Happy Halloween!!!

Every October I look forward to watching scary movies with my family – the campier the better. As any fan of horror films can attest to, a film’s soundtrack does a lot to build tension, forewarn the audience of danger, and generally adds to the more entertaining aspects of the movie experience. So, for this month’s blog I thought it would be fun to share a playlist of songs that fit in with mood of the season – eerie, atmospheric, and a bit unsettling. Some of the songs here are very recognizable; who can hear Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor without it evoking visions of classic movie monsters? Others are strangely beautiful with haunting combinations of intervals that make your hair stand on end. Happy Halloween!!!

1. Toccata and Fugue in D minor – J.S. Bach

2. Symphony No. 4 in F minor: I.Allegro – Ralph Vaughan Williams

3. Symphony No. 4 in F minor: II. Andante Moderato – Ralph Vaughan Williams

4. St. John’s Night on Bald Mountain – M. Mussorgsky

5. Lux Aeterna – Gyorgy Ligeti

6. Carmina Burana: Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi: I. O Fortuna – Carl Orff

7. Angels and Visitations: Violin Concerto: I. Tranquillo – Einojuhani Rautavaara

8. Angels and Visitations: Violin Concerto: II. Energico – Einojuhani Rautavaara

9. Daemon Irrepit Callidus – Gyorgy Orban

10. In the Hall of the Mountain King – Edvard Grieg

11. Shelob’s Lair – Howard Shore

12. Florence Foster Jenkin’s Rendition of Mozart’s Der Holle Rache