Songs that amp up Halloween: a roundup of perfect tracks for party BGM!

The Carnival of the Animals: AquariumCamille Saint-Saëns

Saint-Saëns – Aquarium

The suite The Carnival of the Animals by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns is known for its humorous depiction of a festival of animals.

One of its pieces adds a mysterious shimmer to Halloween night.

Rippling, wave-like piano arpeggios are overlaid with the glass harmonica’s transparent timbre, creating a fantastical, slightly eerie atmosphere—as if you’ve wandered into an otherworldly realm underwater.

There’s also a mysterious anecdote: at the composer’s request, the work was scarcely made public during his lifetime and was first performed publicly only in February 1922.

It has been praised as music that beautifully enhances visuals, even being used before official screenings at the Cannes Film Festival.

It’s the perfect piece when you want to stage a quiet, beautiful Halloween that still sends a little shiver down the spine.

Lyric Pieces, Book V, Op. 54 – No. 3: March of the DwarfsEdvard Grieg

Lyric Pieces, Book V, Op. 54 – III. March of the Dwarfs (Grieg)

This piece, with its creeping opening melody and a rhythm that’s both playful and sprightly, is a perfect fit for Halloween, and it’s a piano miniature by the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg.

Depicting a procession of elves in a Nordic forest, its staccato passages laced with dissonance sound just like the mischievous footsteps of little goblins.

In the middle section, the music briefly transforms into a shimmering, beautiful melody, but its dramatic appeal lies in how it returns to the raucous march.

The piece was included in the collection Lyric Pieces, Book V, Op.

54, published around 1891.

It’s ideal for creating that fun yet slightly spooky Halloween mood! If you perform it on the piano, it’s sure to liven up any party, so try playing with crisp rhythms and a strong contrast of tone colors.

Hedwig’s Theme: Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsJohn Williams

Harry Potter – Hedwig’s Theme – John Williams | WDR Funkhausorchester

When you think of the Harry Potter films, this is the song that surely makes everyone nod in agreement.

Composed by John Williams, this piece brims with a mysterious allure that whisks listeners into a magical world in an instant.

The melody, opening with the sparkling timbre of the celesta, is perfect for heightening Halloween’s spooky-yet-festive mood.

It first debuted on the album Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and went on to color the story in the soundtrack for the sequel, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (released in November 2002).

Incidentally, it’s such an emblematic piece of the series that it’s even quoted in the spin-offs.

Play it on Halloween night, and you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped right into a school of witchcraft and wizardry!

Night on Bald MountainModest Mussorgsky

Symphonic Poem “Night on Bald Mountain”

From the thrilling opening melody that feels like being chased to the frenzied climax where monsters run wild, this dramatic musical progression is perfect for creating a Halloween that’s not only fun but a little scary, too! Composed by the Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky, this piece depicts a midnight sabbath where witches gather.

It was also used in Disney’s classic film Fantasia, so many will remember its striking impact.

Since the premiere of Rimsky-Korsakov’s arrangement in October 1886, it has been widely beloved.

The structure culminating in the quiet arrival of morning with the tolling of bells is superb as well, making it an excellent choice as BGM to signal the end of a Halloween night.

Symphonic Scherzo “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”Paul Dukas

Dukas: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice | Dukas: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

It’s a symphonic poem by the French composer Paul Dukas, one of his signature works.

A perfectionist, Dukas destroyed most of the pieces he didn’t like during his lifetime.

This work is said to be one of the few masterpieces that survived.

Known as Dukas’s breakthrough piece, it was used as the music for the story in Disney’s 1940 film Fantasia, in which Mickey Mouse appears as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, making it even more widely beloved.

Don’t you think its thrilling, comical tone—where clumsy imitation of magic leads to utter chaos—perfectly matches the exciting, heart-pounding atmosphere of Halloween?

Ballet Music “The Sleeping Beauty”: Puss-in-Boots and the White Cat (Act III)Pyotr Tchaikovsky

Tchaikovsky: Ballet Music The Sleeping Beauty – Puss-in-Boots and the White Cat [Naxos Classical Curations #Fantasy]

How about a comical piece to heighten Halloween’s mischievous mood? It’s a work included in the ballet suite The Sleeping Beauty by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, who created many masterpieces of ballet music.

This piece brilliantly depicts, through music, two fairy-tale cats as they frolic and hiss at each other.

With phrases that mimic meows and rhythms suggesting agile movements, it feels as if costumed characters are dancing right before your eyes—just listening is enough to lift your spirits.

The ballet containing this piece premiered in January 1890, and its extraordinary wedding-celebration setting also suits the Halloween vibe perfectly.

Play it as background music for your party, and it will help create a strange and delightful night.

Welcome to Halloween Town

Welcome to Halloween Town

A song many people have heard.

When it comes to Halloween, this is the song that comes to mind for many parents and teachers.

That mysterious intro really gets your heart racing, doesn’t it? The lyrics are in English, but this is a great chance to learn the meaning and pronunciation while memorizing and singing together.

It could be exciting to change your voice, get into character, and sing as you play.

Splitting into groups and creating parts would be fun, too.

As Halloween approaches, I can just picture the adorable sight of children hearing it around town and spontaneously breaking into song.