The Smurfs (1981 TV Series) - Use of Classical Music

Use of Classical Music

The Smurfs was noted for its frequent use of classical music as background music or themes for particular events. Notable works found in the Smurfs include:

  • Isaac Albéniz, Suite española: Asturias
  • Johann Sebastian Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, BWV 1047 Allegro moderato
  • Johann Sebastian Bach, Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo No. 5, BWV 1056 Arioso. Largo
  • Johann Sebastian Bach, Orchestral Suite No. 3, BWV 1068 Gavotte
  • Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 8 ("Pathétique"), first movement
  • Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 14 ("Moonlight"), third movement. The above two tunes are frequently used in scenes where the Smurfs are in danger, or which otherwise have a great deal of dramatic tension.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 23 ("Appassionata"), first movement
  • Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 1, first movement
  • Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 6 ("Pastoral"), first and fourth movements
  • Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 ("Choral"), second movement
  • Hector Berlioz, Symphonie fantastique, second movement
  • Léon Boëllmann, Suite Gothique: Toccata
  • Alexander Borodin, Polovtsian Dances (Fifth Dance: "Dance of the Boys")
  • Anton Bruckner, Symphony No. 2, third movement
  • Claude Debussy, Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
  • Paul Dukas, The Sorcerer's Apprentice
  • Edward Elgar, Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 (Land of Hope and Glory)
  • Edward Elgar, The Wand of Youth Suite No. 1
  • César Franck, Symphony in D minor, first and second movements
  • Edvard Grieg, Peer Gynt: Morning Mood, In the Hall of the Mountain King ("Morning Mood" is frequently heard when Mother Nature makes her appearance)
  • Edvard Grieg, Lyric Suite: "March of the Dwarfs"
  • Albert W. Ketelbey, In a Persian Market
  • Lev Knipper, Cavalry of the Steppes
  • Zoltán Kodály, Háry János Suite
  • Franz Liszt, Piano Concerto No. 1
  • Franz Liszt, Totentanz
  • Franz Liszt, Transcendental Etude No. 6 "Vision"
  • Felix Mendelssohn, Spring Song
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, The Magic Flute
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, The Marriage of Figaro
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Symphony #35 in D major, K.385 "Haffner", 4th movement, The Smurflings episode. Just a very slowed down version.
  • Modest Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition: Gnomus, Tuileries, Gargamel's theme variation about 1.5 minutes in, and a scene segue part about 10 minutes in, are used in the cartoon.
  • Modest Mussorgsky, Night on the Bare Mountain
  • Sergey Prokofiev, Symphony No. 1 ("Classical"): Gavotta
  • Sergey Prokofiev, Romeo and Juliet
  • Sergey Prokofiev, Peter and the Wolf
  • Sergey Prokofiev, Lieutenant Kijé
  • Sergey Prokofiev, Scythian Suite
  • Sergei Rachmaninov, Prelude in G minor
  • Maurice Ravel, Gaspard de la nuit: Le gibet
  • Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade
  • Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, The Snow Maiden: Dance of the Tumblers
  • Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, The Golden Cockerel
  • Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Flight of the Bumblebee
  • Gioachino Rossini, William Tell Overture
  • Camille Saint-Saëns, Symphony No. 3 ("Organ"), first movement
  • Franz Schubert: Rosamunde: Ballet Music No. 2
  • Franz Schubert: Serenade
  • Franz Schubert, Symphony No. 8 ("Unfinished"), first movement. The Waldo de los Ríos version (with modern percussion) was used as theme music for Gargamel.
  • Jean Sibelius, Finlandia
  • Richard Strauss, Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche
  • Igor Stravinsky, The Firebird
  • Igor Stravinsky, The Rite of Spring
  • Igor Stravinsky, Petrushka: Russian Dance
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Natha Waltz
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, The Seasons: June, August
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 4: Finale (Allegro con fuoco)
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 6 ("Pathétique"), second theme from first movement.
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture
  • Richard Wagner, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Overture
  • Richard Wagner, The Ring

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