The power of music to bring emotional meaning and connection to a story is well understood in the world of film. That is why film composers are carefully chosen and paid the big bucks to bring us impactful music that is not easy to forget. There are so many beautiful movie themes to chose from, but I’ve selected three that I believe to be amongst the most beautiful, and rewarding, to learn on the piano.
“Comptine d’un autre été : L’Après-Midi”
This timeless piano piece was written by Yann Tiersen and is part of the soundtrack to the French film, Amélie. Tiersen’s oscillating eighth-note pattern in the left hand provides a flowing current to the romantic themes in the right hand. The piece has a sentimental feel, somewhat like a music box treasured from one’s past. It has become a popular favorite amongst pianists.
“Interstellar” Main Theme
Hans Zimmer composed the epic soundtrack to the 2014 space film Interstellar. The main theme of the score has had phenomenal success as a solo work and piano tutorials on it have had tens of millions of views. The piece begins with a single piano note, creating a calm, spacious quality, like suspension in space. It gradually builds and intensifies and creates a magnificent emotional landscape and visceral experience. It is said that the film’s director Christopher Nolan described Zimmer’s piano piece as “the heart” of the film.
“Married Life”
This sweet tune written by Michael Giacchino is the musical star from the Disney / Pixar movie Up. It is the love theme of the main character, Carl, and his wife, Ellie. The piece is a moving montage of their relationship, from their meeting in youth, through their happy and challenging years of marriage, to the final days before Ellie passes away. It is a beautiful waltz that, as director Pete Doctor requested, is likened to “one’s grandmother’s music box.” Similar to “Comptine” from Amelie, this thematic work resembles a classical piano composition with the nostalgic emotional gravity of a cinematic masterpiece.