The most intense ending in a piece of music

[Haffner]

The end of the Kyrie of Mozart's Requiem

[Bogey]

The end of the Kyrie of Mozart's Requiem

Nice call!

[daPonte]

That last chord of Ives' Symphony No.2 (as conducted by Bernstein). 

And, Sarge, I've avoided Brian's Gothic Symphony for so long now (I'm not entirely sure why...). Your enthusiasm for this music has convinced me to check it out, however.

[Bonehelm]

Adding 2 more:

Beethoven's 9th symphony, finale
Handel's Messiah, ending of Hallelujah

[Haffner]

Nice call!

I always heard something "dark" in that Kyrie, Bill. But, I am weird.

[Bogey]

I always heard something "dark" in that Kyrie, Bill. But, I am weird.

I am there with you on this one.

[George]

I always heard something "dark" in that Kyrie, Bill. But, I am weird.

Weird or no (I say no), it is in d minor. 

[Haffner]

Weird or no (I say no), it is in d minor. 

The favorite key of our estimable friend...hey, where's he been?

[greg]

ummmmmm

how come no one has mentioned the Rite of Spring and the Penderecki Threnody after 3 pages?

[jochanaan]

In addition to the ones already mentioned, there are several by Varèse: Ameriques and Poème electronique on the loud end of the spectrum, and Ionisation and Déserts on the quiet end.  If anyone here still finds modern music "lacking in expression," I recommend s/he get check these out for a perception adjustment.

Also "Neptune" from Holst's The Planets.

[greg]

In addition to the ones already mentioned, there are several by Varèse: Ameriques and Poème electronique on the loud end of the spectrum, and Ionisation and Déserts on the quiet end.  If anyone here still finds modern music "lacking in expression," I recommend s/he get check these out for a perception adjustment.

they might still say that....
that's why everyone is weird 

[Bunny]

Mahler's 6th.  The others really don't come close, except maybe Mahler's 9th.

[Sergeant Rock]

ummmmmm

how come no one has mentioned the Rite of Spring...

Because I didn't want to dilute my post about the Gothic. But yes, the Rite sprang instantly to mind when I saw the subject of this thread.

Sarge

[BachQ]

The favorite key of our estimable friend...hey, where's he been?

He's been listening to the Gothic Symphony in d minor ........ 

[BachQ]

Because I didn't want to dilute my post about the Gothic.

Damn right you don't ........  Gothic dilution is forbidden ..........

But yes, the Rite sprang instantly to mind when I saw the subject of this thread.

Sarge

........ The Rite of Spring sprang ........

[Ubloobideega]

anything that ends in D Minor sucks

[BachQ]

anything that ends in D Minor sucks

[Haffner]

JA!

[lukeottevanger]

anything that ends in D Minor sucks

Thankfully only the first movement of the Gothic does end in that benighted key, though . The movement described above ends in D major; the whole symphony ends in E major. The piece as a whole traces the trajectory away from the dark oppresive forces of D minor  to the light and consolation of E major 0:). It is a close call, though, I agree.

[Justin Ignaz Franz Bieber]

A few from JS BACH that come to my mind now...

#1 Donna nobis pacem from Mass in B min
#2 Contrapunctus 14 (unfinished fugue) from The Art of Fugue
#3 Chaconne from Violin Partita No. 2 in D min

i was just thinking of the second minor part of that chaconne. on some recordings (the good ones) the ending reminds me of a storm... a storm of notes & then finally it goes back to the theme, but at the end it sounds much more dramatic than at the beginning. out of the art of fugue i would pick contrapunctus 9 as the one with the most intense ending.