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Music To get in the Halloween Mood

dannystaple by dannystaple

Halloween themed music for setting the scene

Imagine, you've started playing Halloween games for a Halloween party, and you want a spooky scene - something a little shivery and a little wondrous. The right music will help the kids get in the mood and feel the excitement. It adds atmosphere, and a little background, although occasional deathly silence can also be a good Halloween trick!

Collected here is a selection of tracks that can be used to enhance the mood - either as MP3's or directly from YouTube in a playlist. They are all suitable for children with no explicit lyrics, and some may even be familiar to them from favourite films. Set them up to play, and then get on with having a great Halloween party, or simply a spooky evening with some background to it.

The scares that await...

  1. The Music Of Danny Elfman
  2. This is Halloween
  3. More Danny Elfman
  4. Harry Potter theme
  5. Harry Potter Music On Amazon
  6. And now for something really spooky...
  7. A Darker mood with Vangelis...
  8. Few who've ever heard this will not shudder...
  9. The Red Weeds...
  10. What about the rest of it?
  11. What the mad professor got up to...
  12. Lemon Jelly
  13. One of my own...
  14. Some more relaxed spooky evening music
  15. Which was your favourite?
  16. More Halloween stuff to get you in the mood
  17. Give your friends a reason to shudder...
  18. Tell me about your favourite Halloween tunes..
  19. Did you enjoy the selection?
  20. About Danny Staple
  21. Some spooky sounds...

The Music Of Danny Elfman

Danny Elfman has been responsible for the theme tunes to so many of the movies of the last decade, especially those of Halloween themed films and TV shows.

His music can be all at once tense, atmospheric and enchanting.
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This is Halloween

One of Danny Elfman's best
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More Danny Elfman

If his music really set the mood - why not find some more?
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Harry Potter theme

The Harry Potter theme music would be instantly recognised, and makes a spooky and yet light hearted atmosphere.
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Harry Potter Music On Amazon

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Amazon Price: $9.98 (as of 06/03/2012)Buy Now

And now for something really spooky...

Nothing quite says spooky like this track from the album "Dead Cities" by "Future Sound Of London". It is atmospheric, deeply touching and sends a bit of a chill across your spine. Very thoughtful and very deep.
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A Darker mood with Vangelis...

Vangelis is well known for creating amazing soundscapes. To me, his most Halloween inspiring work has to be the opening titles from Mutiny On The Bounty. The film is not all that Halloween themed, but the tune is drenched with atmosphere, tension and hits a bit of a nerve.
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Few who've ever heard this will not shudder...

The Eve Of War

HG Well's War of the Worlds is one of the scariest books I read as a youngster, and the musical version by Jeff Waynes and the other composers still haunts me. It is an amazing soundtrack, and perfect for a bit of drama...
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The Red Weeds...

More scary stuff from the War of The Worlds
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What about the rest of it?

War of the Worlds

War of the Worlds

Amazon Price: $14.75 (as of 06/03/2012)Buy Now

Jeff Waynes War Of The Worlds is a compelling rendition of the classic sci fi tale. It is probably my personal favourite, above any of the TV shows or movie versions. Reading the books, and hearing this gives enough for my imagination to paint a very vivid picture of the scenes.

What the mad professor got up to...

Lemon Jelly have hit a nail with their track "Experiment Number 6", chronicling the progress of a scientist and a strange experiment in music...
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Lemon Jelly

Lost Horizons

Lost Horizons

Amazon Price: $7.92 (as of 06/03/2012)Buy Now

Lost Horizons is a good fun album with quirky songs, while the track highlighted above is good for a little Halloween mood, the others are just pleasant to listen to anyway.

One of my own...

I compose a little - but this one is not to be taken seriously, it was made for a little fun to give a place a Halloween atmosphere for a day, and I thought it fun to share it...
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Some more relaxed spooky evening music

This one is inspired by Shakespeare, no less. It is funky, fun and slightly spooky. It is "Something Wicked This Way Comes" by The Herbalizer.
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Which was your favourite?

Please vote on your favourite Halloween music - mostly in the name of fun, but I'd really love to know how my own composition fared against the professionals...

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More Halloween stuff to get you in the mood

I love Halloween themed music, but it takes other things to set the scene. Halloween costumes, food, films and decoration. Here is some more reading on the subject...
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Give your friends a reason to shudder...

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Tell me about your favourite Halloween tunes..

Maybe I've missed your favourites or perhaps you just enjoyed it and want to let me know. If you have a lens, blog or site on the topic, I'd love to hear about it.

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About Danny Staple

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Some spooky sounds...

23/10/10 9:50 am

Halloween is just days away, and I always think that a great way to create atmosphere and set the scene is through music. I've selected a group of tunes, some atmospheric and dark, others are a little more light hearted but convey the theme and will delight kids at a halloween party.

Please enjoy my Music To get in the Halloween Mood

This Halloween Magazine page written by

dannystaple

I have two children - a girl and a baby boy, and we live in Richmond, Uk. I program computers for my day job. In my spare time I build stuff, grow stuff,... more »

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