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Games that feature classical music


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I'll update the list as people can think of more.  If you can link to a video, even better!

Mountain King (2600, C64): In the Hall of the Mountain King by Edvard Grieg
Alpiner (TI-99/4a) In the Hall of the Mountain King by Edvard Grieg
Hunt the Wumpus (TI-99/4a) In the Hall of the Mountain King by Edvard Grieg & Funeral March by Chopin
Gyruss (2600,NES, Arcade): Toccata and Fugue in D minor by Bach
Donkey Kong Jr: Toccata and Fugue in D minor by Bach
Dark Castle: Toccata and Fugue in D minor by Bach
Deathsmiles:Toccata and Fugue in D minor by Bach
Jawbreaker II (TI-99/4a): Turkish March by Mozart
Arkenoid II: Castle on a cloud (from Les Miserable by Schönberg)
Thexder (MSX,PC): Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven
Resident Evil: Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven
Earthworm Jim 2: Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven
Earthworm Jim: Night on Bald Mountain
Tomb Raider: Venice Violins
Ape Escape 3:  Mars Bringer of War by Gustav Holst
Tetrastar- The Fighter (Famicom): 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky & Night on Bald Mountain
City Connection (NES, arcade): Piano Concerto No. 1. by Tchaikovsky
Tetris (NES):Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies by Tchaikovsky
Mike Tyson's Punch-Out: Bizet's Carmen by Bizet & and Ride of the Valkyries by Wagner
Road Runner (NES) William Tell Overture by Rossini, Flight Of The Bumblebee by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Sabre Dance by Aram Khachaturian, Russian Dance by Tchaikovsky
The Lone Ranger (NES) The William Tell Overture by Rossini
Welcome House (PS1) Piano Concert No.5 by Beethoven
Adventures of Dr. Frank (NES& GB) Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven
Jet Set Willy: Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven
Astrochase (26001812 Overture
Gorby no Pipeline Daisakusen' (Famicom):  Caucasian Sketches, Suite 1 - Movement IV: Procession of the Sardar - Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov
Swan Lake - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, In the Steppes of Central Asia by Alexander Borodin, Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky, Scheherazade, Movement III: The Young Prince and the Young Princess - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Flight of the Bumblebee - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Thunder Force (PC-8801mkIISR/PC-88): William Tell Overture
Thunder Castle (Intellivsion) :Schubert's unfinished 8th, Second Movement (First Scherzo Codetta), Arrangement of Opening Melody and Coda (Truncated) Sonata Kk. 159 by Domenico Scarlatti ,The Black Service (Fanfare), Night on Bald Mountain by Modest Mussorgsky, Fourth Movement (Main Theme), Eighth Symphony by Antonín Leopold Dvořák, Ninth Symphony by  Ludwig van Beethoven, Second Movement (Rondeau), Abdelazar or The Moor's Revenge by Henry Purcell
Battle of Olympus: Toccata Fugue in D Minor by Bach
Tyrants Fight Through Time (Genesis): Mars from The Planets by Gustav Hoist
Captain Comic
Peggle: Ode to Joy Beethoven
Golf Grand Slam (NES: Debussy
Challenger (FC): Three Marches Militaires - March No. 1 in D Major' by Franz Schubert
Rockman 4 Minus Infinity (FC) :Three Marches Militaires - March No. 1 in D Major' by Franz Schubert
Tiny Toon Adventures- Bab's Big Break (Gameboy): In The Hall Of The Mountain King by Edvard Grieg

Edited by G-type
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Funny this thread was just made, I literally just noticed Gustav Holst' "Mars Bringer of War" when I was watching my buddy play Ape Escape 3 haha.  Pretty cool to hear in the game, wasn't expecting it:

One of my favorite examples is Tetrastar: The Fighter (Famicom), where the entire soundtrack is epic classical music. Here's part of the title screen with Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture",  in fully 8-bit glory complete with sampled orchestral hits and timpani.  It also has a cool Night on Bald Mountain rendition among others.

 

Edited by nesmaster14
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2 minutes ago, Link said:

I think the sim part of ActRaiser uses a Handel song, damned if I could tell you the name though. Anybody?

 

I always thought this was just generic baroque sounding music. Interesting if it's an actual piece.

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Road Runner on NES has a bunch:

"William Tell Overture" by Rossini

 

"Flight Of The Bumblebee" by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

 

"Sabre Dance" by Aram Khachaturian

 

"Russian Dance" by Tchaikovsky

 

They all seem to be played at double speed, I think.

Edited by cj_robot
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There's a Beethoven in Welcome House, a Japan exclusive PS1 and Saturn game.  I don't recall for sure which one, but checking a youtube video, it appears to be Piano Concerto No. 5 Emperor (it's not actually played in the video though). 

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If you want to include Rhythm games, there's a bunch.  Maestromusic (PS1), Maestromusic II (PS2) and Mad Maestro/Bravo Music (PS2) are classical music themed.  I think most of the Donkey Konga and Taiko Rhythm Master games have classical tracks as well.  Pretty sure the Daigasso Band Brothers games do too.

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I think Moonlight Sonata must be public domain because it is in so many games and so much software.  I remember one of the first computer programs I ever ran on the C64 played it.  I had of course never heard it before.  It is famously in Jet Set Willy, but I think we had just a stand alone version as part of some music software.  It shows up everywhere . . .

 

1812 Overture is like that too: 


 

Edited by wongojack
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A good number of songs in 'Gorby no Pipeline Daisakusen' for the Famicom: 
Caucasian Sketches, Suite 1 - Movement IV: Procession of the Sardar - Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov
Swan Lake - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
In the Steppes of Central Asia - Alexander Borodin
Pictures at an Exhibition - Modest Mussorgsky
Scheherazade, Movement III: The Young Prince and the Young Princess - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Flight of the Bumblebee - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

The Title Screen and Stage 7, 8 and 9 songs are also based on other Russian songs as they list a title in the description, but basic 5-second searches (Stage 7's composer) or comparing by ear (Title Screen) resulted no concrete results.

 

Also Thunder Force for the PC-8801mkIISR/PC-88 loves the William Tell Overture 

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3 hours ago, Dr. Morbis said:

Thunder Castle on the Intellivsion uses a few famous pieces, one of which is Schubert's unfinished 8th, IIRC...

THE MUSIC OF THUNDER CASTLE

 

TITLE SCREEN

Second Movement (Rondeau)

Abdelazar or The Moor's Revenge

Henry Purcell

 

GET READY SCREEN, ALL MAZES / LEVELS

First Movement (Opening Melody)

Eighth Symphony

Franz Schubert

 

GAMEPLAY, ALL MAZES / LEVELS

First Movement (First Theme)

Eighth Symphony

Franz Schubert

 

LOSE A TURN, ALL MAZES / LEVELS

Second Movement (First Scherzo Codetta)

Ninth Symphony

Ludwig van Beethoven

 

VICTORY FANFARE, ALL LEVELS

Arrangement of Opening Melody and Coda (Truncated)

Sonata Kk. 159

Domenico Scarlatti

 

POWER-UP TREASURE, HEDGE MAZE / DRAGON LEVEL

The Black Service (Fanfare)

Night on Bald Mountain

Modest Mussorgsky

 

POWER-UP TREASURE, CASTLE MAZE / WIZARD LEVEL

Fourth Movement (Main Theme)

Eighth Symphony

Antonín Leopold Dvořák

 

POWER-UP TREASURE, DUNGEON MAZE / DEMON LEVEL

Second Movement (Trio)

Ninth Symphony

Ludwig van Beethoven

 

GAME OVER

Second Movement (Rondeau)

Abdelazar or The Moor's Revenge

Henry Purcell

 

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