In 2005, Tim Burton’s gothic musical Corpse Bride hit theaters to critical and commercial acclaim, reigniting that macabre charm that the filmmaker attained with his first stop-motion success, The Nightmare Before Christmas. While the film is best remembered for its whimsical plot and characters, one scene between Victor and Victoria particularly stands out as a quiet moment of brilliance.
The sequence in question is the pair’s piano duet, a brief, fleeting romance of the keys that conveys their emotions in a way that words never could. In a film filled with stellar compositions and musical numbers, this reflective interlude contrasts their theatrics in a manner that offers a deeper and fuller glimpse into the hearts of Victor and Victoria.
Victor’s Piano Solo Scene In Corpse Bride Is Perfect
For context, Corpse Bride tells the story of Victor Van Dort (Johnny Depp), the son of wealthy fish merchants who is set to be married to Victoria Everglot (Emily Watson), the daughter of financially-ruined aristocrats. After meeting Victoria’s ill-mannered parents, Victor notices the piano, and lets his fingers dance upon the keys before delving into a beautifully poignant melodic solo.
Beginning as a deeply rhythmic sonata in 6/4 time, Victor’s solo is a powerful extension of the young man’s very soul, with an oscillating melody that wobbles high and low around its key in a delicate, dream-like waltz. As the flower is to the bee, Victor’s notes reach out across the Everglot estate to Victoria, who investigates its origin.
Victor’s solo is based in part off of Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata.”
After scaring the living daylights out of Victor, she compliments his musical talents, telling him he plays beautifully. From there, the two begin a romance that endures across both the Land of the Living, the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, and even Victor’s impromptu marriage to a corpse named Emily (Helena Bonham Carter).
Corpse Bride’s Piano Solo Is As Good As Anything Danny Elfman Wrote For The Nightmare Before Christmas
It’s hard to overstate how important Danny Elfman’s music is to the narratives of both Corpse Bride and The Nightmare Before Christmas. More than mere accompaniments, Elfman’s compositions immerse audiences in Burton’s gothic worlds, making his macabre landscapes feel actualized and wholly living—even in the face of death.
Victor’s solo is exemplary of this principle, echoing softly through the halls of the Everglot estate and breathing life into Burton’s haunting mise-en-scène. Moreover, Elfman’s work on Victor’s solo and the entirety of Corpse Bride‘s score rivals his work on The Nightmare Before Christmas, proving that, like wine, some artists only get better with age.
