Classical lovers look here please ;)?

Question

Hiya all ;). I'm looking for music to go with my film trailer (media project), and I've picked classical


Problem is I have no idea where to start (I know Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata and I heard Bach's Toccata and Fugue)


My film trailer is about a guy (Dylan) moving in next to a girl (Natalie). Dylan and Nat start to fall in love, but Dylan starts to act all weird because he has some sort of secret.


We have both happy scenes and angry scenes, so we need a piece that suits both scenes. Like Beethoven's Moonlight sonata would suit a romantic tradegy, (in my own opinion)


So any clues on where to start. I tried to make it as easy to read and explain everything without having to add details. Thanks

Answer 1

I know this is just for a project...but you may want to ask a student composer or someone who writes music to write something. Technically you may be infringing on certain copyrights by using Moonlight Sonata, etc. Usually for any kind of film, etc you need sychronization licenses, etc to do that. Now maybe no one will really be seeing it...but coming from my experience (I wrote a choral piece and used copyrighted text for a music school recital)...it is best to use something you have rights to....If you ever in the future decide to use the fillm for anything, you may not be able to because you never had rights to the music.....just a thought....

otherwise...

I suggest Chopin - nocturnes or preludes maybe
Brahms may work well - try his Rhapsodies for piano.
Mozart sonatas (fast movements) may work well for the happy scenes.
I would not use Bach or Baroque music because it may sound like a period film.

Answer 2

Do not use any of the following :
Tocatta and Fugue, Moonlight Sonata, Fur Elise, Pachelbel Canon.
These have been overused in recent times and you will end up sounding like a TV commercial.

Try the music of Chopin ; his music covers all the range of emotions. Wonderful solo piano music. You can listen to a lot of his music on youtube and choose something from there.

Answer 3

For angry scenes or very emotionally intense a composer named Stravinsky fits that bill perfectly. His music is very hard to get into, but for what you are looking for the second movement of Beethoven's seventh symphony fits to romantic tradegies. For parts with a lighter mood Handel's water music is happy and so is Canon in D (this is the most famous classical piece ever written excpet for the Hallejuah chorus in the Messiah). My favorite "happy" piece is the first movement to the Bach's Bradenburg Conerto No. 2.

Answer 4

Quite honestly, I would try to avoid anything hackneyed or very well known like the Moonlight Sonata or Pachabel's Canon and the Toccata and Fugue in D minor by Bach. They have all been used over and over and have so many resonances, happy and sad, for so many people. They will detract from your film, rather than add to it. Really, you want things that people don't really know, that will add to the film's message subconsciously without taking it over. Without seeing the film also, it is very difficult to make sensible suggestions. I'm speaking both as someone who has listened to all kinds of classical music - from Arne to Zemlinsky - for 50 years and who has also dabbled in film making from time to time. Do you have any friends or acquaintances wherever you are learning who can view the film and make suggestions?

Answer 5

I am a classical music fanatic! I absolutely love classical. So anyways, I think Nocturne in C# minor is a very romantic and dreamy piece if it's played very musically on the piano. For the extremely happy and romantic pieces, pick Canon in D Major by Pachelbel.

Answer 6

The rest of Beethoven's Moonlight sonata might be good,the last movement for the fighting-the middle section for happy moments.It contrasts very well.

Answer 7

I usually don't like giving away my secrets but here it is, the 2nd movement is melancholic and so beautiful, it is one of my favorite pieces in my repertoire.
Dimitry Shostakovich - Piano Concerto No.2, Op.102, 2nd movement (Andante)
The first and third movements are very jumpy and filled with excitement.

Answer 8

for angry or tragic scenes you could use
"Bach prelude in C minor"
that's a good one

Answer 9

canon in d by pachelbel would be a good happy piece