Beethoven? Chopin? Melancholy?

I know this is an older post but I just read a creepy interpretation of Tchaikovsky, Children's Album, Op 39, The Sick Doll, that likened the illness of an abused child to the doll from the song and thus reminded me of Alice and the orphanage. Aside from the song itself being quite unnerving as it follows the despair pattern (making it good for moments of disquiet or the home-screen), the title also fits in with what we know of Bumby. He also has “Doll’s Funeral” that is more akin to a funeral march and “The New Doll” which reminds me of a wistful child’s tea party. The problem comes from the album being released 2 years after the story takes place. :S

Gnossiene 3 Erik Satie

To name some different artist: Wagner - Faust may could work tchaikowsky - hymn of the cherubim. Or valse sentimentale could generally work in alice if there would be scene in where she thinks of "happy" moments

I love the teacup rollercoaster on the mines. I've always loved Mozart. The Magic Flute has some moodiness to it.

Stephanie Groth

I love That choice. I personally would have gone for something similar to Devil's Thrill sonata byGeussepe Tartini, Swan lake Act 2 By Tchaikovsky, or my personal favourite Lacrimosa by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. I choose these songs because I felt like Alice is going back to wonderland with a stronger grasp. Good luck with the music.

Saleh Abu-Rashid

Dark piano- sociopath by Lucas King

not exactly "classical" but still strings. This is a video edit I made myself a couple weeks ago. Fanmade video of sorts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmcjU-kaHlk it was intended as partially an expression of grief at the loss of my wife.

truth_decay

My fave is Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. But it must be on a huge pipe organ!

For something a little more modern, TRaumschiere’s stuff (specifically the hard to find One Man Army that has disappeared from YouTube, but is on the 2004 Appleseed soundtrack) has always been a bit dark. And trap-like music (Sorcerist) or (this might be un-“cool”-ing me a little) music like the theme song to LA’s Finest kinda puts me in a dark-but-badass feel, so maybe these are some good transition music to certain kinds of action sequences needed for the 3rd act

dv

Hey there! Moonlight sonata is great. I also listen to it quite regularly. But it's very commonly known and a little worn, isn't it?! Still great. Same for Chopin imho. Some other dark and/or moody pieces that come to mind: Adagio in g minor - e.g.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn1gcjuhlhg Cello in the lead. Guess you might know that one! :) Something from Mozart's Requiem without vocals maybe? Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy - Symphony Nr. 4 IV. Saltarello Presto. Presto - e.g.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qvJwM9J24A&t=1560s Maybe pats of Vivaldi's Four seasons would also qualify. And of course Night on bald mountain - e.g.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCEDfZgDPS8 If I wouldn't be that much occupied with work I sure could deliver more suggestions. ;)

If it's piano with an Alice vibe you want then Erik Satie is the man for the job. Beautiful, pleasantly dissonant, and often very strange. Listen to Trois Morceaux en Forme de Poire (Three pieces in the Form of a Pear), for instance

does it have to be authentically old? because michiru yamane is boss at this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5dPKJyDfF0 the middle section has music that doesn't fit what you're asking for, but i wouldn't want you to miss this song near the end https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5dPKJyDfF0&t=952s also, harpsichord > piano

Ave verum corpus by Mozart. Ecclesiastical music has authentic master pieces. About the instrument, harps are even more dreamy than the piano, you can hit the cords in more ways than with a piano. About the Guy looking like Chopin, I personally don't see any resemblance, sorry. ;P

I don't know why but piano music has never really captured my imagination, I'm not saying I don't like it or I don't enjoy listening to the master pieces everybody has pointed, but somehow for me it's not a strong evocative instrument alone. Cello on the other hand seems to have a human quality that piano lacks, since piano is a mechanical instrument. Also, all those classical scores are on the public domain wich is a big plus! I personally would love to see (hear) Danny Elfman scoring Alice!! (I know, I know...) P.D.: One of the best things in AMA was Chris Vrenna's soundtrack, really looking forward to what he is going to come up to in "Asylum"

Juan Romero

Piano is a safe bet and Chopin works very well. Violin might work for areas with Alice’s sister (Leitmotif), if her playing is part of the game not just the concept art, like Six Pieces Op. 51 TH. 143 - 6. Valse sentimentale. Tempo di Valse by Tchaikovsky. It could also be fun to play with how the tunes are played; maybe the more neurotic it becomes the more the instruments sound like they have been poorly tuned or missing keys or in staccato, etc. or mix in innocent childhood sounds to counterpoint and enhance the creepy factor (like music boxes, skip rope, carnival music, children’s laughter etc.). You could also use child nursery rhymes that have been enhanced classically or twisted darker (than many already are) by changing key; especially if you do it in a uniquely Alice way like "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Bat". As an aside, atmospherics in music can also be a very powerful tool. The Little Nightmares II soundtrack might be an interesting source of inspiration for original tracks with darker childlike atmospheric themes (like Etude for a Minor or Lost in Transmission).

Thank you, for the validation of my thinking on this!

American McGee

Music major here! I think Chopin is a perfect choice for conveying a sense of tainted youth. Many Chopin works are recognizable to even a non-music enthusiast’s ear... if not in their entirety, certainly in their beginnings! I think that the use of the piano largely unaccompanied can contribute to the player’s understanding of Alice’s potential feelings of aloneness (or at times, lack of purpose/direction) while also adding a sort of unsettling foreboding. Marche Funébre is a piece that comes to mind! Using Chopin, in a way, would also be a nice sort of parallel... Chopin endured sickness for much of his relatively short life. Alice also suffers from a different sort of sickness (if that is what one chooses to deem it). Excuse the nerdy ramblings, but I agree! Chopin (largely his more piano-focused pieces) is a perfect choice. Liszt may also be worth looking into, since he and Chopin were close and inspired one another quite a bit! :)

Danse Macabre

Xalia

chopin - nocturne 19 in e minor, 7 in c sharp, 1 in b flat minor, 6 in g minor bach - cello suite no 5 in c minor schubert - piano sonata 20 in a major