The Five Series Classical Music Hits You Need to Know

The five series of classical music hits you need to know are: 1) Bach’s “Brandenburg” Concertos; 2) Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 9”; 3) Brahms’ “Symphony No. 1”; 4) Handel’s “Messiah”; and 5) Mozart’s “Requiem.”

Introduction

Since the early days of cinema, music has played a key role in movie-making. From the dramatic scores that heighten emotional tension to the songs that become inextricably linked with a film’s characters or story, music can make or break a movie. In recent years, classical music has made a comeback in film, with popular movies like The Social Network and Black Swan utilising classical pieces to great effect.

Here are five of the most famous and recognisable pieces of classical music that have been used in movies. Whether you’re a diehard classical fan or a casual moviegoer, you’re sure to have heard these pieces before!

1. Requiem for a Dream (2000) – Clint Mansell
Mansell’s haunting score for Darren Aronofsky’s psychological thriller Requiem for a Dream is one of the most recognisable pieces of movie music in recent years. Based on an 1876 piano piece by Russian composer Alexander Scriabin, Mansell’s score is both beautiful and harrowing, perfectly complementing Aronofsky’s graphic depiction of drug addiction.

2. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) – Richard Strauss
Stanley Kubrick’s groundbreaking sci-fi film 2001: A Space Odyssey is as famous for its use of classical music as it is for its ground-breaking special effects. The film opens with a stunning sequence set to Richard Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra, one of the most recognisable pieces of classical music ever written.

3. The Godfather (1972) – Nino Rota
Nino Rota’s score for Francis Ford Coppola’s crime classic The Godfather is one of the most iconic and instantly recognisable pieces of movie music ever written. From the slow, eerie opening notes of The Godfather Waltz to the jaunty Italian folk tunespeople remember it best for, Rota’s score perfectly captures the mood and atmosphere of Coppola’s film.

4. Apocalypse Now (1979) – Wagner

Wagner might not be the first composer you think of when you think of Vietnam War films, but his workforms an integral part of Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now. The film opens with a striking sequence set to Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries, one of the most famous pieces of classical music ever written.

5 . Psycho (1960) – Bernard Herrmann

Alfred Hitchcock’s seminal thriller Psycho is renowned for its use of Bernard Herrmann’s spine-tingling score. Oneofthe most famous and recognisable piecesof movie music ever written,Herrmann’sscore has become synonymouswiththe film itselfand its infamousshower scene

The five series

The five series is a compilation of the most influential andclassic pieces of classical music. This list is perfect for beginners who want to get into the genre, or for experienced listeners who want to broaden their knowledge.

The following five series are essential listening for anyone interested in classical music:

1. Bach’s “Brandenburg” Concertos: These six concertos are some of Bach’s most famous works, and are considered to be some of the finest examples of the Baroque style.

2. Beethoven’s “Symphonies”: Beethoven’s nine symphonies are some of his most important works, and are pivotal pieces in the history of classical music.

3. Mozart’s “Piano Concertos”: Mozart was a master of the piano concerto, and his 27 concertos are among his most important works.

4. Haydn’s “String Quartets”: Haydn was a prolific composer of string quartets, and his 80 quartets are considered to be some of the finest examples of the genre.

5. Schubert’s “Lieder”: Schubert was a master of the Lied, or art song, and his over 600 Lieder are among the finest examples of the genre.

The first series- Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos

Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos are a set of six instrumental works composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. He was commissioned to write them by Margrave Christian Ludwig of Brandenburg-Schwedt, the younger brother of Frederick William I of Prussia.

The set is one of Bach’s most celebrated works and is often considered one of the pinnacles of Baroque music. Each concerto is structured in three movements, fast-slow-fast, and each contains four parts for solo instruments with orchestral accompaniment.

The concertos are named after their scoring: CONCERTO No. 1 in F major for solo violin, 2 flutes, strings & continuo; No. 2 in F major for 2 oboes, 2 violins, 2 violas, strings & continuo; No. 3 in G major for 3 violins, strings & continuo; No 4 in G major for violin, strings & continuo; No. 5 in D major for solo trumpet, 2 oboes, strings & continuo; and No 6 in B-flat major for 2 horns, 2 oboes, bassoon & continuo.

The second series- Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9

The second series of The Five Hits You Need to Know comes from Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. The “Choral” Symphony, as it is popularly known, is recognized as one of the most important works of the Western musical canon. It was groundbreaking in its use of a massive choir and four soloists in the finale, a setting of Friedrich Schiller’s poem “Ode to Joy.”

The third series- Brahms’ Symphony No. 4

The third series of “The Five” classical music hits you need to know is Brahms’ Symphony No. 4. The work was composed in 1884 and is one of the most popular symphonies ever written. It is known for its beautiful melodies, grandiose scale, and emotional power.

The fourth series- Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake

The fourth series of the Five Series Classical Music Hits You Need to Know is Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake is one of the most popular and well-known ballet pieces in the world. It was composed in 1876, and premiered in Moscow in 1877. The ballet tells the story of Odette, a princess who is turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer. Odette can only break the spell by finding true love. The ballet is famous for its beautiful music, and its lovely pas de deux between Odette and her prince, Siegfried.

The fifth series- Verdi’s Requiem

The Verdi Requiem is a musical setting of the Catholic funeral mass for four soloists, double choir and orchestra by Giuseppe Verdi. It was composed in memory of Alessandro Manzoni, an Italian poet and novelist who died in 1873. comprising around 90 performers. The first performance was given in the Church of San Marco in Milan on 22 May 1874, with Verdi conducting.

The work had its United States premiere at Trinity Church in New York City on 9 January 1876, with Verdi again conducting. This was the first performance of any of his works in America.Verdi’s Requiem was one of his last works, composed following the death of Manzoni and shortly before his own death.