recommendations

[nundruk]

I am having trouble collecting the style that really grabs me so I thought maybe if I just posted a bunch descriptions perhaps some of the more knowledgable here could recommend some composers or places on the internet to search.<BR>I definetly like full symphony or orchestras with a wide range of strings<BR>with a sense of urgency, dramatic, dark , surreal, dynamic and energetic <BR>i just get thrown off when it becomes too 'romantic' or 'chipper' or 'flighty'or 'whimsical' or '<BR>if it were a film it would definetly be in a horror movie <BR>perhaps there's somewhere on the net where one can read descriptions and listen to samples<BR>well thanx for reading this far

[treebeau]

Greetings,<P>Offhand I'd say you may like Wagner (some would say 'Vagner'), Sibelius, and Mahler.<P>Have you a recording of the Symphony Number 2 by Sibelius ? It's one of my favorites. No whimsy there.<P>Regards,<BR>Tim B.<BR>

[jrs]

nundruk--<BR>For a sense of urgency try Robert Schuman sym#2--his life was a horror movie--and Brahms sym#2. You might also like Schubert sym#7 "Unfinished".If you don't already have a set of Beethoven's symphonies, get one, since he fits the mold for what you're longing for...You can listen to samples at BMG classical music. Sincerely,jrs. <BR>

[Allyn]

This may be an obvious suggestion, but I would recommend Berlioz' "Symphonie Fantastique." It is remarkable in it's range of mood and style, and introduced to the world some special techniques for string players. The best recording I've heard is by Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Fran Symphony. Remarkable sound quality and performance, even though I think the "March to the Scaffold" could have been just a tad faster.<P>A less obvious suggestion would be Shostakovich's Symphony 10. This is the most profound piece of music I've ever heard. This was written in response to the death of Stalin and the end of his tyrannical regime. There is so much pain, anger, anquish and sorrow in the work. It definitely takes a few listens, but it's one of those works that the more you hear and research it, the more you get out of it. Theorists have written entire chapters of books just on the form of the first movement. And to discover all the little personal elements that Shostakovich worked in to the piece makes it even more intimate. Shostakovich lived with the constant threat of death under Stalin and this symphony is the release of all that pent up fear and rage. The 2nd movement is absolutely furious.

[jrs]

nundruk--<BR>As an afterthought--Copland's Appalachian Spring, and Mendelssohn's symphony #5. There's a dynamic romanticism in theses pieces with a spiritualism that might or might not agree with you. But they're both hot with the fever of living. Later,jrs.

[thrillhouse]

MONEY! those are all awesome suggestions and I'll have to second them. Berlioz and Schuman and Schubert rock and of course Beethoven is KING. Hey Allyn, you know in that Shostakovich piece you were talking about... is that his "Alarm" or "Alert" piece? I forgot which one.<P>Wagner is unbelievably awesome too, but it takes a certain patience to put up with some of his stuff. Some of Camille Saint Saens stuff is fast and furious... Beethoven.com plays a lot of Danse Macabre... how do you like that? Some of Schubert's lieders are pretty awesome too... btw, does anyone know where I can get some good Schubert lieders? I'm specifically looking for "Gretchen at the spinning whell" or something like that.<BR>thanks.

[serge urtizberea]

I'm going to suggest Marche Hongroise from Berlioz's Damnation of Faust. If there is another piece out there that starts off as moodily as this and then simply SCREAMS at the end in full orchestral glory, I'd love to hear it! Crank the volume and bass, close the blinds, sit back in your chair and just bask in this 5 min. work. In the last couple of minutes, you could easily visualize the music as a metaphor for war, or damnation, or something. It is glorious.<BR>Next, I'd like to suggest Beethoven's Choral Fantasy (op.80). It's a good 20 min. long, and starts off slow, but from the point the chorus cues in to the ravishing end, it's bliss. <BR>Another suggestion? Bach's Toccata and Fugue arr. for orchestra. Beauty.

[nundruk]

thanx, it is in fact Beethoven, Brahms,and Berlioz that first made me realize that classical music could embody an intensity that few hard rock bands can truly capture, so they try and make it up by playing loud and distorted.The problem is orchestrated musics not as mainstream so its hard to discover, thanx again.

[Kevin]

These are all really good suggestions. I would have to add a couple to the list to check out.<P>As far as Shostakovich, you can't go wrong with Symphony #5.<BR>Stravinsky's Symphony in C is one of my personal favorites.<BR>Check out Sinfonietta by Leos Janacek, it has a wonderful full and powerful brass sound.<BR>And for power, how could you forget Symphony #3 (Organ) by Camille Saint-Saens.<P>I could go on...<P>Don't ya just love the seemingly endless supply of wonderful classical music?!

[jrs]

Thanx for posting the topic, nundruk. I've learned a lot about pieces I'm not that familiar with yet; and the way you've described your tastes--any reply suiting your tastes should help me expand my collection also. We're a lot alike. Like Kevin, I continually get excited with the seemingly endless supply of cm. Because it is so vast, I need the opinion of others to help guide me to the products I would most enjoy. The way Allyn described Shostakovich's sym#10 sent me out immediately to listen to samples of it.Yeah, the pieces I heard of it sounds great. Later...

[ReedMan]

If you are searching for a modern and intense sound that challenges you, try Copland's Symphony # 3 or Nielsen's Symphony #4. <P>For wall-shaking fun, try Respighi's Trilogy (Pines of Rome, Fountains of Rome, Roman Festivals).<P>So many choices... Enjoy !<BR>

[Moy]

I would also have to go with Wagner. Try the flying dutchman or the Walkyre to start of. They are operas, but they do have some very strong, loud and hair raising parts.

[shostakovich]

I was delighted to see Shostakovich's name come up in the recommendations (obvious from my nom de net). The second movement of the 10th is supposed to be a hellish caricature of Stalin himself. Read Testimony for insight into Shostakovich and his relationship to Stalin. Movements 2 and 3 of the 8th are also juggernauts of sound. As for the "alarm", Thrillhouse, the last movement of #11 is called "The Tocsin".

[Laser72]

Definitely, Mahler. He is the best composer ever.

[Allyn]

jrs: I was thrilled to see that someone checked out Shost. 10 based on my description. What was your thoughts on it after hearing it?<P>Shostakovich: Have you ever heard the recent recording by conductor Mariss Janson? It's my favourite thus far. What others would you recommend? The phrasing he does with the beginning and end of the fourth movement of the 5th sypmphony is something that I've never heard anywhere else, and the effect it has is really intense! Very riveting!<P>Allyn<p>[This message has been edited by Allyn (edited 12-11-2000).]

[shostakovich]

Hi Allyn. It was good to see this topic resuscitated. A section of the second movement of Shostakovich's 11th is a high point in symphonic excitement. It depicts the slaughter of protesters on Jan 9 of 1905 by the czar's troops. I think that bloody scene, or one much like it, was portrayed in Dr Zhivago. The Shostakovich symphonies that I enjoy entirely are # 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, especially 5 & 10. As for particular performances, I don't have any special recommendations.<BR>Nundruck, you started a great topic, and will go broke before you collect all the winners suggested. However, if you are independently wealthy, with nothing but time on your hands, you might add the following to your list: Walton's Sym #1, Vaughan-Williams's Sym #2, Tchaikovsky's Manfred Symphony. Can it be that nobody previously mentioned Tchaikovsky???

[LVBfurimmer]

NunDruk<P>I would reccomend Dvoraks 9th symphonies 4th movement, its very powerful. Beethoven's Egmont overture is a very powerful peice. Another very good and powerful peice is Glieres Russian Sailor's Song. Shostokovich has some powerful peices, his symphonies