# Musical passages that everyone knows or should know (with links) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 26, 2010, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-passages-that-everyone-knows-or-should-know-with-links/544612 "2010-06-26T16:46:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-passages-that-everyone-knows-or-should-know-with-links/544612/1 "2010-06-26T16:46:48Z")
Inspired by [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=568603). 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](http://www.gmajormusictheory.org/Freebies/FirstPieces/0Chopsticks.mid)". 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](http://www.midicenter.com/midi/midi_files/classical/William_Tell_Overture.mid). [“Take Five” by Dave Brubeck](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwNrmYRiX_o&feature=related). [Beethoven’s “Fur Elise”](http://www.mp3.com.au/Track.asp?id=31783). What are some other pieces that should be played on Day 1 of Music 101? Please include links! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-passages-that-everyone-knows-or-should-know-with-links/544612/2 "2010-06-26T17:10:35Z")
If you’re talking musical passages that most everyone knows, but not necessarily by name: Edvard Grieg’s [Morning Mood](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAbwMGZtIsY) from Peer Gynt Suite–actually there’s a good number of songs from Peer Gynt that would qualify.) Bach’s [Cello Suite #1](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6yuR8efotI) Karl Jenkin’s [Palladio Allegretto](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZZ3_PFe-T8) Liszt’s [Hungarian Rhapsody #2](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byGI1mDi3no) (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](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrML6s1wNHk) from Carmina Burana. Tschaikovsky’s [Romeo & Juliet Overture: Love Theme.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmLsvQaxw3g#t=8m51s) ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-passages-that-everyone-knows-or-should-know-with-links/544612/3 "2010-06-26T18:02:38Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > If you’re talking musical passages that most everyone knows, but not necessarily by name: Yes! Good examples, too. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-passages-that-everyone-knows-or-should-know-with-links/544612/4 "2010-06-26T19:16:22Z")
[Pachebel’s Canon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM). Opening five notes to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. ---
**Author:** ![Cheez\_Whia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cheez\_Whia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheez_Whia)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-passages-that-everyone-knows-or-should-know-with-links/544612/5 "2010-06-26T20:07:24Z")
J S Bach [Tocatta and Fugud in D Minor](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipzR9bhei_o). The horror movie theme of all time. You left out [In the Hall of the Mountain King](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipzR9bhei_o) from _Peer Gynt_. [Dance of the Hours](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmBF1bOlKOA&feature=related) (AKA Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah). [Ride of the Valkries](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AlEvy0fJto&feature=related) Flying Toasters 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-passages-that-everyone-knows-or-should-know-with-links/544612/6 "2010-06-26T20:09:00Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > [“Take Five” by Dave Brubeck](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwNrmYRiX_o&feature=related). 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](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK3ZP6frAMc) which was the Sunday Morning movie theme on WPIX I think - only Abbot & Costello films, every Sunday morning - Yay 😃 ! [Frank Mills - Music Box Dancer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N_tmH6y7ng) 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…😛 ---
**Author:** ![Cheez\_Whia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cheez\_Whia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheez_Whia)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-passages-that-everyone-knows-or-should-know-with-links/544612/7 "2010-06-26T20:16:23Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > [Pachebel’s Canon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM). > > Opening five notes to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. I love this! (I hate Pachelbel too!) ---
**Author:** ![Cheez\_Whia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cheez\_Whia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheez_Whia)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-passages-that-everyone-knows-or-should-know-with-links/544612/8 "2010-06-26T20:27:11Z")
Here’s the right link for [In the Hall of the Mountain King](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrIYT-MrVaI) :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-passages-that-everyone-knows-or-should-know-with-links/544612/9 "2010-06-26T21:19:29Z")
> [@It's Not Rocket Surgery!](#): > > “Take Five” by Dave Brubeck. Every time I hear that all I can think of is **Tim Hunkin** and **The Secret Life of Machines**!🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-passages-that-everyone-knows-or-should-know-with-links/544612/10 "2010-06-26T21:33:00Z")
This one comes up in GQ every once in a while. Definite must for the list: [Entrance of the Gladiators](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B0CyOAO8y0), by Julius Fučík. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-passages-that-everyone-knows-or-should-know-with-links/544612/11 "2010-06-26T21:37:49Z")
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. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PZfYtCLA23s/hqdefault.jpg "Farewell and Adieu") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZfYtCLA23s) ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2010, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-passages-that-everyone-knows-or-should-know-with-links/544612/12 "2010-06-26T22:06:04Z")
“Sound Off’s” actual name is “The Duckworth Chant.” [My favorite version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnlkV2nWuV4) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-passages-that-everyone-knows-or-should-know-with-links/544612/13 "2010-06-27T00:22:25Z")
> [@Cheez\_Whia](#): > > You left out [In the Hall of the Mountain King](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipzR9bhei_o) from _Peer Gynt_. Another one from Peer Gynt that may qualify: [Anitra’s Dance](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4mdTgI02cg) ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-passages-that-everyone-knows-or-should-know-with-links/544612/14 "2010-06-27T04:57:07Z")
Schubert’s _Der Erlkönig_ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XP5RP6OEJI](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XP5RP6OEJI) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-passages-that-everyone-knows-or-should-know-with-links/544612/15 "2010-06-27T05:27:58Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Opening five notes to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. 4 notes are usually sufficient. How about “Happy Birthday” and quite a few Xmas carols? ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-passages-that-everyone-knows-or-should-know-with-links/544612/16 "2010-06-27T05:34:45Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Opening five notes to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Four notes would probably do it, actually 😃 (Rats! Beaten to the punch!) For those old enough to remember the Huntley-Brinkley report on NBC, the opening of the [third](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAOTCtW9v0M)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](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq-3B6xfNpY)of Beethoven’s 9th (the familiarest bit starts at about 3:05 in) And, for the Beethoven hat trick, the [Moonlight Sonata](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFSRs7iqAv8). (This is the one that Victor Borge famously segued into “Night and Day”. Can you tell where he would have done this?) Roddy ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-passages-that-everyone-knows-or-should-know-with-links/544612/17 "2010-06-27T13:34:43Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![ErinPuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@ErinPuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ErinPuff)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-passages-that-everyone-knows-or-should-know-with-links/544612/18 "2010-06-27T14:43:52Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > For those old enough to remember the Huntley-Brinkley report on NBC, the opening of the [third](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAOTCtW9v0M)movement of Beethoven’s 9th (I think they used Toscanini’s recording). Keith Olbermann now uses this for his show. ---
**Author:** ![CWN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc79bd/32.png) [@CWN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CWN)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-passages-that-everyone-knows-or-should-know-with-links/544612/19 "2010-06-27T15:12:02Z")
[Aaron Copland, Hoedown From Rodeo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqah1rucyRg) It’s whats for dinner [Sailors hornpipe](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfJ9QLlYIXU&feature=related) For anyone who has watched a Popeye cartoon ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-passages-that-everyone-knows-or-should-know-with-links/544612/20 "2010-06-27T15:51:59Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > And, for the Beethoven hat trick, the [Moonlight Sonata](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFSRs7iqAv8). (This is the one that Victor Borge famously segued into “Night and Day”. Can you tell where he would have done this?) I think of that segue trick as Peter Nero’s, not Borge, RIP. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-passages-that-everyone-knows-or-should-know-with-links/544612.md?page=2)