A bit of history: Elvira Madigan was a Danish circus girl who fell in love with, and eloped with, a Swedish officer, Sixten Sparre. With no source of income and disowned by their families (Sparre had deserted not only the army but also his wife and two young children), they committed suicide together. In 1967, Swedish movie director Bo Widerberg made a movie based on their story and using this movement for the soundtrack, giving the 2nd movement its iconic nickname "Elvira Madigan".
@Shandyr, yes, Bach is one of my favorite composers. I used to have the Brandenburg Concerti playing in my car all the time during college. Is that video game version all synthesizer? If so, it sounds amazingly close to real, acoustic instruments.
One of the first introductions to classical for many people my age was the old Bugs Bunny cartoons. "The Rabbit of Seville" is the best known, based on "The Barber of Seville." They did the entire overture, but I can only find these two clips:
These pieces were my "gateway drugs" that got me hooked on classics. These, and the Star Wars music by John Williams. I was in seventh grade. Oh, and it helped push me into a love of classical music that there were two disco tracks playing constantly on the radio that used classical music themes: "Hooked on Classics", and "A Fifth of Beethoven." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=258dERDC4P8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7SzwugqiXc
@Montressor_SP, very funny piece. According to Wikipedia, Rossini didn't actually write it, although the accompaniment is apparently composed of excerpts from his opera Otello.
What do you do when the Emperor you are employed by keeps falling asleep during the concerts you play him of the music you composed him? Add a little "Surprise" to wake him up and KEEP waking him up! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF5kr251BRs
If you want to mix video games and music, try castlevania. THE soundtrack. THE legend. Symphony of the Night is still among the top 20 games EVER created!
Comments
The Moldau (Vitava) by Smetana
Symphonie Fantastique Part 4, March au Supplice (March to the Scaffold) by Hector Berlioz
"Balm in Gilead"
Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head
(Instrumental version by George Winston, which happens to be my personal Favorite)
Sebben Crudele
Bois Epais (Deep Woods)
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Carl Orff: Carmina Burana part 1: Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, 3rd movement - The Young Prince and the Young Princess
Sibelius: The Swan of Tuonela
W.A. Mozart: Piano Concerto #21, 2nd movement "Elvira Madigan"
A bit of history: Elvira Madigan was a Danish circus girl who fell in love with, and eloped with, a Swedish officer, Sixten Sparre. With no source of income and disowned by their families (Sparre had deserted not only the army but also his wife and two young children), they committed suicide together. In 1967, Swedish movie director Bo Widerberg made a movie based on their story and using this movement for the soundtrack, giving the 2nd movement its iconic nickname "Elvira Madigan".
One of the first introductions to classical for many people my age was the old Bugs Bunny cartoons. "The Rabbit of Seville" is the best known, based on "The Barber of Seville." They did the entire overture, but I can only find these two clips:
Here's a performance of the original:
All the Rossini overtures are a good starting place for somebody who's never listened to classical music and wants to give it a try.
From there, I'd go to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony:
And Wagner Ride of the Valkyries:
And to come full circle, if you discover you like Wagner, here's a Bugs Bunny take on another Wagner opera, Tannhauser:
These pieces were my "gateway drugs" that got me hooked on classics. These, and the Star Wars music by John Williams. I was in seventh grade. Oh, and it helped push me into a love of classical music that there were two disco tracks playing constantly on the radio that used classical music themes: "Hooked on Classics", and "A Fifth of Beethoven."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duetto_buffo_di_due_gatti
Ogre Battle
MM2 Wily 1
Mega Man 3 title
Street Fighter 2 Ken
Street Fighter 2 Guile
Faxanadu overworld
Faxanadu Mantra
Zelda NES
Crono Trigger Intro
Crono Trigger Frog
Final Fantasy VI Terra
Illusion of Gaia Hidden Village
Warriors of the Eternal Sun
Runescape Doorways
Ninja Gaiden
NWN Preview Icewind Dale Theme
NWN Boss 2
I also think the theme for BG2 is fantastic.
The ErlKoenig
You may recognize this one from every Dracula movie ever, it seems. The Toccata and Fugue in D Minor played on the organ.
The Ode to Joy as played as a Flashmob in Som Sabadell, Spain
Portobello Road with street dance!
The Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor
Sabre Dance by Aram Khachaturian
Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin
What do you do when the Emperor you are employed by keeps falling asleep during the concerts you play him of the music you composed him? Add a little "Surprise" to wake him up and KEEP waking him up!
Drakkhen SNES
Gauntlet Legends
Conan the Barbarian Movie Riders of Doom (picks up at around 2:00 to 2:10)
Starship Troopers theme
And this is the (corrected) version, as it SHOULD have been translated.
http://www.radiolab.org/story/217340-unraveling-bolero/