For a piece of music with a similar association, see The Streets of Cairo, or the Poor Little Country Maid¹ which for many have come to symbolize ancient Egypt¹.
1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Streets_of_Cairo,_or_the_P...
1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Streets_of_Cairo,_or_the_P...
the "camping" song: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dueling_Banjos
the "end of the world" song: "O Fortuna" from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmina_Burana_(Orff)
the "nautical" song: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sailor's_Hornpipe
the "Italian" song: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarantella_Napoletana
the "morning" song: "Ranz des Vaches" from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Tell_Overture
Just the first couple seconds of any of those songs are universally recognizable and commonly used to set scenes.
I wonder, is there a stereotypical "American" riff used in Chinese media? The beginning of "Yankee Doodle" or something?
If you mean 'please don't link to TV Tropes', say so.
When I listen to Carmina Burana I usually skip to track 2.
Fortune rota volvitur;
descendo minoratus;
alter in altum tollitur;
nimis exaltatus
rex sedet in vertice
caveat ruinam!
nam sub axe legimus
Hecubam reginam.And Chopin's Funeral March: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEX1dYyvmig
But then I listened through the William Tell Overture enough to get to "Ranz des Vaches", and -- you're right, that's the big one. I just hadn't realized that "Ranz des Vaches" and "Morning Mood" were different tunes until now!