exciting classical music works

rojo

(Ret)
I thought it might be fun to make a list of classical music works that are exciting and/or dramatic to listen to. Here`s what I have come up with (so far :grin:), in no particular order-
  • Also Sprach Zarathustra- Richard Strauss
  • Mars, form the Planets- Gustav Holst
  • New World Symphony- Antonin Dvorak
  • Carmina Burana- Carl Orff
  • La Mer- Claude Debussy
  • La Valse- Maurice Ravel
  • Don Juan- Richard Strauss
  • Tosca- Giacomo Puccini
  • Turandot (Nessun Dorma)- G. Puccini
  • Piano Concerto- P. E. Tchaikovsky
  • Firebird- Igor Stravinsky
  • Rite of Spring- Igor Stravinsky
  • Pictures at an Exhibition (Great Gates of Kiev)- Modest Mussorgsky
  • Daphnis and Chloe- Maurice Ravel
  • Sheherazade- N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov
  • Fifth Symphony- Dmitry Shostakovich
  • 1812 Overture- P. E. Tchaikovsky
Anyone have anything to add? I`ll probably think of more shortly...:grin:
 

Gareth

Commodore of Water Music
Yeah, some of those are pretty dramatic. I have one.

How about Beethovens 5th, that is pretty dramatic if it is used over and over again in the media. I reckon Swan Lake is also a great listening piece, Zadok the Priest--Handel. William Tell Overture is also a great one. Ride of the Walkaries --Wagner is also great.

Cheers
Gareth.
 
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Edward Hanna

New member
Dramatic / Exciting works

For exciting, I'd pick Prokofiev's Piano Concerto #3. I was listening to it a few days ago and my wife was in the other room...she came in and said it made her heart beat faster just hearing it second-hand.

For dramatic, I'd pick Rachmaninov's PIano Concerto #2. I just seeps emotion from every measure.

As a bonus, here's another entry for something calming (or tranquil)...Beethoven's 6th Symphony (Pastoral).

Ed
 

rojo

(Ret)
I especially agree on this one- Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto #2 (not familiar with the Prokofiev, unfortunately)

And this one- Wagner`s Ride of the Valkyries

But I have to disagee with this statement-
Yeah, some of those are pretty dramatic.
To me, the ones listed are all dramatic...:grin:

Got another one- Moussorgsky`s Night on Bald (or Bare) Mountain :)
 
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Gareth

Commodore of Water Music
Rachmaninoffs Prelude in C# minor which I am learning as a duet with the teacher to play to the class:grin:
 

rojo

(Ret)
Hi Gareth,

It`s funny; last night after logging out, I too thought of that piece. It is indeed a dramatic one. I figured I`d post it today, but you beat me to it! :grin:

My Dad used to play it when in his teens; I`ve noodled with it, but never really perfected it- it`s kind of a pain to read... :)

I bet the class will love it! :)
 

Gareth

Commodore of Water Music
Thanks for your reply Rojo.

I am the treble part which is the Primo and the teacher is the Secendo. Although the bass has some "Wonderful" syncopation in the Agitato part. It is going to be a challenge, but any challenge in music is great for me.

Cheers
Gareth.
 

Izabella

New member
Hi...

I see my favorite classical works are already posted:) ,well I'm glad we all have similar taste in music:grin: but ill name my favorites anyway...

Rachmaninof concerto #2,Antonin Dvorak New world symphony,Rachmaninof prelude in c# minor,Chopins nocturnes,Puccini's Turandot(nessun dorma) Liszt's Hungarian Rapsody,Beethoven's Moonlight sonata,Bizet's Carmen...

I'm sure I could think of more...

Yours truly
 

rojo

(Ret)
True, Izabella; Chopin`s Nocturnes can be very exciting, as well as Liszt`s Hungarian Rhapsody.

Here are some more dramatic works-

March to the Scaffold, from Berlioz`s 'Symphonie Fantastique'
Sabre Dance, by Khatchaturian
Overture: Fireworks Music, by Handel
 

Brad Stark

New member
Edward Hanna said:
For exciting, I'd pick Prokofiev's Piano Concerto #3. I was listening to it a few days ago and my wife was in the other room...she came in and said it made her heart beat faster just hearing it second-hand.

For dramatic, I'd pick Rachmaninov's PIano Concerto #2. I just seeps emotion from every measure.

As a bonus, here's another entry for something calming (or tranquil)...Beethoven's 6th Symphony (Pastoral).

Ed

I agree Beethoven's 6th is tranquil, but don’t forget it does have the thunderstorm movement which I think is quite exciting. Also, Prokofiev's 2nd piano concerto qualifies under the category of 'exciting'. Among other pieces I recommend the ballades/sonatas/scherzi by Chopin. The Sonata in B minor by Liszt is a very dramatic composition among many from his output. Mozart’s requiem is probably his most dramatic work.

Brad
 

rojo

(Ret)
Hi gio,

Well, I didn`t feel like becoming a member there. But I will definitely keep my ears open for this work; probably when I do hear it, I`ll say 'oh yeah, that one!' like I so often do...:grin:
 

JohnM

New member
Brahms - Piano Concerto No. 1
Beethoven's Fifth (of course!)
Rossini - L'Italiana In Algeri (Overture)
Elgar - In The South
Mendelssohn - "Italian" Symphony, Octet
Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 23, Symphony No. 35 "Haffner"
Wagner - "Der Meistersinger Von Nurnberg" (Overture)
Dvorak - Symphonies No. 7 and 9

But there are so many other choices too!
 

acc

Member
Shostakovich, Symphonies #8 and #11.

Sibelius, Symphonies #4 and #7; Tapiola.
 
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linceed87

New member
Mozart jupiter symhpony specially the last movement
mozart piano concerto 20 also last movement
the nights of figaro overture also mozart =)
 

giovannimusica

Commodore de Cavaille-Coll
Bruckner:
-----------
3rd.
4th.
7th.
8th.
9th.

Mahler:
--------
8th.

Shostakovich:
----------------
5th.
7th.
10th.
11th.
13th.
The Execution of Stepan *Stenka* Razin.
 
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