Fantasy-Inspired Classical Music

[Eclipse_31]

Myths, legends, fairytales, and history have long influenced the arts, and (classical) music is no exception. Classical music is full of fantasies, operas, and tone poems invoking the fantastical. Here we will post and discuss classical pieces inspired by fantastic stories and themes. 

I am currently building a playlist (WARNING: It's a long one!), and would like some ideas.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/47X5Egpq8LWTb4fyBKc6pE?si=cec6312e45574998

Here are, in my opinion, some highlights:

Spoiler

https://open.spotify.com/track/7nDGa4MR1hN366JOjpNFac?si=1edef531042747cc

https://open.spotify.com/track/79oUqXftmpxYvLx66ASUlg?si=b63540a6767f4d6d

Wagner's Ring Cycle is a good place to start. I can't be the only one imagining dwarves forging weapons for gods and fetters for monsters, or a mystic castle carved within a hazy mountainside.

https://open.spotify.com/track/4SVLb2si2kW1A3F6D4vlDb?si=40b7cfb847ca4c86

Another Prokofiev piece, based on a fictional soldier and his rises through the ranks during the reign of Emperor Paul I of Russia. A little more 'modern' than other examples, but this movement in particular has a very wistful tone to it.

https://open.spotify.com/track/2k1ATFZ0v8JyCvmapjb8uH?si=a13d6f2406e7462a

Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade suite brings to mind the fairy-tale wonders of the Arabian Nights. 

https://open.spotify.com/track/5OVMZdkNWcAEqQW2op4VEH?si=37cdbb3d5a53464f

Williams's Fantasia on Greensleeves invokes an otherworldly, pastoral land. This recording of it is simply stupendous!

https://open.spotify.com/track/1norz7dVDhlJkmFXuZ1ROO?si=3098b5847e684d7b
https://open.spotify.com/track/2XbitWFsPjZyxQ8FiAtpFV?si=d03997cb0f964887
Prokofiev appears once more! His Overture on Hebrew Themes is, like many of his works, equally mystifying as it is playful and enthusiastic. And 'The Quarrel' from his On the Dneiper Suite makes me think about a elegant kingdom and its people, hidden under the pall of the night.

https://open.spotify.com/track/30cbbpUZYaRV8VfgG7FSUy?si=b27695c727eb4549

Speaking of 'pastoral', who cannot forget about Beethoven's sixth symphony?

https://open.spotify.com/track/331LxQ58sih1ZWlM4sikff?si=8d7b10fba91d48b2

Bax's The Garden of Fand evokes the mysteries of the island garden of Lady Fand, who, in Irish mythology, is the daughter of Manannan, god of the ocean.

https://open.spotify.com/track/791Ota2UE9GRMOXS1Q3Sze?si=e030538551ac4af3

Swans were symbols of death and the underworld in Finland, and the English horn in this song is supposed to represent the swan's mournful song. Fun fact, this was going to be in a rejected sequel to Fantasia.

https://open.spotify.com/track/4i9D5KVDdM09hW2s9lajQT?si=f15f0648b4a24324

https://open.spotify.com/track/6UypYkbRE19DAazyRjXPsJ?si=d40642091c754c67

These pieces in particular make me think I'm wandering through the halls of Hogwarts late at night.

https://open.spotify.com/track/1li5uDduwFLRfDmS8BE1kJ?si=5e06105c83f64274
To me the last movement in Saint-Saens's Symphony No. 3 makes me think about the perfect Disney fairytale ending - the princess is rescued, the dragon is slain, the realm is saved, and a grand wedding is now underway, courtesy of fairies and cutesie little animals.

https://open.spotify.com/track/5n7zNAjueG8XciM4J7wjq1?si=07a7fbdae3ba4bd2

Glass's Seventh Symphony is probably in my opinion very underappreciated. The second movement, "Hikuri" ('Sacred Root') has a very epic and ritualistic feel to it.

Now let's go to the more 'obscure' composers:

https://open.spotify.com/track/3NgiBUR90scpVMn1EgYyZB?si=861a81a872d24c88

Skalkottass's collection of ballet sketches, "The Sea", is about the different aspects of the ocean. This piece is about an account of Alexander the Great descending into the sea's depths in a bathyscaphe. 

https://open.spotify.com/track/19B2jfwtwQGl8fXO8iU8ja?si=cac8e1d701f64ff7

Third movement from Garrop's Mythology Symphony - very pleasant and mysterious at first, until it descends into utter chaos, just like the Sirens themselves.

https://open.spotify.com/track/1xfyBNUoDr7qvE1AWKrvba?si=317d97d64a0a449a
The first movement in Bliss's Colour Symphony, Purple, makes me think not of the color but the Shire. Speaking of which . . .

https://open.spotify.com/track/4IouhzUoqlARScEYdCiglH?si=1e4a6977fb214335

de Meji has written two symphonies inspired by important characters and events The Lord of the Rings. This is one of my favorite movements - wouldn't sound too out of place in Bakshi's film!

https://open.spotify.com/track/4SLLXEASpLNyib5m1v1DJC?si=ff3e99ef21de47be

Rangstrom's first movement in his divertimento elegiaco has that special, wistful and mystic Tristain and Isolde feel to it.  

[Travvvvvvvv]

Hi,

I cant see your playlist as the link is not here? Says "sorry, couldn't find that". Maybe its set to private?

You should take a listen to Secession Studios. Great composer based in LA. He contributed several songs to the Art and Mind film soundtrack.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6LOjtOjW3cX5A0vnCB4sBN?si=f8c6b817592b496c

[Eclipse_31]

Made the playlist public (I hope!)! That was an interesting playlist you’ve curated, but I think that is similar to the genre of music known as dungeon synth: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeon_synth
Dungeon synth merges elements of ambient, metal, new age, electronic, gothic, and video game music together, and (typically) has themes inspired by fantasy, hence the name. It’s a really cool genre, and people have uploaded entire albums onto YouTube. Maybe I’ll make a thread on it in the future, but it really isn’t the type of music one would think is ‘classical’.