GMG Classical Music Forum

The Music Room => General Classical Music Discussion => Topic started by: rappy on May 28, 2008, 10:32:56 AM

Title: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: rappy on May 28, 2008, 10:32:56 AM
Any thoughts? Some that came up my mind instantly are:

Strauss, Rosenkavalier, overture to the first act
Brahms, 1st symphony, 1st movement
Brahms, 3rd symphony, 1st movement
Beethoven, "Hammerklavier" sonata, 3rd movement
Prokofiev, 2nd symphony, 1st movement
Tchaikovsky, serenade for strings, 1st movement

etc.

And just to prevent any arguments: the definition of intense is up to you, a strong beginning, an explosive one, one that captures your attention immediately and grabs it until the last note fades away....whatever!

Have fun.
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Opus106 on May 28, 2008, 10:39:58 AM
Brahms PC1  I
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: david johnson on May 28, 2008, 10:55:14 AM
Dohnanyi: Variations On A Nursery Song

and

Repighi: Michael from Church Windows


http://www.amazon.com/Ottorino-Respighi-Brazilian-Impressions-Festivals/dp/B000003CZV/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1212005768&sr=1-2

scroll down to #2.

wow!

dj
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: ezodisy on May 28, 2008, 11:14:09 AM
for piano not much beats Rachmaninoff's Sonata 2
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on May 28, 2008, 11:21:33 AM
Beethoven 5th Symphony
Wagner 'Fliegende Holländer' (Overture)
Wagner 'Meistersinger' (Vorspiel)
Brahms 1st Symphony
Prokofiev 3rd Symphony
Scriabin 3rd Piano Sonata
Mahler 6th Symphony
Langgaard 10th Symphony
Brian 10th Symphony

et cetera
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: PaulR on May 28, 2008, 11:27:48 AM
Shostakovich 10 and 14
Brahms 1st PC.
Mozart Don Giovanni
Beethoven 9
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: PSmith08 on May 28, 2008, 11:38:07 AM
Wagner: Das Rheingold and Tristan und Isolde
Bruckner: Symphony no. 7
Mahler: Symphony no. 2, Symphony no. 8, and Das Lied von der Erde
Nielsen: Symphony no. 4
Sibelius: Symphony no. 7
Boulez: Piano sonata no. 2

(i.a.)
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: vandermolen on May 28, 2008, 11:44:21 AM
Khachaturian Symphony 2 "The Bell"

Nielsen's "Inextinguishable Symphony"

Vaughan Williams Symphony 4/Symphony 6
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Kullervo on May 28, 2008, 11:49:31 AM
Liszt - Totentanz
Xenakis - Ioolkos
Honegger - Symphony No. 5 "Di Tre Re"
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: mikkeljs on May 28, 2008, 11:53:24 AM
Bolero again - since the beginning takes 15 minuttes of suspence.

Ives: universe symphony
Sibelius: symphony no. 4
Sibelius: symphony no. 5, last movement
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Josquin des Prez on May 28, 2008, 12:08:17 PM
The finale of Beethoven's Opus 131 quartet > all.
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Josquin des Prez on May 28, 2008, 12:09:39 PM
Quote from: Corey on May 28, 2008, 11:49:31 AM
Liszt - Totentanz

Not by Liszt though.  I believe the music is by Berlioz.
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: quintett op.57 on May 28, 2008, 12:25:24 PM
 ???
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Wanderer on May 28, 2008, 12:34:37 PM
Quote from: ezodisy on May 28, 2008, 11:14:09 AM
for piano not much beats Rachmaninoff's Sonata 2

...as well as Schumann's Fantasie, Scriabin's First Sonata and Medtner's "Night Wind" Sonata.

Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: jwinter on May 28, 2008, 01:00:40 PM
I'm surprised no one has said...

Holst - Mars from the Planets
Strauss - Also Sprach Zarathustra
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Lethevich on May 28, 2008, 01:38:02 PM
Quote from: Josquin des Prez on May 28, 2008, 12:09:39 PM
Not by Liszt though.  I believe the music is by Berlioz.

They both just quoted the same plainchant dies irae theme I think (at least, I read somewhere that the Berlioz SF theme in question was a quote).
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Brian on May 28, 2008, 02:44:33 PM
Sibelius' Violin Concerto, actually, would probably top my list. :)
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: hornteacher on May 28, 2008, 03:36:38 PM
Dvorak's Violin Concerto - 1st mvt
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: PerfectWagnerite on May 28, 2008, 03:38:29 PM
Quote from: hornteacher on May 28, 2008, 03:36:38 PM
Dvorak's Violin Concerto - 1st mvt
Especially when play by Hilary Hahn.
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Bonehelm on May 28, 2008, 03:49:47 PM
Mahler 2
Mahler 5
Mahler 3
Mahler 8
Mahler...

You get the idea.  :)
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: 12tone. on May 28, 2008, 04:03:49 PM
I'm surprised no one has said the Tchai PC 1  :o

Others:

Mozart: Divertimentos (I guess the famous ones): K136-137
Hummel: the opening 'Allegro con spirito' to the Octet-Partita in Eb major
R. Strauss: the opening to the Alpine Symphony
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Kullervo on May 28, 2008, 04:42:18 PM
Quote from: Lethe on May 28, 2008, 01:38:02 PM
They both just quoted the same plainchant dies irae theme I think (at least, I read somewhere that the Berlioz SF theme in question was a quote).

Lethe is right, they are both quotations. But the percussive attack and those wild runs on the piano are what really make it "intense".
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: hornteacher on May 28, 2008, 05:35:47 PM
Quote from: PerfectWagnerite on May 28, 2008, 03:38:29 PM
Especially when play by Hilary Hahn.

She hasn't recorded it yet.  Sarah Chang has the lock on that concerto right now because its one of her favorites.  I'm eagerly waiting for Hilary to record it but to my knowledge she has no immediate plans to do so.
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: BachQ on May 28, 2008, 05:37:02 PM
Quote from: opus67 on May 28, 2008, 10:39:58 AM
Brahms PC1  I

Agreed
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Brian on May 28, 2008, 05:37:27 PM
Quote from: hornteacher on May 28, 2008, 05:35:47 PM
She hasn't recorded it yet.  Sarah Chang Gil Shaham has the lock on that concerto right now
Fixed.  :)
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: BachQ on May 28, 2008, 05:41:03 PM
Quote from: Josquin des Prez on May 28, 2008, 12:09:39 PM
Not by Liszt though.  I believe the music is by Berlioz.

It is by Liszt, his Totentanz in d minor.

You're thinking (perhaps) of Totentanz by Saint-Saens (Danse Macabre)  ???
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: hornteacher on May 28, 2008, 05:44:43 PM
Quote from: Brian on May 28, 2008, 05:37:27 PM
Fixed.  :)

Where is that recording?
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Brian on May 28, 2008, 06:28:52 PM
Quote from: hornteacher on May 28, 2008, 05:44:43 PM
Where is that recording?
In a few minutes, your PM box.  :)

EDIT: This applies to others who may be interested.
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Opus106 on May 28, 2008, 11:12:12 PM
Tchaikovsky Sym. 4 IV
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: val on May 28, 2008, 11:14:25 PM
MOZART: Symphony 40

BEETHOVEN:  5th Symphony / Piano Sonata opus 53

JS BACH: St Matthew Passion / St John Passion

BRAHMS:  3rd and 4th Symphonies

MAHLER:  6th Symphony

VERDI:  Otello

PROKOFIEV:  Alexander Nevsky
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Greta on May 29, 2008, 12:37:39 AM
Mahler 5th as well as 6th

Bruckner 9th!

Strauss Also Sprach of course

Kodaly Dances of Galanta

Adams Harmonielehre
(doubles as a great ring tone!)

Ligeti Lux Aeterna

Penderecki Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima

Stravinsky The Firebird, and Le Sacre

Wagner Der Fliegende Hollander Overture, opening of Das Rheingold

Zemlinsky Lyric Symphony
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Florestan on May 29, 2008, 01:00:13 AM
Mozart: Symphonies 40 & 41
Mozart: PC 20
Beethoven: Symphonies 3, 5 & 9
Beethoven: PC 1-5
Beethoven: Archduke Trio, Spring Sonata, SQ (pick one)
Schubert: Piano Sonata D 960, Symphony 9
Schumann: PC
Brahms: PC 1
Tchaikovsky: PC 1, VC, Symphonies 5 & 6
Bizet: Carmen (prelude)
Enescu: Symphony 1
Weber: Freischuetz (overture)

a.s.o.
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Symphonien on May 29, 2008, 01:05:36 AM
A few random things that come to mind are:

Mahler - Symphony No. 6
Sibelius - Symphony No. 4
Messiaen - Turangalila Symphony
Lutoslawski - Symphony No. 3
Reich - Different Trains
Adams - Harmonielehre
Salonen - Foreign Bodies
Xenakis - Tetras

But I do believe the ultimate winner here has to be:

Penderecki - Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima

Whether you like the piece or not, what could possibly be a more intense beginning than that?
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Kullervo on May 29, 2008, 04:03:53 AM
Quote from: Greta on May 29, 2008, 12:37:39 AM
Adams Harmonielehre
(doubles as a great ring tone!)

That reminded me of something I haven't heard in a long time: Louis Andriessen's De Materie
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: BachQ on May 29, 2008, 04:08:46 AM
Quote from: opus67 on May 28, 2008, 11:12:12 PM
Tchaikovsky Sym. 4 IV

Agreed.

Also the opening to the finale to Shosty 5.
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: ChamberNut on May 29, 2008, 04:21:38 AM
Strauss - Also Spach Zarustra (as Sarge first mentioned)

Mozart - Symphony No. 40

Mahler - Symphony No. 6

Beethoven - Symphony No. 5

Beethoven - Piano Concerto No. 5 Emperor

Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 29 Hammerklavier

Schubert - Symphony No. 8 Unfinished

Brahms - Symphony No. 1

Dvorak - Symphony No. 9 From the New World





Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Lethevich on May 29, 2008, 05:19:31 AM
Quote from: Corey on May 28, 2008, 04:42:18 PM
But the percussive attack and those wild runs on the piano are what really make it "intense".

That piece is a great example of bang and crash done perfectly :D I am kind of addicted to it - fortunately the Bolet box you ordered has a great performance - tempi and balance are perfect, it's become my reference.
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Opus106 on May 29, 2008, 06:25:25 AM
Maybe I should've mentioned this earlier: Nearly every work in D minor. (I'll add E minor and G minor, too, but D minor is my favourite.)
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: ChamberNut on May 29, 2008, 06:30:17 AM
Quote from: opus67 on May 29, 2008, 06:25:25 AM
Maybe I should've mentioned this earlier: Nearly every work in D minor. (I'll add E minor and G minor, too, but D minor is my favourite.)

You and Dm, (Dmitri) will get along.  0:)
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Opus106 on May 29, 2008, 06:40:59 AM
Quote from: ChamberNut on May 29, 2008, 06:30:17 AM
You and Dm, (Dmitri) will get along.  0:)
;D He seems to be in agreement with me till now... :)
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Renfield on May 29, 2008, 10:59:31 AM
Although there are obviously quite a few works to mention, the very first that came to mind was actually Nielsen's 3rd Symphony!

Somehow, it always manages to grip me from the get-go.
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Josquin des Prez on May 29, 2008, 11:20:22 AM
Quote from: Lethe on May 28, 2008, 01:38:02 PM
They both just quoted the same plainchant dies irae theme I think (at least, I read somewhere that the Berlioz SF theme in question was a quote).

Well, i don't know the original chant but i doubt it sounds quite the same way as Berlioz's version in his requiem. Either way, Liszt's Totentanz does not merely uses the same melody, it's a direct paraphrase of the Berlioz piece, and thus, not an original work in it's own right.
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Kullervo on May 29, 2008, 01:10:23 PM
Quote from: Josquin des Prez on May 29, 2008, 11:20:22 AM
Well, i don't know the original chant but i doubt it sounds quite the same way as Berlioz's version in his requiem. Either way, Liszt's Totentanz does not merely uses the same melody, it's a direct paraphrase of the Berlioz piece, and thus, not an original work in it's own right.

Eh — No, I'm not even going to waste my time.
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: J.Z. Herrenberg on May 29, 2008, 02:52:14 PM
Quote from: Lethe on May 28, 2008, 01:38:02 PM
They both just quoted the same plainchant dies irae theme I think (at least, I read somewhere that the Berlioz SF theme in question was a quote).

Of course. And the Dies Irae theme was a life-long favourite of Rachmaninoff, too.
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Don on May 29, 2008, 03:10:16 PM
Bloch's Piano Quintet No. 1 - primitive and vicious.
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Lethevich on May 29, 2008, 03:13:37 PM
Wikipedia to the rescue! (Whether it's accurate or not, who knows, but it adds some weight)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totentanz_(Liszt)#Sources_of_Inspiration

It seems that having heard it in symphonic context did give him the inspiration. The mood in both pieces is quite different IMO though, Berlioz's is a lot more morbid and strange, Liszt's is more of a clinical showpiece.
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Don on May 29, 2008, 03:17:30 PM
Quote from: rappy on May 28, 2008, 10:32:56 AM
Any thoughts? Some that came up my mind instantly are:

Beethoven, "Hammerklavier" sonata, 3rd movement

Based on your own criteria, this one can't be included. ;D
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: not edward on May 29, 2008, 07:57:44 PM
The opening of Hartmann's 1st symphony is astonishing--though I don't think the rest of the work measures up to it, I can't think of any more intense symphonic beginning.
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Marc on May 29, 2008, 09:46:24 PM
Too many 'stunners' that caught my ear immediately in all those listening years ....

Examples:
Josquin Desprez: Missa de Beata Virgine.
Bach: Cantata Bleib bei uns, denn es will Abend werden, BWV 6.
Bach: Johannes-Passion, Matthäus-Passion.
Mozart: Kyrie in D minor, KV 341.
Mozart: Rondo of the Piano Concerto no. 20 in D minor, KV 466.
Mozart: Piano Concerto no. 24 in C minor, KV 491.
Mozart: Don Giovanni.
Schubert: Unvollendete, String Quartet Der Tod und das Mädchen, Quartettsatz in C minor.
Chopin: Piano Sonata no. 3 in B minor, op. 58.
Verdi: Rigoletto.
Wagner: Das Rheingold, Die Walküre.
Mahler: Second and Ninth symphony, Das Lied von der Erde.
Stravinsky: Elegia per viola sola.

Many many more. Apologies to all the masters I forgot.
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Josquin des Prez on May 30, 2008, 05:18:31 AM
Quote from: Corey on May 29, 2008, 01:10:23 PM
Eh — No, I'm not even going to waste my time.

For the record, i'm talking about the intro. I just re-read my post and the wording doesn't make this clear. I need to remind myself to get some sleep before posting anything.
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Joe Barron on May 30, 2008, 12:42:33 PM
Well, since we're not limiting ourselves to orcestral music:

Elliott Carter, String Quartet No. 3.
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Maciek on June 12, 2008, 11:36:04 AM
I've always felt that the beginning of Krzysztof Meyer's 1st Violin Concerto was pretty intense:

[mp3=200,20,0,left]http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/8/25/1381505/GMG%20samples%202/Meyer%20VC%20op12%20Introduzione%20Lasocki.mp3[/mp3]
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: Saul on June 12, 2008, 08:34:16 PM
Chopin's revolutionary etude and his third Scherzo.
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: canninator on June 16, 2008, 01:11:26 AM
As a guitarist, the Passacaglia of Britten's Nocturnal does it for me, especially the point at which the ground bass starts to mutate and fall apart, reaching for the tonality of the Come, Heavy Sleep (Dowland) coda.

Other than that, the Sanctus of De Machaut's Mass and any half-decent melismatic Alleluia can get me quite worked up (e.g. Chants of the Roman Church-Byzantine Period, Ensemble Organum-powerful stuff).
Title: Re: The most intense beginning in a piece of music
Post by: mahler10th on June 16, 2008, 01:10:41 PM
The opening to Bruckners 8th, Finale.  Love how this enters with such a gushing, violent fanfare.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQaFHakTrGY&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQaFHakTrGY&feature=related)
Sweeps you off your forgotten about feet, then settles down after a minuite.