Little Mermaid Orchestral Suite (2023) - DPops

The Little Mermaid
Music by Alan Menken
Arr. June Yoo '25

One of Disney’s greatest films of all time, The Little Mermaid is the timeless story of a mermaid princess who dreams of life on land. Equally well-remembered is its Oscar-winning soundtrack, composed and written by the legendary Menken/Ashman duo also responsible for Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. Featuring “Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea,” “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” and “Kiss the Girl,” The Little Mermaid has produced a number of classics unrivaled by any other movie in the Disney canon.

Its recent live-action remake, The Little Mermaid (2023), reimagines the tale as a two-part epic. Ariel’s journey to escape Triton’s kingdom and discover human love is paralleled by Prince Eric’s battle against royal tradition and his longing for adventure at sea. As the two unlikely lovers struggle to break free from the monotony of home and venture into each others’ unknowns, the evil sea witch Ursula seizes the opportunity to take over Atlantica. Now joined by star songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda, Menken’s new score for The Little Mermaid mirrors the emphasized duality between Eric and Ariel, land and sea, and home and adventure.

Accordingly, this symphonic arrangement is divided into two movements: Ariel, which features “Triton’s Kingdom: Overture,” “Part of Your World,” and “Poor Unfortunate Souls”; and Eric, featuring the Prince’s new theme “Wild Uncharted Waters,” in addition to “Kiss the Girl,” “Ursula Battle,” and “Finale”. Listen for Ariel, Eric, and Ursula’s motifs, represented by the core melodies of “Part of Your World,” “Wild Uncharted Waters,” and “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” as they weave together in this epic arrangement.