This is sort of a counterpart to the "most beautiful symphony openings" thread. For the purpose of this thread, I'm defining "powerful" as loud, attention-grabbing, forceful, etc, but you may define it as you wish :) My choices:
Shostakovich 4
RVW 4
Korngold (startling to anyone expecting the composer's typical Romantic lushness)
Atterberg 5
Khachaturian 2
Quote from: kyjo on October 09, 2017, 10:04:41 AMloud, attention-grabbing, forceful, etc
Honegger 3 'Liturgique'
Shosta 4
RVW 6
Holmboe 7
Arnold 7
Vaughan Williams' Sea Symphony
Mahler 8
Shostakovich 4
Britten Sinfonia da Requiem
Brian 1
Well, going backwards to the 19th century: Beethoven 3 and 5. Then Schumann 3 and Brahms 1, then Tchaikovsky 4.
They come to my mind:
Tchaikovsky 4
Nielsen 4
Langgaard 4
Mahler 5
Prokofiev 2
Quote from: Christo on October 09, 2017, 10:16:45 AM
Honegger 3 'Liturgique'
RVW 6
Arnold 7
These could've been choices of mine as well.
Prokofiev 3
Mahler 3
Mahler 6
Rautavaara 5
Rachmaninov 1
Nielsen 3
Nielsen 4
Beethoven 3
Brahms 1
Borodin 2
Khachaturian: Symphony 2
Vaughan Williams: Symphony 6
Nielsen: Symphony 4
Bax: Symphony 6
Honegger: Symphony 3 'Liturgique'
Although not a symphony a special mention for Chisholm's 'Pictures from Dante'.
Following kojo's description of loud, attention-grabbing, forceful, etc, although there are some very powerful openings that begin soft.
All good choices so far, so I'll choose 5 that haven't shown up yet...
Haydn: Symphony No. 26, "Lamentatione"
Mozart: Symphony No. 25
Dvorak; Symphony No. 1 The Bells of Zlonice
Rouse: Symphony No. 3 (After Prokofiev)
Glass: Symphony No. 8
powerful symphonic openings that aren't so much loud or bombastic as powerful in the way a fast car is powerful even at rest: potentia
Bruckner 6 & 8
Beethoven 3, 4, 5, 9
Haydn 104
Sibelius 3 & 4
Shostakovich 4
Maxwell Davies 1
Gerhard 3
add your faves
Quote from: kyjo on October 09, 2017, 10:04:41 AM
This is sort of a counterpart to the "most beautiful symphony openings" thread.
Power can also be beauty. Which is why I struggled in the "most beautiful symphony openings" thread. What even is beauty?
Great lists, everyone! Thanks for replying despite the vagueness of my thread title ;D
I agree with the choice of Prokofiev's Third Symphony as well.
Please please: do it just once, just one time will do. DISAGREE with something, whatever, but do it. :D
Consensus is his middle name ! :D
Quote from: Christo on October 11, 2017, 04:53:13 AM
Please please: do it just once, just one time will do. DISAGREE with something, whatever, but do it. :D
He does. Mainly about Brahms and R. Strauss, I know myself :laugh:
(//)
Quote from: Christo on October 11, 2017, 04:53:13 AM
Please please: do it just once, just one time will do. DISAGREE with something, whatever, but do it. :D
I don't think that this comment was addressed to me but, just in case:
Your comments on Rootham's First Symphony are rubbish hahaha 8)
Quote from: vandermolen on October 13, 2017, 06:34:30 AMYour comments on Rootham's First Symphony are rubbish hahaha 8)
O, but we're in total agreement about that. ;D
How I could forget the astounding beginning of Langgaard's Symphony 10. It's like the birth of something transcendent involving mystical forces. I can't get enough of this impressive piece!
Brian 10
Mahler 6
Mahler 3
Brahms 1
Prokofiev 3
Bax: Symphony 6
Dudes! Put down those hookahs! ??? 8)
I scroll through all the candidates and the 0:) BRUCKNER 0:) NINTH SYMPHONY 0:) is nowhere to be found???!!!
C'mon! Get with the program! :D
I would categorize the Bruckner 9th's opening as fitting to belong to a list of « most sinister », « most portentous » or « most ominous » openings!
Quote from: André on November 03, 2017, 07:39:37 AM
I would categorize the Bruckner 9th's opening as fitting to belong to a list of « most sinister », « most portentous » or « most ominous » openings!
AMEN! 0:)
Another candidate not yet mentioned:
Scriabin:
Mysteriumhttps://www.youtube.com/v/g2WYFb0_l6w