Piano in popular culture

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The piano is frequently referenced in works of popular culture. This article is a list of such references.

[edit] Film

• 32 Short Films About Glenn Gould (1993) - a collection of documentary type footage and reenactments of the life of pianist Glenn Gould. Several well known piano pieces are played including selections from Bach's Goldberg Variations, English Suites, and Well-Tempered Clavier; Beethoven's "Sonata No. 13 in E Flat Major", Op. 27 No.1 and "Sonata No. 17 in D minor", Op. 31 No. 2; and Schöenberg's "Six Little Pieces for Piano", Op. 19.
• Amadeus (1984) - a drama based on the lives of composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (played by Tom Hulce) and Antonio Salieri (F. Murray Abraham).
• Casablanca (1942) - a classic romance film featuring the memorable pianist, "Sam", played by Dooley Wilson. The piece As Time Goes By is heavily featured in the film, and Die Wacht am Rhein is also accompanied by the piano.
• The Competition (1980) - a drama portraying a story of professional drive and romance between two fictional pianists played by Richard Dreyfuss and Amy Irving. One of the pieces featured is Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major.
• Copying Beethoven (2006) - a fictional take on the final year of composer Ludwig van Beethoven's (Ed Harris) life as he composes his Ninth Symphony.
• The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) - Drama about two pianist brothers (played by Jeff and Beau Bridges) and a singer. Many jazz/pop pieces are featured in the film, including Can't Take My Eyes Off You, Ten Cents A Dance, The Look of Love, Makin' Whoopee, You're Sixteen, and My Funny Valentine.
• Fame (1980) - A drama which follows several performing arts students through their studies. The pianist in particular is challenged to combine new technology with traditional views of keyboard instruments. Popular songs I Sing the Body Electric and Fame are performed.
• Five Easy Pieces (1970) - Drama about a former piano prodigy, played by Jack Nicholson estranged from his family. The soundtrack includes movements from Mozart's Concerto in E Flat Major, K.271, Fantasy in D Minor, K.397, and Chopin's Preludes.
• Great Balls of Fire (1989) - Film that follows the life of pianist and teen idol Jerry Lee Lewis as played by Dennis Quaid. It features many of the artist's hits such as Great Balls of Fire, Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On, and Wild One.
• Immortal Beloved (1994) - A biopic starring Gary Oldman on the life of composer Ludwig van Beethoven. Moonlight Sonata, Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73, Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, Piano Trio No. 4 in D Major, Op. 70, No. 1, and Für Elise are among the piano pieces played.
• Impromptu (1991) - a romance film depicting the relationship between Frédéric Chopin (played by Hugh Grant) and George Sand (Judy Davis). Julian Sands also makes an appearance as the composer Franz Liszt. The film features works by Chopin: Ballade Nol 1 in G minor, Opus 23, selections from Preludes, Opus 28, Minute Waltz, Fantaisie-Impromptu; and Liszt: Apres d'une lecture de Dante, Transcendental Etude #4 ("Mazeppa").
• Madame Sousatzka (1988) - The fictional story of a Bengali piano prodigy (Navin Chowdhry) who must choose between pleasing his mother and his talented but unsuccessful teacher (Shirley MacLaine). Some of the better known featured pieces are Schubert's Impromptu No.4, Scriabin's Etude in D Sharp Minor No.12, Chopin's C Minor Prelude and Polonaise in A-flat major, Schumann's Carnaval and Piano Concerto in A Minor, Brahms's Concerto No.1 in D Minor, and Beethoven's Appassionata Sonata.
• The Mephisto Waltz (1971) - A horror film where a dying pianist arranges to change souls with an aspiring musician, played by Alan Alda, so he can continue to play piano. As the title suggests, the film makes much use of Franz Liszt's Mephisto Waltzes.
• The Pianist (1991 film) (1991) - Two sisters are infatuated with a Japanese pianist played by Eiji Okuda.
• The Pianist (1998 film) (1998) - A drama starring Serge Reggiani and Laurent Terzieff that follows the contrasting lives of two pianist friends set during the Spanish Civil War.
• The Pianist (2002 film) (2002) - Depicts the true story of Polish pianist Władysław Szpilman, played by Adrian Brody, in the Jewish Ghetto of 1940's Warsaw. Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata and Chopin's G minor Ballade No. 1, Opus 23 were some of the more popular pieces played.
• The Piano - 1993
• The Piano Teacher - 2001
• Ray - 2004
• Shine - 1996
• A Song to Remember - 1945
• Song Without End - 1960
• Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser - 1988