'montagues and capulets'

[Jayr]

Good point OEJ, I stand corrected as I too was one of the confused lol!

[nosey]

Mozart's Piano Concerto No 21 in C major K467, was used in the film Elvira Madigan.This film also had music by Vivaldi.

[steve56]

the end of basic instinct is classical.