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Awesome Music/Classical: Difference between revisions
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* "Wayfarin' Stranger," an Appalachian folk hymn. When the piano kicks into high gear . . . just, WOW. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5TQgyDzhNM&feature=related Great choir, too.]
* It only just about counts as Classical, Emilie Autumn's instrumental song [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2UE0gfEaHI Dominant] is beyond epic. If the world were ending, this would be the perfect soundtrack.
** Additionally "Laced" is a great album with Revelry, Tambourin and La Folia particularly beautiful.
* [[Johann Sebastian Bach|Bach]]'s [[Toccata and Fugue in D minor]] (shown [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipzR9bhei_o here]). It is used as [[Warcraft]] 2 menu theme.
** How awesome is this music? Less than fifteen seconds of it, as performed on violin, is the core of [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHWPJbn9na0 this theme] from ''[[Bleach]]''. In the anime, this is typically used as the "you underestimated my awesomeness" music.
** Not to mention his just-as-famous [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVadl4ocX0M "Little" Fugue in G minor], which has been used as '''boss music''' for Mega Man Legends 2.
** In fact, name a piece by Bach. Any piece. The Mass in B Minor, the "Dorian" Toccata, the Fantasy and Fugue in G minor (the "Great" G minor fugue to the preceding "Little" G minor fugue), the Chromatic Fantasia, the St. Matthew Passion, the Goldberg Variations ... the man was an absolute genius.
** The Brandenburg Concertos are incredible. The first movement of the 5th, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljojjoBGLYw&feature=related especially the end], is harpsichord on... some kind of illegal drug.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVh0-jenY6s Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring] is another highlight of Bach's output, and [[Celtic Woman]] certainly does a beautiful rendition of it.
** Johann Sebastian Bach ''improvised'' much of his work. Including fugues. He just wrote down what he remembered later. He could probably have farted a four-part fugue and it would have been brilliant.
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** In fact, just try to [[Failure Is the Only Option|find a Beethoven symphony that is anything short of superb]].
** And there's more to Beethoven than just symphonies. Check out the Fourth Piano Concerto, which has one of most hauntingly beautiful slow movements ''ever''. Or the "Emperor", which has an absolutely gorgeous slow movement which leads - without break - straight into a brilliant finale.
** Then there's the "Egmont" Overture - just so magnificently gorgeous and evocative.
** The Moonlight Sonata.
* Even its fans would acknowledge that 20th century classical music is an acquired taste, but here is one 20th century piece made from purest awesome: [[Leonard Bernstein]]'s [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vgQYd-oz9Q 1st Movement of the ''Chichester Psalms''.]
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** By the same composer, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyMWIOn6EFM Waltz in C# minor]. (Too often played much too fast, but the linked video is an excellent recording.)
** Also by Chopin, the posthumous nocturne in C# minor. It can be a ''very'' difficult piece to play, but it pretty much defines "heartbreakingly beautiful" as classical music goes.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZMBsW0f1HM Variations on 'Là ci darem la mano'] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D5bpxyLdBg&feature=related from Mozart's Don Giovanni]. The guy wrote it when he was only SEVENTEEN.
* Technically, it's Classical and something else, but Classical Crossover and Classical Fusion definitely deserve mention. Just start with [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiaOFOMPOBc "Explosive"] from Bond and go from there.
* "[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzf0rvQa4Mc Fanfare for the Common Man]" by Aaron Copland. (ELP's version is pretty awesome too.)
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* Claude Debussy deserves a mention or three. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKd0VII-l3A Clair de lune] is one of the most recognizable classical pieces of all time. Not to mention [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66hX8Ms0FwE&feature=PlayList&p=0CD6935A2186100F&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=33 La Mer], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWpV7L4YHuU Arabesque], [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_7loz-HWUM Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun] and many, many more.
* Lucia's Mad Scene from ''Lucia di Lammermoor'' by Gaetano Donizetti.
** Also by Donizetti, ''Una furtiva lagrima'' from ''L'Elisir d'amore''. One of the most famous tenor arias.
* Antonin Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 ("From the New World"), especially the third movement ''Molto vivace'', was also helpful in writing ''[[Star Wars]]''. And the concluding ''Allegro con fuoco'' was <s> an inspiration behind</s> blatantly plagiarised into the ''Jaws'' theme, but is ten times more awesome.
** Hell, when Allegro con Fuoco takes up the final half of episode 126 of [[One Piece]] (where Luffy finally defeats Sir Crocodile), and was remixed into [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L95MNCQzD-A&feature=related one of Rhapsody of Fire's most epic songs, Wizard's Last Rhymes,] you know it's bound to be [[Crowning Music of Awesome]].
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** Also ''Israel in Egypt,'' particularly the second half.
** ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI0YOPoj4t0 Zadok the Priest]'', which also doubles as [[Incredibly Lame Pun|Awesome Music of Crowning]] - it was written for the coronation of King George II of Great Britain, Ireland, and Hannover in 1727, and has been played at every coronation of a British monarch since.<ref> In fact, the Bible verses which provide the libretto for the anthem have been recited at the coronation of every English monarch since King Edgar back in the year 973!</ref>
** ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI0YOPoj4t0 Te Deum for the Victory of Dettingen]'', written to commemorate [[Royals Who Actually Do Something|King George II's victory over the French in 1743]]<ref> (the last time a sitting British monarch led the army into battle)</ref>, is an underrated piece of brilliance.
** ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TGKJ9MgCOQ Arrival of the Queen of Sheba]'' is fantastic.
** ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kuw8YjSbKd4&feature=related The Water Music]'' is excellent, as is the ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkexMGdNE5I&feature=related Music for the Royal Fireworks]''.
** ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-QV6XpzNMs&feature=related See, the Conqu'ring Hero Comes]'' from ''Judas Maccabeus'' is incredible.
* Haydn's ''Creation.'' Dear Lord, Haydn's ''Creation''. The oratorio begins with a musical representation of chaos, followed by a bass recitative, and then the choir singing, pianissimo: ''Und Gott spracht: Es werde Licht'' (And God said: Let there be light), ''und es ward'' -- and then a sudden fortissimo -- ''LICHT!'' Words can't describe it properly -- listen to it [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNxgFu3aSuw here.]
* Samuel R. Hazo's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9XPLxeUrRE Ride] is an energetic piece with an epic alto sax solo at 1:04. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4yvZF1cMz0 Sevens], the piece that starts out alternating between 11/16 and 7/16 time and in the key of G-flat. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9VDlFEUgnw Arabesque], starting out with three epic flute solos and then getting much more epic as it goes on. Finally, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhrOde0qT78&feature=related Fantasy on a Japanese Folk Song], a beautiful piece.
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** Or, boosting the awesome quotient, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANZ45vCCUe0 Vanessa Mae's remix]. And to further up the awesome quotient, there's dancers too.
** Listen to his "Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia" (known to fans of vintage British television as the theme to ''The Onedin Line''). Then dry your eyes.
** Also the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZexcMRKVMkk violin] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v4W34SsreA&feature=related concerto].
* По́люшко-по́ле, (''Polyushko-polye'', or ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hliuEte028 Song of the Plains]'') by Lev Knipper with lyrics by Viktor Gusev. As stirring as Soviet patriotic songs get.
* Korobeiniki, aka the ''[[Tetris]]'' theme. [[Older Than They Think]]. Most Westerners have only heard it in MIDI format on their Game Boys, but [http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=8E3IWzDxPQU with full orchestra]... AWESOME.
** While we're on the subject of fully-orchestrated ''Tetris'' music, we must mention [http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=tapzwyMgziE the remix] included in the [[Super Smash Bros.]] Brawl soundtrack. DEFINITELY qualifies for the trope. (Along with about 95% of the rest of the Brawl OST, but we'll leave that for the video game page.)
* ''Vesti la giubba'' from ''[[I Pagliacci]]'' by Ruggiero Leoncavallo. It's the aria in ''[[The Untouchables]]''.
* Franz Liszt wrote many pieces which deserve mention here. Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 in C-sharp minor/F-sharp major and Liebestraum No.3 in A-flat major are some of the most challenging and beautiful pieces for piano.
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** Any live (professional) performance of the mammoth 8th Symphony, "The Symphony of a Thousand", is almost guaranteed to be an awesome experience for both performers and audience.
* Mexican music is underappreciated so here's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vwZAkfLKK8 Danzon no.2] by Arturo Márquez.
* ''Voi lo sapete'' from ''[[Cavalleria Rusticana]]'' by Pietro Mascagni.
** Also The Easter Chorus.
* [[Felix Mendelssohn]]'s "Wedding March" is awesomeness of epic proportions. There's a reason it has become [[Lohengrin and Mendelssohn|a standard wedding recessional]] in many countries.
** His Violin Concerto in E minor is concentrated awesome from start to finish.
* ''To this we've come'' from ''[[The Consul]]'' by Gian Carlo Menotti. Passionate, desperate, and incredibly powerful.
* Further awesomeness from the 20th century: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE1XJCY2Gpk Olivier Messiaen - 5th Movement of the ''Turangalîla Symphonie''.]
* Mozart's ''Krönungsmesse'' ([http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9ZNdw1jXg4 link to the Kyrie]) is [[Awesome Moment of Crowning|Awesome Music of Crowning]].
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Novus, novus, novus amor est
Quo pereo, quo pereo, quo pereo!'' }}
** Orff's "Carmina Burana" is just full of epicness. There is no way to deny that fact.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlprozGcs80 Pachelbel's Canon in D]. Period.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkuWlSioQpQ This version] certainly belongs on this list.
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* The "Dies Irae" part of the Requiem Mass has more than one crowningly awesome interpretation. Try [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARO7ZjsXSkE Mozart's] or [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDFFHaz9GsY Verdi's] or [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnHJJgiaxDU Michael Haydn's (which is very under-appreciated)]. There is also [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dlr90NLDp-0 the original chant.]
** It is also notable for being one of the first headbang-able pieces of music ever written. Seriously. Mozart invented heavy metal. And Punk, according to some pundits.
** The former was used to great effect in ''[[X2: X-Men United|X 2 X Men United]]'' during Nightcrawler's attack on the White House.
*** And if that's not good enough, Mozart's ''Confutatis, maledictis'' will leave you breathless. (This was the one that Mozart was doing additive composition on with Salieri near the end of [[Amadeus]].)
** Don't forget [[Call of Duty|World at War]], when you, as the Russian, sack Berlin.
** The latter was used to great effect in the opening cinema of Quidditch World Cup.
** Also applies to Faure's ''Requiem'', with the "Dies Irae" passage appearing in ridiculously awesome fashion in the 6th movement ''Libera Me''. Both this and the 7th movement, ''In Paradisum'', were used to poignant effect in the final episode of British Detective Series ''Inspector Morse''.
** The Ballad of Sweeney Todd was also inspired by the Dies Irae.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhgOAR4Xq4Y Maurice] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-VD7d2I9Uo&feature=related Ravel's] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAqz5gtdbno&feature=related Bolero]. It's one of a very few pieces of music that, while repetitive, lacks for nothing, and let's not forget that ''amazing'', soul-inflating, spirit-lifting ending. Also, it's tied to a [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]] for the Winter Olympics: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2zbbN4OL98 Torvill and Dean ice-danced to it and earned the sport's only perfect score, to date].
** Ravel's F Major String Quartet is widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest - and most difficult - string quartets ever written. The fourth movement is absolutely spectacular.
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** And Symphonies No.4 in F minor and No.5 in E minor, especially the finales. (No.6 in B minor falls more into [[Tear Jerker]] territory.)
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ir8FnLF_9Q&fmt=18 Nutcracker, anyone?]
* Ophelia's Mad Scene from ''[[Hamlet]]'' by Ambroise Thomas. Thirteen minutes long, incredibly difficult, and incredibly haunting.
* Modern classical, but classical still: composer Christopher Tin of the Video Games example Baba Yetu, has recently released [https://web.archive.org/web/20120504064903/http://www.christophertin.com/callingalldawns.html an album] called "Calling All Dawns." This album can basically be described as more than an hour of Crowning Music of Awesome. A song cycle depicting day, night, and dawn, it is made up of 12 songs (including an epic reorchestration of Baba Yetu itself). Each song is sung in a different language, each segues smoothly into the next, sometimes with no break, and the album ends on the same sequence of notes with which it began. And it is stirringly, [[Tear Jerker|tear-jerkingly]] beautiful.
** Special CMuOA mention goes to "Rassemblons-Nous" (Let Us Gather), which from the title sounds like it would be some type of Kumbaya song, but in French. Instead, it's a techno-backed anthem about [[Screw Destiny|giving destiny the finger]], building a [[La Résistance]] against death itself, and pure, unmitigated AWESOME.
** "Kia Hora Te Marino" needs a mention too. Sung in Maori, it would make for a great anthem for peace. More or less, it's a powerful ending to an incredible album.
* Ralph Vaughan Williams: ''The Lark Ascending.'' It is often presented in concert or recorded programs along with ''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y7nJL1hpUU Fantasia on a theme of Thomas Tallis]'', which is heart-stirring and emotionally rending without ever being sappy.
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** Singing the concluding Cum Sancto Spiritu, from Vivaldi's Gloria in D major, makes you feel ten feet tall.
* [[Richard Wagner]]'s ''Ride of the Valkyries''. Sure, it's [[Music of Note]], but it's still CMOA.
** Unfortunately, this one's picked up a few nasty connotations due to the Nazis' usage of it. But then, it could be argued that more people associate ''Ride of the Valkyries'' with ''[[Apocalypse Now]]'' than with [[Those Wacky Nazis]]. Or with Bugs Bunny - "Kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit!" Or the tank driver in [[
** Also, ''Götterdämmerung''. Oh hell, all of ''[[Der Ring Des Nibelungen]]'' is pretty amazing.
* Charles-Marie Widor's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ-gzmGu1J4 Toccata], the finale from his [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByRkggPFiMM&NR=1 Symphony No.5 for Organ in F minor,] is a Crowning Music of Awesome, but seeing it played, it also doubles as a Crowning Moment of Awesome for any organist who can successfully pull it off!
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* Zoltán Kodály's [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1NsG0ATFvo Vainamoinen makes music] for women's choir and piano. The choir gets memorable melodies, playful counterpoint, and tricky rhythms. The piano part is beautiful, epic, and fun to play (which can't be said for a lot of choral literature), especially in the introduction and at the end. Each section is different from the last. It's only 4 minutes long. Go listen.
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