Inspired by this thread .
What are the basic musical passages or tunes that everybody should know? This occurred to me when I read something about “Chopsticks”, then realized I didn’t really know what “Chopsticks” sounded like by name!
So, I looked it up. This is "Chopsticks ".
Some other tunes that should be obvious to everyone, but I’m sure someone out there doesn’t know by name:
The William Tell Overture /“Lone Ranger” theme .
“Take Five” by Dave Brubeck .
Beethoven’s “Fur Elise” .
What are some other pieces that should be played on Day 1 of Music 101? Please include links!
If you’re talking musical passages that most everyone knows, but not necessarily by name:
Edvard Grieg’s Morning Mood from Peer Gynt Suite–actually there’s a good number of songs from Peer Gynt that would qualify.)
Bach’s Cello Suite #1
Karl Jenkin’s Palladio Allegretto
Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody #2 (although this may just be a personal favorite from watching too much Tom & Jerry as a kid. Maybe it’s not as popular as I think.)
Orff’s O Fortuna from Carmina Burana.
Tschaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet Overture: Love Theme.
Pachebel’s Canon .
Opening five notes to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.
J S Bach Tocatta and Fugud in D Minor . The horror movie theme of all time.
You left out In the Hall of the Mountain King from Peer Gynt .
Dance of the Hours (AKA Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah).
Ride of the Valkries Flying Toasters
SirRay
June 26, 2010, 8:09pm
6
Scratching my head on this one - listened to the entire YouTube clip, didn’t recognize it at all.
Two burned into my brain, just wondering only if New Yorkers alive in the 1970s will recognize these songs as themes:
Hot Butter - Popcorn which was the Sunday Morning movie theme on WPIX I think - only Abbot & Costello films, every Sunday morning - Yay
Frank Mills - Music Box Dancer which I believe was the channel 5 news (pre-Fox) closing theme music.
I’ll let others mention and link to Powerhouse, and of course that famous ‘Oriental theme’ music that we all know, but couldn’t find the name of…
I love this! (I hate Pachelbel too!)
Here’s the right link for In the Hall of the Mountain King :smack:
Every time I hear that all I can think of is Tim Hunkin and The Secret Life of Machines !
This one comes up in GQ every once in a while. Definite must for the list:
Entrance of the Gladiators , by Julius Fučík.
Oh, the best rendition of the sea shanty Spanish Ladies bar none, made famous by Capt. Quint in Jaws plus a little history as well.
“Sound Off’s” actual name is “The Duckworth Chant.”
My favorite version
Another one from Peer Gynt that may qualify:
Anitra’s Dance
4 notes are usually sufficient.
How about “Happy Birthday” and quite a few Xmas carols?
Four notes would probably do it, actually
For those old enough to remember the Huntley-Brinkley report on NBC, the opening of the third movement of Beethoven’s 9th (I think they used Toscanini’s recording).
While we’re at it, of course, the “Ode to Joy” from the finale of Beethoven’s 9th (the familiarest bit starts at about 3:05 in)
And, for the Beethoven hat trick, the Moonlight Sonata . (This is the one that Victor Borge famously segued into “Night and Day”. Can you tell where he would have done this?)
Richard Strauss’s *Thus Spake Zarathustra which was used as the opening to the movie * 2001: A Space Odyssey .
Liza Lehman’s *In A Persian Garden *which is used in B-Westerns to indicate that the indians are coming.
And I’m sorry, I don’t know how to make links.
Keith Olbermann now uses this for his show.
CWN
June 27, 2010, 3:12pm
19
Aaron Copland, Hoedown From Rodeo It’s whats for dinnerSailors hornpipe For anyone who has watched a Popeye cartoon
I think of that segue trick as Peter Nero’s, not Borge, RIP.
!
