Disney classics to enjoy in a classical arrangement: recommended popular songs

A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart MakesMagic Philharmonic Disney Orchestra

Philharmonic Disney Orchestra – 03.A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes (Cinderella)

If you were asked to name a signature song from Disney films, many would likely choose “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes,” the theme from Cinderella.

Songs that remain beloved for years are wonderful no matter how many times you hear them, and I think this song exemplifies that.

“If you believe, your wish will come true” is a truly magical phrase that Walt Disney used to inspire people, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it originates from this song.

It’s a piece that perfectly suits a classical atmosphere: the orchestra delivers a three-beat waltz that begins slowly and then moves into a quicker tempo in the latter half, creating a very luxurious sound.

Winnie The PoohCAFUNE - kafune -

Winnie-the-Pooh — Played in a Villain Style (Villains ver.) [Kafune Piano Arrangement]

The Disney version of the Winnie the Pooh theme song.

Originally, Winnie-the-Pooh was a children’s novel read by many kids, but it became more widely known after Disney adapted it into an animated series.

The gentle melody and comical lyrics make it feel like you’re being taken into a playful picture-book world, but in this video you can hear a unique take on the theme: an arrangement that blends a classical vibe with a jazz flavor.

With a villain-like twist, it almost sounds like Pooh is being a bit mischievous.

Tangled: I See the LightLeiki Ueda

Tangled: I See the Light – Epic Piano Solo | Leiki Ueda

One of the most popular songs from Tangled.

It’s played in the wonderfully dreamlike scene where lanterns are released across the kingdom for the lost princess, and the melody is incredibly beautiful.

The piano arrangement is lovely, and listening to it at night with candles lit—so you can feel that soft, hazy glow—really enhances the mood.

Just like when Eugene prepared two lanterns and handed one to Rapunzel as she was entranced by the sight, having a man perform it gives the music a gift-like feeling.

Alice in WondlerlandMasamura Megumi

Alice in Wonderland — Rachmaninoff-style Arrangement

As the title suggests, this is the theme song from Alice in Wonderland.

Many songs appear throughout the film, but this might be the only one in the work that’s easy to listen to as a gentle, classical piece.

That Alice in Wonderland is

Disney’s Fantillusion!Tokyo Disneyland

Disney’s Fantillusion.Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra.

We present a concert band arrangement of the theme song from Tokyo Disneyland’s nighttime parade “Fantillusion!” While “Electrical Parade” is now the standard when it comes to night parades, this former regular parade tune is still performed by many orchestras.

Its structure—divided into good and evil—and the instrumentation tailored to each section remain intact even in wind band arrangements.

This delightful piece is great fun to play, and performance scores were published in “New Sounds in Brass (NSB) Vol.

24.” It’s frequently performed by many school bands and community wind ensembles, so many of you have likely played it in concert or heard it live.

As Disney classics are presented one after another, if you can name them all, you can call yourself a certified Disney fanatic!

Beauty and the Beast — Debussy-style ArrangementMurakami Yuki

Beauty and the Beast Tale As Old As Time HD

A famous song from Beauty and the Beast, a film that produced many classics, appears here in the style of the French Impressionist composer Debussy! Although Beauty and the Beast is set in France, choosing a French composer’s style makes it feel as if you’re gazing at a framed landscape painting.

It opens with a dreamlike phrase, resulting in a fresh arrangement that feels like newly reborn underscore from the film.

Beauty and the Beast was the first animated feature ever nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, and it also won Best Original Score and Best Original Song.

Both the melody and lyrics are exquisitely beautiful; close your eyes, and the iconic ballroom scene of Belle and the Beast comes vividly to mind.

Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade DreamlightsTōkyō Firuhāmonī Kōkyō Gakudan/nebārando ōkesutora

Disney on Classic "Electrical Parade Dreamlights"

This is a piece performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra’s special ensemble, the Neverland Orchestra, used in Tokyo Disneyland’s night parade.

Released in 2001, it has seen many remakes and arrangements.

Rooted in classical music, it effectively incorporates synthesizers and electronic sounds, resulting in a grand and fantastical composition.

It expresses Disney’s magical worldview through music, characterized by a soundscape that fuses orchestra and electronic music.

This work appeals not only to Disney fans but also to music enthusiasts and orchestra lovers, and it is regarded as an iconic presence of Tokyo Disneyland.