Classical Music in movies, Part 2

The big screen loves classical music. Sometimes is seems that classical music was made for the big screen. It is not unusual to hear classical melodies in movie soundtracks.

Here are some astounding numbers what composer’s music has been offered in what number of films.
   
    Mozart 252 films
    Beethoven 190 films
    Bach 167 films
    Tchaikovsky 203 films
    Wagner 173 films
    Franz Schubert 108 films
    Vivaldi 81 films
    Stravinsky 28 films
    Phillip Glass 33 films

If I were to begin a list, it would necessarily be incomplete; the list is even longer than that for popular music. I would be inclined to list movies that I know and appreciate, but they might not be movies you’ve seen and come to appreciate. Nevertheless, I will make an effort to list some of the major movies that have included classical music, including some that I haven’t seen, but note that they have quoted somewhat extensively from classical music. (I should point out that I haven’t seen all of these, and my listing is based on the classical music heard in the movie, not the subject matter or rating; some use of caution may be necessary.)

Ace Ventura Pet Detective
    Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik, 2nd & 3rd movements, Mozart: A Musical Joke
Amadeus
    Mozart: Gran Partita, Adagio, Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20, 2nd movement, Mozart: Requiem, Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 25 & 29
Apocalypse Now
    Wagner: Ride of the Valkyries, from Die Walküre
Babe: Pig in the City
    Rossini: Largo al factotum, from Barber of Seville, Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3, 2nd & 3rd movements, Verdi: Anvil Chorus, from Il Trovatore
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
    Beethoven: Symphony No. 5
Chariots of Fire
    Allegri: Miserere, Parry: Jerusalem
Citizen Kane
    Rossini: Una voce poco fa from Barber of Seville
Clear and Present Danger
    Dvorák: Symphony No. 9, 2nd movement.
A Clockwork Orange
    Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, 4th movement, Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance No. 1, Purcell: March, from Funeral Music for Queen Mary, Rossini: William Tell Overture
Death in Venice
    Beethoven: Für Elise, Lehár: Vilja Song, from The Merry Widow, Mahler: Symphony No. 3, Mahler: Symphony No. 5, Puccini: Vogliatemi bene from Madame Butterfly
The Dirty Dozen
    Haydn: String Quartet Op. 76, No. 3, "Emperor," Strauss II: Emperor Waltz
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
    Bach: Ich ruf zu dir, from Orgelbüchlein, Bach: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, Bizet: Habanera from Carmen, Schumann: Aufschwung
Elvira Madigan
    Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21, 2nd movement
Excalibur
    Orff: Carmina Burana (beginning), Wagner: Prelude to Tristan and Isolde, Wagner: Siegfried's Funeral March, from Götterdämmerung
Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes
    Boccherini: Minuet, Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance, Elgar: Symphony No. 1, 1st movement
Hilary and Jackie
    Bach: Cello Suite No. 1, Prelude & Gigue, Bach: Cello Suite No. 3, Prelude, Bach: Cello Suite No. 6, Gavotte, Beethoven: Piano Trio No. 7, "Archduke, Brahms: Cello Sonata No. 2, 2nd movement, Dvorák: Cello Concerto, 2nd movement, Elgar: Cello Concerto, Franck: Cello Sonata (arr. of Violin Sonata), Haydn: Cello Concerto in C major, 3rd movement, Schumann: Fantasy Piece No. 1
Immortal Beloved
    Beethoven: Für Elise, Beethoven: Piano Sonatas No. 8, 2nd mvt. & No. 14, 1st movement, Beethoven: Symphony No. 5, 1st movement, Beethoven: Symphony No. 6, 1st movement, Beethoven: Symphony No. 7, 1st movement, Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, 1st movement, Beethoven: Violin Con- certo, 1st movement
The Living Daylights
    Borodin: String Quartet No. 2, 3rd movement, Mozart: Symphony No. 40, 1st movement,
The Lone Ranger
    Rossini: Overture to William Tell
Lorenzo´s Oil
    Barber: Adagio, Elgar: Cello Concerto, 2nd movement, Mahler: Symphony No. 5, Adagietto, A. Marcello: Oboe Concerto, 2nd movement, Mozart: Ave verum corpus

So far, we have covered only about half of the alphabet. Guess I’ll have to do the second half tomorrow. Are you beginning to see (hear?) that classical music is everywhere? There us much more to explore. See you in the next post.