I don't believe this has been done before! I'm referring to just the final few minutes (coda) of a work, not its entire final movement btw.
Arnold 5 (devastating!)
Atterberg 3 (glorious!)
Braga Santos 4 (exultant!)
Honegger 3 (redemptive!)
Magnard 4 (visionary!)
Mozart 41 (brilliant!)
Prokofiev 5 (coruscating!)
Rachmaninov 1 (crushing!)
Beethoven Symphonies 3 & 9
Bruckner Symphonies 4 & 5
Mahler Symphonies 1-3 & 8
Brahms 2
Sibelius 7
Elgar 2
Messiaen Turangalîla
Berlioz Symphonie fantastique
Bruckner 3
Vaughan Williams 9
Mahler 1
Debussy La mer
Quote from: kyjo on May 29, 2022, 08:16:18 PM
I don't believe this has been done before! I'm referring to just the final few minutes (coda) of a work, not its entire final movement btw.
Arnold 5 (devastating!)
Atterberg 3 (glorious!)
Braga Santos 4 (exultant!)
Honegger 3 (redemptive!)
Magnard 4 (visionary!)
Mozart 41 (brilliant!)
Prokofiev 5 (coruscating!)
Rachmaninov 1 (crushing!)
Great thread idea and great list Kyle. The Rachmaninov is one of my favourite doom-laden endings when, having teetered on the brink of the abyss throughout the symphony, Rachmaninov finally topples head-first into it - marvellous!
OK, here goes:
Vaughan Williams Symphony No.9 (monolithic, defiant, visionary)
Rachmaninov Symphony No.1 (for reasons above)
Honegger: 'Liturgique' (beautiful bird-song ending)
Atterberg: Symphony No.3 (as above)
Shostakovich: Symphony No.11 'The Year 1905' - very exciting, especially in concert
Walton Symphony No.1 (explosive - despair finally turns into triumph)
Miaskovsky Symphony No.6 (deeply moving when the chorus enters)
Bloch Symphony in C sharp minor (doom-laden but paradoxically redemptive)
Quote from: vandermolen on May 29, 2022, 10:22:22 PM
Great thread idea and great list Kyle. The Rachmaninov is one of my favourite doom-laden endings when, having teetered on the brink of the abyss throughout the symphony, Rachmaninov finally topples head-first into it - marvellous!
OK, here goes:
Vaughan Williams Symphony No.9 (monolithic, defiant, visionary)
Rachmaninov Symphony No.1 (for reasons above)
Honegger: 'Liturgique' (beautiful bird-song ending)
Atterberg: Symphony No.3 (as above)
Shostakovich: Symphony No.11 'The Year 1905' - very exciting, especially in concert
Walton Symphony No.1 (explosive - despair finally turns into triumph)
Miaskovsky Symphony No.6 (deeply moving when the chorus enters)
Bloch Symphony in C sharp minor (doom-laden but paradoxically redemptive)
I'm curious about how you define "monolithic" regarding RVW No 9 if you can please elaborate? As for me:
My 8 in no order...
1. Mahler 2 (Triumphant)
2. Mahler 3 (Transcendent)
3. Beethoven 9 (Exuberant)
4. RVW 1 (Transcendent and Cathartic)
5. Shostakovich 4 (Shattering)
6. Sibelius 7 (Radiant)
7. Atterberg 3 (Exuberant)
8. Shostakovich 7 (Defiant)
8b. Prokofiev 4 (rev) radiant
8c. Scriabin 5 (a hybrid symphony) - (radiant)
8d. Prokofiev 7 (original version) - (enigmatic)
8e. Shostakovich 15 (enigmatic)
Quote from: relm1 on May 30, 2022, 05:38:34 AM
I'm curious about how you define "monolithic" regarding RVW No 9 if you can please elaborate? As for me:
My 8 in no order...
1. Mahler 2 (Triumphant)
2. Mahler 3 (Transcendent)
3. Beethoven 9 (Exuberant)
4. RVW 1 (Transcendent and Cathartic)
5. Shostakovich 4 (Shattering)
6. Sibelius 7 (Radiant)
7. Atterberg 3 (Exuberant)
8. Shostakovich 7 (Defiant)
8b. Prokofiev 4 (rev) radiant
8c. Scriabin 5 (a hybrid symphony) - (radiant)
8d. Prokofiev 7 (original version) - (enigmatic)
8e. Shostakovich 15 (enigmatic)
Nice list!
My own would probably include M2, LvB9, Brahms 2, RVW 1, Sibelius 5 and 7 and Bruckner 5 and 8.
A really basic list:
Brahms 3 & 4
Bruckner 8
Schumann 2
Dvořák 6 & 8
Tippett 1
Shostakovich 4
Sibelius 5 & 6
Hugh Wood (I really shouldn't let it get to me, but it always does anyway)
Elgar/Payne 3
Prokofiev 6—can't believe I forgot this one, it might be my overall favourite symphonic ending
Numbers can't stop me because I can't count.
Quote from: relm1 on May 30, 2022, 05:38:34 AM
I'm curious about how you define "monolithic" regarding RVW No 9 if you can please elaborate? As for me:
My 8 in no order...
1. Mahler 2 (Triumphant)
2. Mahler 3 (Transcendent)
3. Beethoven 9 (Exuberant)
4. RVW 1 (Transcendent and Cathartic)
5. Shostakovich 4 (Shattering)
6. Sibelius 7 (Radiant)
7. Atterberg 3 (Exuberant)
8. Shostakovich 7 (Defiant)
8b. Prokofiev 4 (rev) radiant
8c. Scriabin 5 (a hybrid symphony) - (radiant)
8d. Prokofiev 7 (original version) - (enigmatic)
8e. Shostakovich 15 (enigmatic)
Monolithic for me means 'block-like' - like Stonehenge (actually an inspiration for Vaughan Williams's 9th Symphony). I also think that the ending reminds of those extraordinary paintings by Marc Rothko in the Tate Gallery in London. It's those massive chords at the end of the 9th Symphony - sorry for the not-very-musical description. I share your appreciation of the endings of Shostakovich's 15th, 7th and 4th symphonies. I included No.11 in my own list and could also have added No.8 - Bruckner's 8th and Tchaikovsky's 6th Symphony (descends into glowering darkness) also come to mind as great endings.
Bloch: Symphony in C-sharp minor (transcendent)
Holmboe: Symphony No. 8 (dramatic)
Langgaard: Symphony No. 5 (1st version) (eerie) and No. 6 (hyper-epic!) (Chandos recording)
Martinu: Symphony No. 4 (joyous)
Nielsen: Symphony No. 4 (glorious)
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8 (devastating and resigned at once)
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 (hopeful)
Quote from: amw on May 30, 2022, 12:26:07 PM
A really basic list:
Brahms 3 & 4
I am surprised that nobody before had mentioned Brahms' 3rd, maybe the first major symphony (the main other candidate would be Haydn's 45 but that's more of a curiosity) with a quiet ending.
Despite having the reputation of a more introvert, Brahms has very brilliant and effective codas/endings in symphonies 1+2 as well.
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on May 30, 2022, 05:33:23 PM
Bloch: Symphony in C-sharp minor (transcendent)
Holmboe: Symphony No. 8 (dramatic)
Langgaard: Symphony No. 5 (1st version) (eerie) and No. 6 (hyper-epic!) (Chandos recording)
Martinu: Symphony No. 4 (joyous)
Nielsen: Symphony No. 4 (glorious)
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8 (devastating and resigned at once)
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 (hopeful)
I don't tend to do these lists BUT if I did DSCH 8 would have been on it - has a straight C major chord ever been bleaker!?
Bruckner 5 - Like every trumpet and trombone in heaven and on earth are giving praise in this almighty cathedral of sound!
Mahler 8 - Like one is literally being lifted up to heaven when the crescendo hits#
Shostakovich 7 - Defiant. Victory through gritted teeth. You tried to kill us BUT WE STILL STAND UNITED! Scarred but still here.
Elgar 2 - Probably the most contented ending to a symphony I've heard
I'll add more when I can think of an appropriate line for some more.
Mahler 9
DSCH 8
Sibelius 5
Mozart 41
Haydn 45
Schubert 9
Tchaikovsky 6
Dvorak 9
Quote from: vandermolen on May 30, 2022, 01:33:28 PM
Monolithic for me means 'block-like' - like Stonehenge (actually an inspiration for Vaughan Williams's 9th Symphony. I also think that the ending reminds of those extraordinary paintings by Marc Rothko in the Tate Gallery in London. It's those massive chords at the end of the 9th Symphony - sorry for the not-very-musical description. I share your appreciation of the endings of Shostakovich's 15th, 7th and 4th symphonies. I included No.11 in my own list and could also have added No.8 - Bruckner's 8th and Tchaikovsky's 6th Symphony (descends into glowering darkness) also come to mind as great endings.
Got it. You probably mean the sequence when the entire orchestra plays mono-rhythmically and mono-harmonically. That was a quite impactful moment because it contrasted so much with what came before. Similarly, Malcom Arnold does the same thing in his No. 9, but there it is very quiet, here very loud. The effect is shattering in both. Yes, I should include Bruckner No. 8. I think I could also include Brian's No. 1, I love that very quiet choral at the end the apocalyptic outburst.
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on May 30, 2022, 05:33:23 PM
Bloch: Symphony in C-sharp minor (transcendent)
Holmboe: Symphony No. 8 (dramatic)
Langgaard: Symphony No. 5 (1st version) (eerie) and No. 6 (hyper-epic!) (Chandos recording)
Martinu: Symphony No. 4 (joyous)
Nielsen: Symphony No. 4 (glorious)
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8 (devastating and resigned at once)
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 (hopeful)
I was going to include the Bloch and Nielsen on my list, but I figured there was no need since you'd include them anyway. 8)
Quote from: amw on May 30, 2022, 12:26:07 PM
A really basic list:
Brahms 3 & 4
Bruckner 8
Schumann 2
Dvořák 6 & 8
Tippett 1
Shostakovich 4
Sibelius 5 & 6
Hugh Wood (I really shouldn't let it get to me, but it always does anyway)
Elgar/Payne 3
Prokofiev 6—can't believe I forgot this one, it might be my overall favourite symphonic ending
Numbers can't stop me because I can't count.
Big thumbs-up for the Dvorak, Tippett, and Prokofiev selections especially. What's the Hugh Wood symphony like?
Quote from: relm1 on May 31, 2022, 05:23:48 AM
Got it. You probably mean the sequence when the entire orchestra plays mono-rhythmically and mono-harmonically. That was a quite impactful moment because it contrasted so much with what came before. Similarly, Malcom Arnold does the same thing in his No. 9, but there it is very quiet, here very loud. The effect is shattering in both. Yes, I should include Bruckner No. 8. I think I could also include Brian's No. 1, I love that very quiet choral at the end the apocalyptic outburst.
Your explanation sounds spot on and is much more musical than mine! Oh yes, that chord at the end of HB's Gothic Symphony is wonderful, placing a retrospective glow on everything that has come before. The very ending of Arnold's 9th Symphony is very moving.
Haydn: The 45th - The [enter superlatives] ending of a symphony.
Berlioz: Harold in Italy - my favorite romantic-era, bombastic ending.
Liszt: Faust & Dante Symphony - Ending a work with voices is always a bonus with me.
Mahler: Symphony 3 - If the universe had a musical coda, this would be it. Nothing matches the exhilaration of this.
Sibelius: Symphony 6 - One of my favorite symphonic movements from anybody already, and the closing is a lush, and dark descent.
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances - Don't muffle that gong at the end! Let it ring out!
Shostakovich: Symphony 11 - Like a massive fright train that can't stop. And don't muffle those bells and gong at the end! Let them ring out! Why am I yelling!
Ives: Symphony 2 - The final chord.
Ives: Symphony 4 - Once the chaotic turns to calm the wordless choir appears and puts everyone gently to sleep.
Prokofiev: Symphony 7 the original quiet ending!!! - For a work that offers so many moods from melancholy to cheerful the closing minutes feels very nostalgic, and not forced. (unlike the crappy happy ending)
Pettersson: Symphony 7 - I'm still somewhat new to Pettersson's music, but his 7th really struck me, and the ending is a slow, softly-pulsing walk into bleakness.
Schnittke: Symphony No. 4 - The final minutes when the choir begins to sing is extremely powerful.
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on June 02, 2022, 04:10:35 PM
Haydn: The 45th - The [enter superlatives] ending of a symphony.
Berlioz: Harold in Italy - my favorite romantic-era, bombastic ending.
Liszt: Faust & Dante Symphony - Ending a work with voices is always a bonus with me.
Mahler: Symphony 3 - If the universe had a musical coda, this would be it. Nothing matches the exhilaration of this.
Sibelius: Symphony 6 - One of my favorite symphonic movements from anybody already, and the closing is a lush, and dark decent.
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances - Don't muffle that gong at the end! Let it ring out!
Shostakovich: Symphony 11 - Like a massive fright train that can't stop. And don't muffle those bells and gong at the end! Let them ring out! Why am I yelling!
Ives: Symphony 2 - The final chord.
Ives: Symphony 4 - Once the chaotic turns to calm the wordless choir appears and puts everyone gently to sleep.
Prokofiev: Symphony 7 the original quiet ending!!! - For a work that offers so many moods from melancholy to cheerful the closing minutes feels very nostalgic, and not forced. (unlike the crappy happy ending)
Pettersson: Symphony 7 - I'm still somewhat new to Pettersson's music, but his 7th really struck me, and the ending is a slow, softly-pulsing walk into bleakness.
Schnittke: Symphony No. 4 - The final minutes when the choir begins to sing is extremely powerful.
A fine list, Greg!
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 (overwhelming)
Mahler: Symphony No. 9 (ecstatic)
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 (outstanding)
Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 1 (powerful)
Haydn: Symphony No. 45 (stroke of genius)
Nielsen: Symphony No. 4 (glorious)
Dvořák: Symphony No. 7 (impressive)
Liszt: Dante Symphony (transcendent)
As a bonus, since the Ring Cycle is sometimes compared to a giant symphony:
Wagner: Götterdammërung (absolutely astounding)
In alphabetical order:
Berlioz - Symphonie fantastique
Bruckner - 8
Franck - D minor
Rachmaninov - 1
Shostakovich - 4
Shostakovich - 5
Sibelius - 2
Tchaikovsky - 6
Quote from: OrchestralNut on June 05, 2022, 05:59:33 AM
In alphabetical order:
Berlioz - Symphonie fantastique
Bruckner - 8
Franck - D minor
Rachmaninov - 1
Shostakovich - 4
Shostakovich - 5
Sibelius - 2
Tchaikovsky - 6
Great list,
Ray. All compelling endings.
To the bolded DSCH 4th - I take the missus to many orchestra concerts and almost all of the time she's hearing music for the first time. We saw DSCH 4th years ago and it was the one time she mentioned being absolutely "mesmerized" by an ending. Which I understand, with so many unexpected shifts in the music the final quiet minutes of the work always has me on edge, as if another shift is about to occur, the music seems to be moving to another location rather than searching for a resolution. It's brilliant!
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on June 05, 2022, 08:03:21 AM
Great list, Ray. All compelling endings.
To the bolded DSCH 4th - I take the missus to many orchestra concerts and almost all of the time she's hearing music for the first time. We saw DSCH 4th years ago and it was the one time she mentioned being absolutely "mesmerized" by an ending. Which I understand, with so many unexpected shifts in the music the final quiet minutes of the work always has me on edge, as if another shift is about to occur, the music seems to be moving to another location rather than searching for a resolution. It's brilliant!
I am hoping the WSO will program the 4th at some point. I asked them if they were planning to and they replied that they would love to, but because it requires such a large orchestra (100 or more) it's a challenge for a small/medium sized orchestra to put on. Because our conductor, Daniel Raiskin, has recorded a splendid 4th, I am sure he would love to perform it with the WSO someday.
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on June 02, 2022, 04:10:35 PM
Haydn: The 45th - The [enter superlatives] ending of a symphony.
Berlioz: Harold in Italy - my favorite romantic-era, bombastic ending.
Liszt: Faust & Dante Symphony - Ending a work with voices is always a bonus with me.
Mahler: Symphony 3 - If the universe had a musical coda, this would be it. Nothing matches the exhilaration of this.
Sibelius: Symphony 6 - One of my favorite symphonic movements from anybody already, and the closing is a lush, and dark descent.
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances - Don't muffle that gong at the end! Let it ring out!
Shostakovich: Symphony 11 - Like a massive fright train that can't stop. And don't muffle those bells and gong at the end! Let them ring out! Why am I yelling!
Ives: Symphony 2 - The final chord.
Ives: Symphony 4 - Once the chaotic turns to calm the wordless choir appears and puts everyone gently to sleep.
Prokofiev: Symphony 7 the original quiet ending!!! - For a work that offers so many moods from melancholy to cheerful the closing minutes feels very nostalgic, and not forced. (unlike the crappy happy ending)
Pettersson: Symphony 7 - I'm still somewhat new to Pettersson's music, but his 7th really struck me, and the ending is a slow, softly-pulsing walk into bleakness.
Schnittke: Symphony No. 4 - The final minutes when the choir begins to sing is extremely powerful.
Great list and descriptions! FWIW, I love
both endings of Prokofiev's 7th, for completely different reasons, of course. :D
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on June 02, 2022, 04:10:35 PM
Mahler: Symphony 3 - If the universe had a musical coda, this would be it. Nothing matches the exhilaration of this.
Hah, the idea of this ending the universe reminds me of what my father said when I took him to see Mahler 3: "He really didn't want that to end, did he?" ;D
Quote from: kyjo on June 05, 2022, 07:39:59 PM
Great list and descriptions! FWIW, I love both endings of Prokofiev's 7th, for completely different reasons, of course. :D
Thank you!
Truth is Prokofiev could do no wrong to these ears. Play on happier-ending of the 7th, play on! ;D
Quote from: Brian on June 06, 2022, 04:30:15 AM
Hah, the idea of this ending the universe reminds me of what my father said when I took him to see Mahler 3: "He really didn't want that to end, did he?" ;D
;D
Eight more:
Brahms: Symphony No. 4
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
Bruckner: Symphony No. 9
Dvorak: Symphony No. 8
Tubin: Symphony No. 4
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5
Magnard: Symphony No. 4
Bax: Symphony No. 3
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on June 11, 2022, 05:15:17 PM
Eight more:
Brahms: Symphony No. 4
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
Bruckner: Symphony No. 9
Dvorak: Symphony No. 8
Tubin: Symphony No. 4
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5
Magnard: Symphony No. 4
Bax: Symphony No. 3
Bax's No.3 certainly gets the thumbs up from me Cesar.
List No.2
Bax: Symphony No. 5 (wonderfully affirmative sense of home-coming, especially in Leppard's recording)
Shchedrin: Symphony No.1 (build up to 'heroic'conclusion disintegrates into nothingness)
Rootham: Symphony No.2 (unbearably moving, Rootham was dying at the time)
Mahler: Symphony No.1 (love the emphatic ending - Bernard Herrmann's Symphony uses a similar device)
Miaskovsky: Symphony No.17 (triumphant, yet oddly defiant, written at the time of the Stalinist Purges)
Honegger: Symphony No.5 'The Three D's' (Honegger makes his symphonic exit in an understatedly moving fashion)
Copland: Symphony No.3 (original ending - a great triumphant conclusion)
Bax: Symphony No.7 (profound sense of peace and acceptance, especially, once again, in Raymond Leppard's recording).
In no particular order;
Mahler's 2nd
Mahler's 8th
Mahler's 4th
Sibelius's 5th
Mozart's 41st
Janáček's Sinfonietta
Bruckner's 4th
Beethoven's 6th
Quote from: kyjo on May 29, 2022, 08:16:18 PMI don't believe this has been done before! I'm referring to just the final few minutes (coda) of a work, not its entire final movement btw.
Arnold 5 (devastating!)
Atterberg 3 (glorious!)
Braga Santos 4 (exultant!)
Honegger 3 (redemptive!)
Magnard 4 (visionary!)
Mozart 41 (brilliant!)
Prokofiev 5 (coruscating!)
Rachmaninov 1 (crushing!)
Eight additional choices off the top of my head, not supplanting the above ones:
Ben-Haim 1: Festive and breathlessly energetic, with a really catchy rhythmic ostinato.
Bruckner 5: A supremely majestic and logical conclusion which the entire work is building towards.
Dvořák 7: Triumphant, but also with also an undertone of defiant struggle!
Kalinnikov 2: The way he combines multiple themes from previous movements in such an ingenious and celebratory fashion is just wonderful!
Lloyd 5: Unstoppably energetic and joyous beyond words!
W. Schuman 3: Absolutely coruscating in its sheer brilliance - it's like a huge percussion-driven freight train!
Suk Asrael: A movingly redemptive and suitably exhausted conclusion after such an emotionally turbulent journey.
Weinberg 5: This unique ending manages to be ethereal and creepy at the same time, with its prominent part for the celesta.
Quote from: vers la flamme on March 11, 2023, 04:58:46 AMIn no particular order;
Mahler's 2nd
Mahler's 8th
Mahler's 4th
Sibelius's 5th
Mozart's 41st
Janáček's Sinfonietta
Bruckner's 4th
Beethoven's 6th
Great list, just needs more Mahler... ;)
Quote from: LKB on May 16, 2024, 10:47:13 AMGreat list, just needs more Mahler... ;)
The 3rd, 6th and 9th might have made the cut too ;D
Quote from: vers la flamme on May 16, 2024, 10:47:59 AMThe 3rd, 6th and 9th might have made the cut too ;D
Not the Seventh?
Heresy! :laugh:
Quote from: LKB on May 16, 2024, 11:27:43 AMNot the Seventh?
Heresy! :laugh:
I love the 7th, but for some reason I seem to have had a problem with the finale in the past. I should revisit it soon so I can learn to correct these heretical tendencies.
Quote from: kyjo on May 16, 2024, 09:35:25 AMEight additional choices off the top of my head, not supplanting the above ones:
Ben-Haim 1: Festive and breathlessly energetic, with a really catchy rhythmic ostinato.
Bruckner 5: A supremely majestic and logical conclusion which the entire work is building towards.
Dvořák 7: Triumphant, but also with also an undertone of defiant struggle!
Kalinnikov 2: The way he combines multiple themes from previous movements in such an ingenious and celebratory fashion is just wonderful!
Lloyd 5: Unstoppably energetic and joyous beyond words!
W. Schuman 3: Absolutely coruscating in its sheer brilliance - it's like a huge percussion-driven freight train!
Suk Asrael: A movingly redemptive and suitably exhausted conclusion after such an emotionally turbulent journey.
Weinberg 5: This unique ending manages to be ethereal and creepy at the same time, with its prominent part for the celesta.
Great list Kyle! :)
Otomh
For symphonies proper:
Haydn 45
Mozart 40
Beethoven 8
Schubert 9
Mendelssohn 4
Tchaikovsky 4
For orchestral works:
Lalo - Symphonie espagnole
Rimsky-Korsakov - Sheherazade
I find this a difficult list to make
Sibelius Symphony No. 2
Mahler Symphony No. 3
Brahms Symphony No. 1
Shostakovich: Symphonies 4 & 15
Quote from: kyjo on May 16, 2024, 09:35:25 AMEight additional choices off the top of my head, not supplanting the above ones:
Ben-Haim 1: Festive and breathlessly energetic, with a really catchy rhythmic ostinato.
Bruckner 5: A supremely majestic and logical conclusion which the entire work is building towards.
Dvořák 7: Triumphant, but also with also an undertone of defiant struggle!
Kalinnikov 2: The way he combines multiple themes from previous movements in such an ingenious and celebratory fashion is just wonderful!
Lloyd 5: Unstoppably energetic and joyous beyond words!
W. Schuman 3: Absolutely coruscating in its sheer brilliance - it's like a huge percussion-driven freight train!
Suk Asrael: A movingly redemptive and suitably exhausted conclusion after such an emotionally turbulent journey.
Weinberg 5: This unique ending manages to be ethereal and creepy at the same time, with its prominent part for the celesta.
Nice commentary on a helpful post ... !
Quote from: kyjo on May 16, 2024, 09:35:25 AMEight additional choices off the top of my head, not supplanting the above ones:
Ben-Haim 1: Festive and breathlessly energetic, with a really catchy rhythmic ostinato.
Bruckner 5: A supremely majestic and logical conclusion which the entire work is building towards.
Dvořák 7: Triumphant, but also with also an undertone of defiant struggle!
Kalinnikov 2: The way he combines multiple themes from previous movements in such an ingenious and celebratory fashion is just wonderful!
Lloyd 5: Unstoppably energetic and joyous beyond words!
W. Schuman 3: Absolutely coruscating in its sheer brilliance - it's like a huge percussion-driven freight train!
Suk Asrael: A movingly redemptive and suitably exhausted conclusion after such an emotionally turbulent journey.
Weinberg 5: This unique ending manages to be ethereal and creepy at the same time, with its prominent part for the celesta.
As others have said - this is an excellent list and I enjoy the added comments. I must check out the Weinberg which I don't know at all.
One of my favourite symphonic
movement endings (not of the symphony) is the first movement of Walton 1 - a kind of flinging down of the gauntlet of "I'm still here" after all the convulsions that went before.
Quote from: Roasted Swan on May 17, 2024, 07:42:33 AMAs others have said - this is an excellent list and I enjoy the added comments. I must check out the Weinberg which I don't know at all.
One of my favourite symphonic movement endings (not of the symphony) is the first movement of Walton 1 - a kind of flinging down of the gauntlet of "I'm still here" after all the convulsions that went before.
Yes, you have to hear the Weinberg! Kondrashin's version is best (Russian Disc/Melodiya). For me it stands alongside Shostakovich's 4th Symphony and Popov's 1st Symphony. Totally agree about Walton - despair turns to defiance.
Quote from: Roasted Swan on May 17, 2024, 07:42:33 AMOne of my favourite symphonic movement endings (not of the symphony) is the first movement of Walton 1 - a kind of flinging down of the gauntlet of "I'm still here" after all the convulsions that went before.
Makes me think of a small, defenceless creature being beaten to death and, after you think it's finally, mercifully dead you notice it's still twitching. Or, for a less gruesome comparison, for those of us who remember the Monty Python "Death of Mary Queen of Scots" sketch: "Ah thunk she's deid." "No, ah'm no'!"
If non-final movement endings were allowed, definitely the end of the
Judex movement of
The Gothic, brass bands, football rattle and all. But for real endings:
Sibelius 3 - that wall of sound!
Stravinsky 3 Movements - nice scrunchy added 2nds & 6ths.
Beethoven 6 - because it doesn't go on for 450 bars.
Mozart 39 - the movement without which (IMO) Beethoven 7 wouldn't have been possible.
Nielsen 6 - bitter humour indeed.
Shostakovich 15 - which has been described as a death-rattle, but which sounds to me like absolute peace and serenity.
Franck - nice and concise.
Martinů 4 - the coda sounds almost like Ives's
Country Band March, with everyone out of step.
Quote from: Roasted Swan on May 17, 2024, 07:42:33 AMAs others have said - this is an excellent list and I enjoy the added comments. I must check out the Weinberg which I don't know at all.
One of my favourite symphonic movement endings (not of the symphony) is the first movement of Walton 1 - a kind of flinging down of the gauntlet of "I'm still here" after all the convulsions that went before.
Thank you RS! I totally agree about the ending of the first movement of Walton 1 - great as the whole work is, that movement is in a magnificent class of its own and is basically a one-movement symphony in itself, such is its epic narrative quality. As refined and atmospheric as Walton's later works (e.g. the 2nd Symphony) are, they never really manage to recapture the raw power and emotionality of the 1st Symphony. BTW, a similarly memorable and defiant first movement ending is that of the contemporaneous Moeran G minor Symphony.
Quote from: DaveF on May 18, 2024, 03:38:48 AMMakes me think of a small, defenceless creature being beaten to death and, after you think it's finally, mercifully dead you notice it's still twitching. Or, for a less gruesome comparison, for those of us who remember the Monty Python "Death of Mary Queen of Scots" sketch: "Ah thunk she's deid." "No, ah'm no'!"
If non-final movement endings were allowed, definitely the end of the Judex movement of The Gothic, brass bands, football rattle and all. But for real endings:
Sibelius 3 - that wall of sound!
Stravinsky 3 Movements - nice scrunchy added 2nds & 6ths.
Beethoven 6 - because it doesn't go on for 450 bars.
Mozart 39 - the movement without which (IMO) Beethoven 7 wouldn't have been possible.
Nielsen 6 - bitter humour indeed.
Shostakovich 15 - which has been described as a death-rattle, but which sounds to me like absolute peace and serenity.
Franck - nice and concise.
Martinů 4 - the coda sounds almost like Ives's Country Band March, with everyone out of step.
Another excellent list!
Quote from: DaveF on May 18, 2024, 03:38:48 AMIf non-final movement endings were allowed, definitely the end of the Judex movement of The Gothic, brass bands, football rattle and all.
Definitely the most amazing musical moment I have ever seen live.
Quote from: DaveF on May 18, 2024, 03:38:48 AMBeethoven 6 - because it doesn't go on for 450 bars.
Shostakovich 15 - which has been described as a death-rattle, but which sounds to me like absolute peace and serenity.
Beethoven 6 - I recently learned that almost everyone plays this ending wrong, that the final two chords should be the same length, both regular old quarter notes. So many performances stretch the very last chord out to make it sound more "ending-ish" but Beethoven fills the rest of the bar with rests so he really doesn't want people doing that. Strange that the proper way of playing it should be so rare - but once I'd heard it done right, I was so excited by the breeziness and classicism of that ending. A special ending to a special work.
Shostakovich 15 - having just seen it last night - in that performance at least, the final resolving C sharp was so deeply satisfying. It felt like a release or a blessing almost.
Quote from: Brian on May 19, 2024, 11:14:59 AMBeethoven 6 - I recently learned that almost everyone plays this ending wrong, that the final two chords should be the same length, both regular old quarter notes.
Had to check my half-dozen recordings - yeah, even the purest of the pure (Norrington, Savall) hold that last chord (although not as shamelessly as does Wyn Morris in my favourite non-HIP cycle). Only one who really get it "right" is Claire Huangci in the Liszt arrangement.
But in any case my inclusion of the
Pastoral was a slightly tongue-in-cheek comment on the excesses of nos. 3, 5 and 8, so splendidly parodied by Dudley Moore:
What I really meant to say was
Turangalîla!
These come to mind:
Brahms 2 - The ending to this work is musical perfection
Prokofiev 2 - Love the final haunting chord
Ives 1 - In the performance the timpani has to be loud and triumphant like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvyLZDIkCpc
Ives 2 - A great surprise ending
My list as of right now, in no particular order - maybe chronological?
Beethoven 7 (thrilling and full of energy - the high horns really help carry it though)
Brahms 2 (one of my favorite symphonies and one of my favorite endings - what puts it over the top is that blast on the trombones!)
Tchaikovsky 4 (just crazy!)
How could I pick just one of Mahler's? All of his endings are perfection! I guess I can choose two:
Mahler 2 (just overwhelmingly emotional)
Mahler 9 (I can't help but think of life ebbing away...)
Saint-Saens 3 (an overwhelming 'wall of sound', thanks in large part to the organ)
Rachmaninov 2 (he sure knew how to write endings!)
Copland 3 (triumphant and celebratory)
Quote from: classicalgeek on May 22, 2024, 07:24:21 PMMy list as of right now, in no particular order - maybe chronological?
Beethoven 7 (thrilling and full of energy - the high horns really help carry it though)
Brahms 2 (one of my favorite symphonies and one of my favorite endings - what puts it over the top is that blast on the trombones!)
Tchaikovsky 4 (just crazy!)
How could I pick just one of Mahler's? All of his endings are perfection! I guess I can choose two:
Mahler 2 (just overwhelmingly emotional)
Mahler 9 (I can't help but think of life ebbing away...)
Saint-Saens 3 (an overwhelming 'wall of sound', thanks in large part to the organ)
Rachmaninov 2 (he sure knew how to write endings!)
Copland 3 (triumphant and celebratory)
Solid list.
If l were to change anything at all, I'd swap out the end of Rachmaninoff 2 for Rachmaninoff 1 a la Ashkenazy and the RCO.
But it's a great list, just as it stands. 8)
Quote from: atardecer on May 19, 2024, 03:33:46 PMThese come to mind:
Brahms 2 - The ending to this work is musical perfection
Prokofiev 2 - Love the final haunting chord
Ives 1 - In the performance the timpani has to be loud and triumphant like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvyLZDIkCpc
Ives 2 - A great surprise ending
To complete my 8 choices:
Schoenberg - Chamber Symphony 2: Masterful conclusion from my favorite Schoenberg work.
Mahler - Das Lied von der Erde: A very powerful ending, emotionally draining, spiritually uplifting.
Mozart - Symphony 41: Contrapuntal brilliance and excellence.
Bernard Herrmann - Symphony: Beautiful harmonies, dynamics and timbres close out this under-rated symphony.
Mahler 2
Mahler 9
Shostakovich 4
Shostakovich 5
Liszt Faust Symphony
Hindemith Mathis der Maler symphony
Orchestral but not symphonies:
Pictures at an Exhibition
The Firebird
I'll try to think of some more:
Bax: Symphony No.5 (affirmative sense of homecoming) - especially in Leppard's recording
Shostakovich: Symphony No.15 (especially in Maxim's EMI/Melodiya recording)
Vaughan Williams: A London Symphony (1920 version)
Copland: Symphony No.3 (original ending)
Miaskovsky: Symphony No.17 - triumphant yet oddly defiant.
Tchaikovsky: Pathetique Symphony
Sibelius: Symphony No.4
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 4
OTOMH
Haydn 45: witty and humane.
Haydn 88: exhilarating.
Mozart 40: laughter of the gods (see Steppenwolf).
Mozart 41: complex, intellectually overwhelming and emotionally exhausting.
Beethoven 6: serene and cheerful.
Schubert 9: a bittersweet emotional roller-coaster (and gotta love the Beethoven 9th allusion, which is even better than the original imho).
Mendelssohn 4: more Italian(ate) exuberance and abandon than in many Italian composers proper.
Tchaikovsky 5: triumphant at all costs, including bombast and mawkishness --- which Tchaikovsky did better than most anyway imho.