GMG Classical Music Forum

This question has been bugging me - which awesome choral work is the most awesome? Perhaps you can help. Up to three votes are permitted.

Please note, this question is not regarding which work is the most beautiful, or the most spiritual, or the most technically accomplished. The first and only criteria is awesomeness.


And yes, I am aware that repeatedly using the word "awesome" makes me sound like an idiot.

For me, there's a lot of works missing. What about Janacek's Glagolitic Mass? What about Part's Te Deum? What about Villa-Lobos's Choros No. 10? Anyway, I think these are awesome choral works and they are my three picks, but since none of them are listed, I will not vote.

No baroque or renaissance, periods where vocal works were probably even more important in the classical sphere.

Quote from: Mirror Image on February 05, 2012, 05:50:28 PM
For me, there's a lot of works missing. What about Janacek's Glagolitic Mass? What about Part's Te Deum? What about Villa-Lobos's Choros No. 10? Anyway, I think these are awesome choral works and they are my three picks, but since none of them are listed, I will not vote.

Three works I don't know yet, so not included. I excluded Bach because I think he lacks sufficient awesomeness.

I'll vote anyway...

I voted for Mozart's Requiem, Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky, and Ligeti's Requiem. Yes, these are just awesome. 8)

Quote from: toucan on February 05, 2012, 05:43:37 PM
John Sebastian Bach, Herr, unser Herrscher, (introduction to Johannes-Passion)

Indeed.

I'll just add here, in case my opening post wasn't clear, that this poll is in no way a Serious Study in order to determine the Objectively Best work in a stringently defined and exhaustively detailed category.

I just want to see which of the listed works people like best, or, if they like something not listed, to find out what that is and hopefully why as well.

0:)

Quote from: Mirror Image on February 05, 2012, 07:56:38 PM
I voted for Mozart's Requiem, Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky, and Ligeti's Requiem. Yes, these are just awesome. 8)

[emphasis mine]

Dude, when did you give in? :D ;)

Mozart's Requiem is small-fry in the awe-inspiring department, though it is sublime. If Brian's 1st was included, I'd have gone for that, but instead - Berlioz, with Verdi a close second.

Quote from: Lethevich on February 05, 2012, 09:20:03 PM
Mozart's Requiem is small-fry in the awe-inspiring department, though it is sublime. If Brian's 1st was included, I'd have gone for that, but instead - Berlioz, with Verdi a close second.

Mozart - small fry? How small your soul! :D

Since the Gothic starts off with 40 minutes of instrumental music, I'm uncomfortable calling it a choral work proper.


I'm really regretting allowing only three choice, but there's no way to change this that I can find.

By awesomeness, you seem to mean bombastic. Yet, the Brahms Requiem is on the list, which doesn't really go that way, beautiful work though it is. One of the most beautiful requiems would be the Faure Requiem. It's probably my favorite oddly enough. I went with the Verdi Requiem and Alexander Nevsky. Then it was between Mahler 8 and Mozart Requiem. I probably like the Mozart more, but the Mahler has such huge forces, so I went with that for sheer awesomeness.   8)

Quote from: mc ukrneal on February 05, 2012, 09:49:23 PM
By awesomeness, you seem to mean bombastic. Yet, the Brahms Requiem is on the list, which doesn't really go that way, beautiful work though it is. One of the most beautiful requiems would be the Faure Requiem. It's probably my favorite oddly enough. I went with the Verdi Requiem and Alexander Nevsky. Then it was between Mahler 8 and Mozart Requiem. I probably like the Mozart more, but the Mahler has such huge forces, so I went with that for sheer awesomeness.   8)

Thanks for playing! I don't necessarily mean bombastic as such, but possessing impressive power. "All flesh is as grass" from the Brahms certainly has that.  The Verdi certainly has bombast, and to be honest I'm not actually a big fan of the work - I included it to round out the pollsibilities.

I've just added Faure to the poll. It's less self-effacing than I remembered, particularly in the Barenboim recording.

This is just what happened with my last poll - adding extra options and screwing up the results. Oh dear  :-[

The Glagolithic Mass, beethovens Missa Solemnis and the St Matthew Passion would have been my selections. Perhaps also Gurrelieder. As a fifth contender, I chose Verdi, but only because the favorites obviously have been disqualified.

Quote from: eyeresist on February 05, 2012, 06:23:40 PM
I excluded Bach because I think he lacks sufficient awesomeness.

If hell exists, you will burn it it for making that statement!   ;D

Bruckner, Mahler, Berlioz

Sarge

Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, Monteverdi's Vespers & Mahler's Resurrection....
....
.......
.......... oh, they're not on the list.

So its, Mahler/Verdi/Brahms  ;)

Some day, such a poll will include Henning.

Quote from: karlhenning on February 06, 2012, 04:19:14 AM
Some day, such a poll will include Henning.

You're not Dead yet Karl (And long may ye live) so sadly we can't put you in there LOL ;D

Have you written your choral Magnum Opus yet?

The finale of Beethoven's 9th Symphony. It is sui generis.  :)

8)

Quote from: Gurnatron5500 on February 06, 2012, 05:29:05 AM
The finale of Beethoven's 9th Symphony. It is sui generis.  :)

8)

As in the best choral conclusion to a symphony completed in 1824 by a composer born in Bonn bearing a surname starting with B, ever?

(* chortle *)

Quote from: karlhenning on February 06, 2012, 04:19:14 AM
Some day, such a poll will include Henning.

If you write a work named Banana, some day it will end up in a poll!

This, too, is true.

My 2 favorites are Brahms' German Requiem and Prokofiev's Cantata.

   Where is Janacek's magnificent and unique Glagolitic Mass ?  If that isn't
awesopme, I don't know what awesome is !

Well, I've voted on the grounds of awesomeness as requested.
Brahms, Verdi and Alexander

Orff's Carmina Burana is not everybody's cup of tea but it is certainly awesome.

Definitely some missing pieces, but I voted Berlioz, Prokofiev and RVW.

I voted for 3 Requiems. It looks like Verdi is winning so far.
Karl, if you write a Requiem I might vote for you, too...
ZB

Quote from: TheGSMoeller on February 06, 2012, 08:35:06 AM
Definitely some missing pieces...

Like the Rachmaninov Vespers, Bruckner's and Franck's Psalm 150, Prokofiev's Seven, They Are Seven, Schoenberg's Friede auf Erden...

The last 4 are shorter than a Requiem, but they are mighty and great!   0:)

Quote from: Gurnatron5500 on February 06, 2012, 05:29:05 AM
The finale of Beethoven's 9th Symphony. It is sui generis.  :)

8)

If there had been the finale of Beethoven No.9, I would have certainly voted for it, that's my favourite piece ever composed! ;D

Anyway, I voted for Mozart, Bruckner and Mahler.

Quote from: Mirror Image on February 05, 2012, 07:56:38 PM
I voted for Mozart's Requiem, Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky, and Ligeti's Requiem. Yes, these are just awesome. 8)

You? Voting for Mozart? Since when?!!!  ???

My votes:
Mozart Requiem
Mahler 8 of course
Verdi Requiem

:)

Quote from: Cato on February 06, 2012, 08:54:18 AM
Like the Rachmaninov Vespers, Bruckner's and Franck's Psalm 150, Prokofiev's Seven, They Are Seven, Schoenberg's Friede auf Erden...

The last 4 are shorter than a Requiem, but they are mighty and great!   0:)

And not to be forgotten in the shuffle:

Rachmaninov's Three Russian Songs and the incredible work The Bells.

Pycard's Gloria. The rest of 'um can all go home.

Mozart is #1,

I voted for Brahms and Ligeti but they are tied with Bruckner and Verdi. :)

I would like to add in Bach's Mass in B Minor. ;D

Finally voted, for Bruckner, Mahler and Prokofiev's October Cantata.

BTW, I excluded Beethoven's 9 and Mahler 2 because they are largely instrumental, not "pure" choral works.


I'm obviously much better at killing threads than starting them (anyone want to join Team Thread Killer?). I promise that if I ever post another poll I will put some thought into it first!

I don't have any problem with your poll... you obviously just wanted to see what people dig out of the ones you like.  Polls don't have to the be all and end all of objective consensus. :)

Quote from: DavidW on February 06, 2012, 03:44:04 PM
I don't have any problem with your poll... you obviously just wanted to see what people dig out of the ones you like.  Polls don't have to the be all and end all of objective consensus. :)

You are objectively Wrong :P

;)

I only vote for one work -- Ligeti

I voted for Verdi and Berlioz, both awe inspiring works. I understand that this is a poll of works you know. You need to hear Britten's War Requiem. I'm sure you would have included it if you knew it.

Quote from: Tsaraslondon on February 07, 2012, 12:30:30 AM
You need to hear Britten's War Requiem. I'm sure you would have included it if you knew it.

Hell, yes!  Can't believe it took three pages before someone mentioned it. 

Another vote for the Ligeti Requiem, although I have yet to experience the joys of Eric Bana's Banana (oo-er, missus). I'm sure it's a thing of beauty.

http://www.youtube.com/v/VGYRfHsbuJY&feature=related

Mahler 2? Or is that not choral enough for you? Because it is pretty blasted awesome.

Quote from: Winky Willy on February 26, 2012, 10:27:07 AM
Mahler 2? Or is that not choral enough for you? Because it is pretty blasted awesome.

Well, I'll second that. ;)

And what about Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé?

Mahler is generally the universally most awesome.

Quote from: Winky Willy on February 26, 2012, 11:02:05 AM
Mahler is generally the universally most awesome.

Well, I'll agree with that! Nice to meet you! :D

Quote from: madaboutmahler on February 26, 2012, 11:08:34 AM
Well, I'll agree with that! Nice to meet you! :D

Did you create yourself another account?  ;D

Nope, I am not him. Mahler's not my VERY favorite...though he is unbelievably magnificent!

Quote from: Winky Willy on February 26, 2012, 11:02:05 AM
Mahler is generally the universally most awesome.

:)
I would have certainly agreed with you if Wagner, Beethoven and Liszt had never existed....

Sorry friend, but only Wagner comes close to Mahler of them you mentioned. In terms of pure "awesomeness". I mean, if you're ETA Hoffmann, maybe Beethoven is the tops for you, but I think nobody here is ETA Hoffmann!

Quote from: Winky Willy on February 26, 2012, 11:19:19 AM
Sorry friend, but only Wagner comes close to Mahler of them you mentioned. In terms of pure "awesomeness". I mean, if you're ETA Hoffmann, maybe Beethoven is the tops for you, but I think nobody here is ETA Hoffmann!

::)
I understand; though I think Beethoven is just as good as Mahler.

I am not talking about pure greatness as a composer; I simply am talking about the ability to inspire AWE. In that I believe Mahler, Wagner and Bruckner are generally the cream of the crop.

I was very impressed by Liszt's Requiem which I heard for the first time yesterday.

Quote from: eyeresist on February 05, 2012, 06:23:40 PM
I excluded Bach because I think he lacks sufficient awesomeness.

:o :o :o

Quote from: Winky Willy on February 26, 2012, 11:42:51 AM
I am not talking about pure greatness as a composer; I simply am talking about the ability to inspire AWE. In that I believe Mahler, Wagner and Bruckner are generally the cream of the crop.

I had understood it, the matter doesn't change anyway; about the ability to inspire awe, Wagner, Beethoven, Liszt and Mahler are the top for me.

Glad you appreciated Liszt's Requiem :)

Bach with his Banana in B minor.

I can't believe this thread is still going.....

Quote from: eyeresist on February 26, 2012, 04:50:41 PM
I can't believe this thread is still going.....

Well limping along, maybe. It's hardly worth reading

Quote from: Tsaraslondon on February 27, 2012, 12:16:01 AM
Well limping along, maybe. It's hardly worth reading

:o
Glad to see Prokofievs Nevsky in the fray.  I love it.

My pick for #1 is Brahms' German Requiem.

There's certainly a strong case for that 'un.

Quote from: Geo Dude on March 05, 2012, 09:49:29 AM
My pick for #1 is Brahms' German Requiem.

If you want a picture of it, look to the left. I'm a tiny spot in the second row from the top slightly to the right in the center. One thing I can say about being inside a performance of such a work, it's quite a leap from listening to CD's or even attending a live concert. This was one of life's peak experiences for me. I just wish I could do it again someday.

ZB

I went with Mozart's Requiem although I would have preferred his Mass in C minor.

Best of all are Bach's SMP and Mass in B minor.

Quote from: Gurnatron5500 on February 06, 2012, 05:29:05 AM
The finale of Beethoven's 9th Symphony. It is sui generis.  :)

8)

....and his Op. 80. :)

You should change the "ever" to "in this list" - because there are some massive works not even part of the poll - like Bach, for one thing.

^ I've already addressed this.

Quote from: eyeresist on February 05, 2012, 06:23:40 PM
I excluded Bach because I think he lacks sufficient awesomeness.

um, WHAT?!?!?  Release the kraken!   >:(

Out of this rather narrow list, I picked the Mozart and the Brahms.

It's not listed. Sinopoli conducts Dvorak's Stabat Mater.

Quote from: Philoctetes on March 12, 2012, 02:53:53 PMIt's not listed. Sinopoli conducts Dvorak's Stabat Mater.

I'll have to look out for that one, thanks.

No Bach's St. Matthew Passion? (Ask any musicologist, and I think that would be the most likely answer).

Or perhaps Bach's Mass in B Minor?

No Machaut's Messe de Notre Dame?

Or what about Thomas Tallis' Spem in Alium?

Handel's Messiah?

Monteverdi's Vespro della Beata Vergine?

Dufay's Missa se la face ay pale?

De Victoria's Requiem?


My answer to this poll is: BANANA!!  >:D

Q

And we won't even mention Beethoven's Missa solemnis  .........

Quote from: Que on March 12, 2012, 10:54:17 PMNo Bach's St. Matthew Passion? (Ask any musicologist, and I think that would be the most likely answer).

Not exactly a convincing argument.

Choir? Libera Me in Fauré's Requiem. It's a magic moment when the full choir clocks in after the solo singing the refrain.

Quote from: eyeresist on March 13, 2012, 02:00:36 AM
Not exactly a convincing argument.

I think our ~ Que ~ may be exaggerating the consensus, but not greatly. But the BWV244 is certainly very highly regarded by practically any musicologist.

Quote from: eyeresist on March 13, 2012, 02:00:36 AM
Not exactly a convincing argument.

To include it at least in the available options to choose from, it definitely is.

Q

No Messiah  ??? No Dream of Gerontius  ??? No Belshazzar's Feast ???

Lordy, lordy. In any case, I went for Brahms, VW and Mozart. The Sea Symphony must have the most
arresting opening of them all.

BTW, as someone mentioned, the opening chorus of the St John Passion is probably Bach's most sublime choral utterance.

This poll should allow 7 choices among 25 works. That's the same ratio as 3/10, but at least we can indulge. I feel cheap for leaving out so many personal favourites  ;D

Tough choice - in the end I went for the Mozart, Berlioz and Brahms requiems. But it pains me to have had to leave out VW Sea Symphony and Mahler 8  :(

Top one must be Bach's Mass in B minor.

Mozart's and Verdi's Requiem share the next postion.

May I add Messiaen's La Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ and James Macmillan's St John Passion (maybe with his Seven Last Words from the Cross also) to the list?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rreb9BCxb0A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VYbRchUAJY (too bad I can't find any video on Youtube of the very last moment of the Passion. Truly divine)

 Quote from: wagnernn on Today at 07:09:55 AM (http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php?topic=19888.msg641236#msg641236)

Top one must be Bach's Mass in B minor.

 
QFT.  Also the St. Matthew Passion.  Lately I've been listening a lot to Haydn's Creation, and Henry Purcell, and Rachmaninov's Vespers, and... (OK, I'll stop beating a dead horse now...)

Parts of Mozart's Requiem are undeniably gorgeous, but for me the overall work is too uneven -- I'm not qualified to get into the argument of which parts were composed/completed after his death, but some of the later sections just don't seem to rise to the same level of inspiration, and I confess that I often stop listening part way through. [ducks]  I'll confess that this may be partly due to the fact that my first exposure to the Requiem as a wee lad was on the Amadeus soundtrack, which featured only selections, and may have permanently skewed my taste regarding this work.  If I could just vote for the sections I like  ;D , Mozart would be #1.

Of the works listed, I'll pick Alexander Nevsky and the Brahms Requiem for an easy top two; my third choice is torn between Bruckner and Verdi (the Requiem is the only Verdi that I currently like, though I'm very slowly warming to opera)