GMG Classical Music Forum

Hi all,

I'm trying to find classical music that has an 'epic' feel.

I purchased Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition recently and I was blown away by it. I also took a chance on Ottorino Respighi's Roman Trilogy and I was equally impressed.

Could anyone recommend some music in a similar vein? I'm after some music that has that big, bombastic sound with a strong sense of melody.

Thank you!

James

Tchaikovsky: Symphonies 4 and 5, maybe 6 as well
Dvorak: Symphony 9
Rimsky-Korsakov: Sheherazade
Richard Strauss: Don Juan

Thank you Jo498, that's exactly what I was looking for. I have recently bought Dvorak's symphonies 1-9, so I'll be delving into those soon.

I like the sound of Richard Wagner too but i'm not yet accustomed to opera (I find the vocals rather abrasive, but that may change with time). Is there a good place to start with his instrumental compositions?

Quote from: JamesBreeze on May 23, 2016, 12:56:17 AM
I'm after some music that has that big, bombastic sound with a strong sense of melody.

If you like vocal music, Mahler´s Das Knabes Wunderhorn fits in perfectly.

There are hardly any instrumental compositions by Wagner. The most famous ones are actually ouvertures, preludes (sometimes the German "Vorspiel" is used) and excerpts from his operas. They are easy to find, just look for Flying Dutchman or Tannhauser ouverture

Thanks Florestan. I'll give Mahler a go.

And I see. I've heard a fair bit of the instrumental sections for Der Ring Des Nibelungen so I thought I'd check if he'd done any purely instrumental works. Will have to look for his overtures though.

Is there a word for classical works with an overarching concept? I don't suppose 'concept albums' fits the bill!

Scheherezade is a must for you. Try Kalinnikov's Symphony 1. Saint-Saens Symphony 3 (Organ), Franck Symphony.

Quote from: JamesBreeze on May 23, 2016, 07:34:05 AM
Thanks Florestan. I'll give Mahler a go.

And I see. I've heard a fair bit of the instrumental sections for Der Ring Des Nibelungen so I thought I'd check if he'd done any purely instrumental works. Will have to look for his overtures though.

Is there a word for classical works with an overarching concept? I don't suppose 'concept albums' fits the bill!

You can think of most any symphony as a work with an overarching concept. If you are thinking of music which has a theme beyond the structure of the music itself, it is usually referred to as "program music." Often this takes the form of a "symphonic poem" or "program symphony." Examples would be Beethoven's Pastorale Symphony or Richard Strauss Tone poems such as "Don Juan," "Ein Heldenlieben," "Ein Alpine Symphonie." There are also well known tone poems by Dvorak, Liszt, Sibelius and others. Elgar and Vaughan Williams also composed works with a "epic" sound, that latter's style is often emulated in movie music.

It doesn't get more epic than Beethoven 9.  Actually, Beethoven wrote lots of epic works, right down to the piano sonatas. 8-)

You might also like the Bruckner symphonies.  The later ones, 7-9, are the most epic, but the others are right up there.

Quote from: jochanaan on May 24, 2016, 06:45:15 AM
It doesn't get more epic than Beethoven 9. 

Shostakovich 7, 8
Liszt Faust Symphony, Dante Synphony
Mahler 1

Quote from: Florestan on May 24, 2016, 06:48:07 AM
Shostakovich 7

Now, now. Don't punish the newbie.

Quote from: JamesBreeze on May 23, 2016, 12:56:17 AM
I'm trying to find classical music that has an 'epic' feel.

I purchased Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition recently and I was blown away by it. I also took a chance on Ottorino Respighi's Roman Trilogy and I was equally impressed.

I'm after some music that has that big, bombastic sound with a strong sense of melody.

Some suggestions to get you started:

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 3, 5, 7 & 9. See how you react to the Missa Solemnis.
Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 1, 2, 4.
Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3.
Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 8 (the so-called "Unfinished") & 9.
Bruckner: Symphonies Nos. 3, 4, 5, 8.
Mahler: Symphonies Nos. 1, 2, 3, 8.
Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 2, 5, 7 & Kullervo.
R. Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie, Don Quixote, Also sprach Zarathustra.
Shostakovich: Symphony No.10.
Langgaard: Symphony No.1.
Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony (No.1), Sinfonia antartica (No.7).
Mendelssohn: Symphony No.2 "Lobgesang".
Elgar: Symphony No.1.
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade.


And for something with piano in it:

Brahms: Piano Concerto No.1.

Quote from: Wanderer on May 24, 2016, 10:27:37 AM
Brahms: Piano Concerto No.1.

Yessss! Actually, forget everything else and start with that.

Quote from: JamesBreeze on May 23, 2016, 12:56:17 AM
Hi all,

I'm trying to find classical music that has an 'epic' feel.

I purchased Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition recently and I was blown away by it. I also took a chance on Ottorino Respighi's Roman Trilogy and I was equally impressed.

Could anyone recommend some music in a similar vein? I'm after some music that has that big, bombastic sound with a strong sense of melody.

Thank you!

James

Liszt symphonic poems
[asin]B0033KR5ZC[/asin]
Sometimes on the verge of bad taste, sometimes magical.

Best performances (except 4 & 5). $26.18 at Amazon Marketplace. Lots of big bombast. Start with Symphony no. 6, then nos. 2 and 3.

[asin]B005SJIP1E[/asin]

Quote from: Spineur on May 24, 2016, 11:45:14 AM
Sometimes on the verge of bad taste, sometimes magical.

One man´s bad taste is another man´s magic.  :laugh:

Thank you all for your recommendations so far. It's great to see a thriving community of people sharing their passion for music. I've got some serious listening to do now.

Quote from: Wanderer on May 24, 2016, 10:27:37 AM
Some suggestions to get you started:

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 3, 5, 7 & 9. See how you react to the Missa Solemnis.
Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 1, 2, 4.
Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3.
Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 8 (the so-called "Unfinished") & 9.
Bruckner: Symphonies Nos. 3, 4, 5, 8.
Mahler: Symphonies Nos. 1, 2, 3, 8.
Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 2, 5, 7 & Kullervo.
R. Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie, Don Quixote, Also sprach Zarathustra.


Shostakovich: Symphony No.10.
Langgaard: Symphony No.1.
Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony (No.1), Sinfonia antartica (No.7).
Mendelssohn: Symphony No.2 "Lobgesang".
Elgar: Symphony No.1.
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade.


And for something with piano in it:

Brahms: Piano Concerto No.1.

I'd at least heard of these composers (albeit, not all of their music) but I'd never heard of Langgaard. After hearing symphony 1, I'm thoroughly impressed.

Quote from: Ken B on May 24, 2016, 06:49:41 AM
Now, now. Don't punish the newbie.

I'll give anything a go once! I'd consider my taste outside classical music to be pretty eclectic.

Quote from: JamesBreeze on May 25, 2016, 12:53:38 AM

Quote from: Ken B on May 24, 2016, 06:49:41 AM
Now, now. Don't punish the newbie.

I'll give anything a go once!

Beware. We have some sadists here, who will push La Mer on you, or Turangalila. Or even *shudders* Gurrelieder.

Elgar: In the South (Alassio)
Elgar: Enigma Variations
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 1, 2, 3

Why don't you try 'Church Windows' by Respighi which sounds like it should be the soundtrack to an epic film score - a super work.

Quote from: Ken B on May 25, 2016, 08:34:48 AM
Beware. We have some sadists here, who will push La Mer on you.

I would be one of these: a superlative, extraordinary piece of music. Less a fan of the other two.

As for: "Give a man a fire and he is warm for a day. Set him on fire and he is warm for life," I am reminded of a scene in Milos Forman's The Firemen's Ball, when an inept Czech fire company is unable to keep an old man's house from burning down one chilly night. They set him on a chair outside his burning building, and when he complains he's cold, they take the only logical step; that is, they move his chair closer to the fire.

Agree with the recommendations of Tchaikovksy, Sibelius, Dvorak, Kalinnikov, and Rimsky-Korsakov.  Also Elgar's Enigma Variations.

I'd add

Borodin: Symphony No. 2
Holst: The Planets
Stravinsky: Firebird; Petrushka
Janacek: Sinfonietta
Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances
Ravel: Orchestral Music

Epic feel?

Varese - Ameriques

GLIÈRE: Symphony no.3 "Ilya Murometz"¨  JANÁČEK:  Taras Bulba

Is there a word for classical works with associate degree overarching concept? http://www.insanityfittest.org/insanity-workout-calendar.html
i do not suppose 'concept albums' fits the bill!

Quote from: Clarence on June 17, 2016, 12:29:21 AM
Is there a word for classical works with associate degree overarching concept? i do not suppose 'concept albums' fits the bill!

I'm sure what you're looking for is a very real thing, but can you be more specific as to what you're talking about?

Hi James,
I adore the symphonic compositions by the musical masters such as Beethoven, Mahler, Haydn, etc.  But for a really good place to start I will recommend two wonderful symphonic poems by composers you may not have heard of:. 

1)  Má vlast  composed by Bedrich Smetana conducted by Rafael Kubelik with the stunning CPO in Prague in 1990.  It is available on cd.

2)  Symphonie Fantastique by Hector Berlioz  conducted by Charles Munch with the BPO in 1962.  It is available in a 10 cd box set.

Enjoy.

Quote from: Seán on June 23, 2016, 04:03:25 AM
Hi James,
I adore the symphonic compositions by the musical masters such as Beethoven, Mahler, Haydn, etc.  But for a really good place to start I will recommend two wonderful symphonic poems by composers you may not have heard of:. 

1)  Má vlast  composed by Bedrich Smetana conducted by Rafael Kubelik with the stunning CPO in Prague in 1990.  It is available on cd.

2)  Symphonie Fantastique by Hector Berlioz  conducted by Charles Munch with the BPO in 1962.  It is available in a 10 cd box set.

Enjoy.

But if one doesn't want to splurge on that 10-CD Berlioz box set from Munch, this single release of Symphonie Fantastique will do just fine:

[asin]B000E1NWJ6[/asin]

Quote from: Mirror Image on June 23, 2016, 04:19:46 AM
But if one doesn't want to splurge on that 10-CD Berlioz box set from Munch

What, and miss those two exquisite performances of Roméo et Juliette, and that wonderful La damnation de Faust?  :)

Quote from: karlhenning on June 23, 2016, 04:27:47 AM
What, and miss those two exquisite performances of Roméo et Juliette, and that wonderful La damnation de Faust?  :)

Hah! True, but maybe someone who is new to Berlioz doesn't want to get that whole set right off the bat unless they're completely nuts like me. ;D

I was thinking on Sunday, though (anticipating a performance of Les nuits d'été), that to know Berlioz only through the Symphonie fantastique is about as unbalanced, and unfair to the composer, as to know Ravel only through the Boléro.

For the beginner both Faust and R&J might be tough because of the strange form, one almost an opera, but not quite, the other one called a symphony but an even stranger beast.
While there is nothing wrong with the Symphonie fantastique, Faust is probably my favorite piece by Berlioz (as a German - what else?) and I think even the typical extraits of R&J: Romeo seul, Dance at the Capulets, Scene d'amour and the Queen mab scherzo are at least as good or better than the SF

Quote from: karlhenning on June 23, 2016, 04:52:48 AM
I was thinking on Sunday, though (anticipating a performance of Les nuits d'été), that to know Berlioz only through the Symphonie fantastique is about as unbalanced, and unfair to the composer, as to know Ravel only through the Boléro.

Personally, I'd start with the Requiem, but that's just me. 0:)

The Hostias!

http://www.youtube.com/v/QSLI8wEFTls

Yep, Karl, that's certainly gorgeous.

EPIC: a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the history of a nation.
• the genre of such poems : the romances display gentler emotions not found in Greek epic.
• a long film, book, or other work portraying heroic deeds and adventures or covering an extended period of time : a Hollywood biblical epic.

-----------------

HOWARD HANSON-Lament for Beowulf, Op.25  -->   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-RqfMlHm04
TCHAIKOVSKY-Manfred Symphony
BEETHOVEN-The Creatures of Prometheus
SMETANA-Ma Vlast
KHACHATURIAN-Spartacus (ballet)
LISZT-Faust Symphony

I won't repeat all of the good recommendations, but heartily endorse Saint-Saens Symphony #3, [Organ], Rimsky's Scheherazade and Tchaikovsky Symphony #4. And would add the Glazounov Symphony #5- a beautiful, grand work. Then there is Bruckner, a phenomenal symphonist and in his later symphonies, he reaches a level of profundity that [for me, at least] no one else ever does. My favorites are Numbers 5, 7, 8 and 9. But they are all very special. In Bruckner, in particular the approach and ability of the conductor is extremely important, and the music critics all have their favorites. I find that von Karajan, and Jochum both have beautiful, probing performances of all of the symphonies that are easily obtained. Of course, hearing any and all of these works LIVE is electrifying, if you can do that. There are many more "epic" works, of course.....

Quote from: Seán on June 23, 2016, 04:03:25 AM
Hi James,
I adore the symphonic compositions by the musical masters such as Beethoven, Mahler, Haydn, etc.  But for a really good place to start I will recommend two wonderful symphonic poems by composers you may not have heard of:. 

1)  Má vlast  composed by Bedrich Smetana conducted by Rafael Kubelik with the stunning CPO in Prague in 1990.  It is available on cd.


Enjoy.

Call me a homer but I will take the same Rafael Kubelik conducting our very own Boston Symphony Orchestra in an even more stunning performance:
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61A8gwqpX1L._SY355_.jpg)

Quote from: karlhenning on June 23, 2016, 04:27:47 AM
What, and miss those two exquisite performances of Roméo et Juliette, and that wonderful La damnation de Faust?  :)

There are still some reasonably priced used copies of this 2-disc set with the 1962 Fantastique coupled with the beautiful stereo R & J.

[asin]B000024HIJ[/asin]

Quote from: PerfectWagnerite on July 02, 2016, 06:26:32 PM
Call me a homer but I will take the same Rafael Kubelik conducting our very own Boston Symphony Orchestra in an even more stunning performance:
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61A8gwqpX1L._SY355_.jpg)

My favorite performance of Ma Vlast without a doubt. The reissue two-fer, though, sounds even better as DG used their Original-Bit-Processing technology to clean up the audio plus you get the symphonic poems and the orchestral excerpts from The Bartered Bride:

(http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0001/175/MI0001175160.jpg?partner=allrovi.com)

Quote from: Mirror Image on July 03, 2016, 05:01:43 AM
My favorite performance of Ma Vlast without a doubt. The reissue two-fer, though, sounds even better as DG used their Original-Bit-Processing technology to clean up the audio plus you get the symphonic poems and the orchestral excerpts from The Bartered Bride:

(http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_400/MI0001/175/MI0001175160.jpg?partner=allrovi.com)

Yes the original is a bit glaring in spots as DG's recording back then is nowhere as good as DECCA or EMI. But the BSO really shows off their muscle here. I don't think I have heard a better central moonlit episode in The Moldau where the violins achieve a sort of pianissimo yet full of intensity that is not heard in any other recordings. And those trombones in the later 3 symphonic poems are just awesome.

You pretty much get an embarassment of riches with Kubelik as all three of his Ma Vlast (BSO, CSO and CPO) are wonderful and yet so different.

Quote from: listener on May 31, 2016, 09:57:17 PM
GLIÈRE: Symphony no.3 "Ilya Murometz"¨  JANÁČEK:  Taras Bulba

+1

Carl Nielsen ~ Symphony No.4
https://www.youtube.com/v/NYrCiE7U0_0

Sergei Prokofiev ~ Scythian Suite
https://www.youtube.com/v/pPYWZYhWuGw

John Adams:
Harmonium for full chorus and large orchestra, final (3rd) movement -- Wild Nights
https://www.youtube.com/v/jRDTcrprBiQ

Adams' Dharma at Big Sur, the second half, Sri Moonshine, of this concerto/concertante piece for six-stringed violin and orchestra is dance-like, and wends its way towards a stunning and hair-raising final climax.
https://www.youtube.com/v/cfBbY-BlX-k

P.s.
There is an earlier quip somewhere in this thread, I think meant to be witty, about Debussy's La Mer, which is a symphony in all but name.  The third movement finale of this does not play out as hammer you on the head 'epic,' while it is quietly tense and as quietly builds to what is its ultimate many layered turbulent and EPIC finish.  I doubt if I'm overestimating your ability to sit through, follow, and enjoy the five minutes and forty seconds into this movement before it starts to build up to that thrilling last climax.
Debussy ~ La Mer, third movement, Dialogue du vent et de la mer.
-- @ 07:49 -- (great recording, the uploader has the third movement in the middle slot, out of normal order :-)
https://www.youtube.com/v/-qyO6nhM79E

Quote from: PerfectWagnerite on July 03, 2016, 09:24:04 AMYou pretty much get an embarassment of riches with Kubelik as all three of his Ma Vlast (BSO, CSO and CPO) are wonderful and yet so different.

I have another one with the WP, in the Decca 65-disc collection, so maybe we should edit that to all four.  :)

Quote from: vandermolen on May 26, 2016, 11:27:04 AM
Why don't you try 'Church Windows' by Respighi which sounds like it should be the soundtrack to an epic film score - a super work.

Seconded!

Quote from: JamesBreeze on May 23, 2016, 12:56:17 AM
Hi all,

I'm trying to find classical music that has an 'epic' feel... I'm after some music that has that big, bombastic sound with a strong sense of melody.

Spartacus by Khatchaturian.

Notice how the OP hasn't even responded to anyone here. :-\ I guess we scared them off with our with manic, obsessive personalities. ;) ;D

Quote from: Mirror Image on November 21, 2016, 01:49:20 PM
I guess we scared them off with our with manic, obsessive personalities. ;) ;D

Surely not  8)

Quote from: Mirror Image on November 21, 2016, 01:49:20 PM
Notice how the OP hasn't even responded to anyone here. :-\ I guess we scared them off with our with manic, obsessive personalities. ;) ;D

Quote from: vandermolen on November 22, 2016, 09:19:16 AM
Surely not  8)

And topics like MahlerMania, Great Composers with Mental Disorders, Most Fatalistic, Pessimistic, Despairing Composers - not to mention over 300 pages for the works of Havergal Brian  ??? :o ??? :o - and one might have to admit the presence of some at least slightly eccentric personalities.

I will proudly admit to being one of them!  8)

Quote from: Cato on November 22, 2016, 04:06:32 PM
And topics like MahlerMania, Great Composers with Mental Disorders, Most Fatalistic, Pessimistic, Despairing Composers - not to mention over 300 pages for the works of Havergal Brian  ??? :o ??? :o - and one might have to admit the presence of some at least slightly eccentric personalities.

Ya think? :laugh:

The listener's attention span for music may have had something to do with it, too.  When some first come to classical via exposure to only the "EpiC" genre of quasi-classical film score rep, I'm fond of pointing out that within the same duration of time it takes the mere introduction to Wagner's Ring to unfold, J.Williams underscoring of Harry Potter's round trip on the Hippogriffe, Buckbeak (complete, beginning, middle, end), would allow Harry and Buckbeak nearly two and a half (ca 2.57) complete round trips within the same span of time.

Some of us as kids or in our teens would have had, say, Prokofiev's Scythian Suite along with our breakfast.  Depending upon the musical exposure one has had prior coming to the classical rep, if you'd not yet heard the likes of Prokofiev's particular harmonic palette of "EpiC" in that piece, that on its own could be enough to spook some and send them away screaming in terror ;-) 


Best regards

Quote from: Cato on November 22, 2016, 04:06:32 PM
And topics like MahlerMania, Great Composers with Mental Disorders, Most Fatalistic, Pessimistic, Despairing Composers - not to mention over 300 pages for the works of Havergal Brian  ??? :o ??? :o - and one might have to admit the presence of some at least slightly eccentric personalities.

I will proudly admit to being one of them!  8)

And that's without even mention of Sorabji!...

Quote from: Thatfabulousalien on November 25, 2016, 01:29:31 AM
Hey you got a future Sorabjian over here, so no need to worry!  8)  8)

Oh, I wasn't worried! - and that's good to hear, too!

Quote from: Thatfabulousalien on November 25, 2016, 01:29:31 AM
Hey you got a future Sorabjian over here, so no need to worry!  8)  8)

That would preferably be a later version of Sorabji, i.e. (to paraphrase a quip penned by one of our GMG colleagues,) one who has more than 47 ardent followers and fans worldwide ;-)


Best regards