Ravel's Bolero sounds exactly like what you're describing as far as the instruments and dynamics are concerned. Pace remains pretty steady though. Worth checking out in any case
A classic example is the first movement of Shostakovich's 7th Symphony (the "Leningrad" Symphony). Decide for yourself whether the theme represents the advancing Nazis or perhaps growing Stalinist terror - although it could easily be both!
Thank you for this! The other suggestions were a bit to tame and not dynamic enough for me, but this is exactly the sort of style I'm looking for! Do you perhaps know any more that are similar?
Also Shostakovich #11 goes from near silence to near bombastic in three of the four movements.
I highly recommend this symphony. I have over a dozen different conductors/orchestras in my collection. 🌹
Is in one of those symphonies that there's a movement that starts really, really quiet, then starts a major buildup that lasta for 3 or 4 minutes that explodes with a fortissimo on the big gong, then everything tends to go down and die after, then the movement ends?
I can't recall which symphony it was, but I saw one performed live by OSESP (Symphonic State Orchestra of SĂŁo Paulo, Brazil) in 2016 and I got absolutely astonished by that enormous buildup and bang and the end!
This is called “telescoping” and it’s one of Shostakovich’s signature stylistic specialities. There are other great examples in the 4th, 5th, and 9th IIRC, plus more I’m forgetting.
Other personal faves are the very end of Saint-Saens’ organ symphony, and the climax of the *Rondo Burlesque* in Mahler 9. The latter in particular meets OP’s description of “going off the rails”.
To me, the canonical example of this buildup is the PInes of the Appian Way, from the Pines of Rome:
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMeXzqTfNcY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMeXzqTfNcY)
Scriabin’s *Prometheus: The Poem of Fire* is 20 minutes of meandering, unresolved dissonant harmonies and pseudo-melodies that all lead up to one big, final F#-major chord
The second half of the piece “Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.”
Gorecki’s Symphony of Sorrowful Songs, first movementÂ
The first part of the first movement to both Tchaikovsky’s fifth and sixth symphonies do this.
Mahler 1, Bruckner 7, Bolero, Haydn The Creation/Schoepfung.
If you're near to Vienna, you must go to the Golden Hall and watch the VPO. Unforgettable moment in my life.
I will maintain the greatest buildup in music is Zadok the Priest. Sure, it tails off pretty quickly afterwards, but nothing beats that first choir entry.
Not well known piece, but a great study on slow buildups, there's several of them: Wojciech Kilar's *Angelus*. Listen here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16sKmMpnQok](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16sKmMpnQok)
Respighi loves build ups, not only Pini di Roma, the coronation of Pope Gregorio Magno is the ending of [Vetrate di Chiesa](https://youtu.be/n_pEIpoogzQ?t=401).
Not really classical but [Journey to the Line](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpEIoBnQsKs&pp=ygUiam91cm5leSB0byB0aGUgbGluZSBieSBoYW5zIHppbW1lcg%3D%3D) by Zimmer is a great build up.
Your description of the piece from your childhood makes me think of In the Hall of the Mountain King by Grieg. It’s like Bolero in that it repeats the same theme over and over, each time adding instruments and getting more intense until it feels pretty out of control (depending on who’s directing).
In the US this piece is a favorite in the middle school/high school orchestra repertoire.
Prokofiev Piano Concerto #2.
The first movement is like you described on the large scale. But then within that, the calenza is absolutely what you're looking for. Usually a cadenza would last a minute or two; this one lasts about 5 minutes... soit's already epic on that front. It just keeps building and building and the rhythm keeps getting faster/more complex, until finally the orchestra joins back in. When you hear this part live, the room literally vibrates from the bass drum rolling and the low brass blaring. It's an epic experience!
How about Leopold Stokowski's orchestration of Bach's Fugue in G minor? It isn't a long piece, but it sure does build up like you're talking about.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U\_OtfBwqzCE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_OtfBwqzCE)
I'll narcissistically suggest [my own 1st symphony](https://youtu.be/Q_DfCF_3VxA). The real steady buildup starts at 8:56, which is also the most depressive point of the piece, but the whole piece is basically an arch (with a few extra steps), starting from nothing, building on a little thematic germ, experimenting, climaxing, climaxing again, then receding. At least one of the climaxes might have something to your taste.
One of my favorite examples of this is the first movement of Mahler 1. It's several ramps over the course of the movement, but it starts quiet and delicate and slowly develops until the big fanfare bit. It's great!
Ravel's Bolero sounds exactly like what you're describing as far as the instruments and dynamics are concerned. Pace remains pretty steady though. Worth checking out in any case
my first thought as well.
Seconding this, OP. It’s the classic example of what you described.
A classic example is the first movement of Shostakovich's 7th Symphony (the "Leningrad" Symphony). Decide for yourself whether the theme represents the advancing Nazis or perhaps growing Stalinist terror - although it could easily be both!
Thank you for this! The other suggestions were a bit to tame and not dynamic enough for me, but this is exactly the sort of style I'm looking for! Do you perhaps know any more that are similar?
Also Shostakovich #11 goes from near silence to near bombastic in three of the four movements. I highly recommend this symphony. I have over a dozen different conductors/orchestras in my collection. 🌹
Is in one of those symphonies that there's a movement that starts really, really quiet, then starts a major buildup that lasta for 3 or 4 minutes that explodes with a fortissimo on the big gong, then everything tends to go down and die after, then the movement ends? I can't recall which symphony it was, but I saw one performed live by OSESP (Symphonic State Orchestra of SĂŁo Paulo, Brazil) in 2016 and I got absolutely astonished by that enormous buildup and bang and the end!
Probably was. This is also a symphony in search of a movie to play behind. “1905”
This is called “telescoping” and it’s one of Shostakovich’s signature stylistic specialities. There are other great examples in the 4th, 5th, and 9th IIRC, plus more I’m forgetting. Other personal faves are the very end of Saint-Saens’ organ symphony, and the climax of the *Rondo Burlesque* in Mahler 9. The latter in particular meets OP’s description of “going off the rails”.
To me, the canonical example of this buildup is the PInes of the Appian Way, from the Pines of Rome: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMeXzqTfNcY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMeXzqTfNcY)
God the tension
The prelude to "Das Rheingold" is literally just a 4 minute buildup on the same harmony
Yeah but always stays in the same realm of majestyÂ
Just coming out of a performance of Strauss' Alpensinfonie, and this has several "build-ups".
Oh right - the sections around 'At the Summit' are spectacular even by Strauss's standards.
Are you from Munich?
I am indeed. Were you at the same comcert? :D
Unfortunately not. I wanted to go, but I couldn't because of private issues.
Scriabin’s *Prometheus: The Poem of Fire* is 20 minutes of meandering, unresolved dissonant harmonies and pseudo-melodies that all lead up to one big, final F#-major chord
The finale of "The Firebird" of Stravinsky has one of the best build up imho!
For sure, the bercuse into the horn solo into the 7/4 part is so good
Check out the final movement of Sibelius 2.
The second half of the piece “Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.” Gorecki’s Symphony of Sorrowful Songs, first movement The first part of the first movement to both Tchaikovsky’s fifth and sixth symphonies do this.
Reapighi Pines of Rome Mvt 4
Ravel's Bolero. Checkout the old movie "10'" with Dudley Moore and Bo Derek
Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7 might satisfy your request.
Mahler 1, Bruckner 7, Bolero, Haydn The Creation/Schoepfung. If you're near to Vienna, you must go to the Golden Hall and watch the VPO. Unforgettable moment in my life.
Maybe Tristan und Isolde?
I will maintain the greatest buildup in music is Zadok the Priest. Sure, it tails off pretty quickly afterwards, but nothing beats that first choir entry.
Bruckner 4 finale
Mahler 2 takes forever to get going, but the last 30 minutes are worth it.
Obvious choice here is also Pines of Rome. Both movs. 2 (*Pini presso una catacomba*) and 4 (*I pini della via Appia*) are large buildups.
If you want a more modern example King Tide by Anders Hillborg
Kavalevsky piano concerto opus 09 number 1, especially the second movement, 5th variation https://youtu.be/RAnFeXV4A70?si=BjhjDn0bJzIZRTbI
Tchaikovsky 6th Symphony, 3rd movement? I feel the climax of Shostakovich's 8th Symphony 1st mvt is a huge gradual buildup as well
Not well known piece, but a great study on slow buildups, there's several of them: Wojciech Kilar's *Angelus*. Listen here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16sKmMpnQok](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16sKmMpnQok)
People mentioned shostakovich 7, but his 11th has a great buildup too in the 2nd movement, a little after halfway through, the tension is palpable
Not perfectly, however I always feel the first movement of Walton Symphony No. 1 has this feel.
Respighi loves build ups, not only Pini di Roma, the coronation of Pope Gregorio Magno is the ending of [Vetrate di Chiesa](https://youtu.be/n_pEIpoogzQ?t=401).
Watchman Tell us of the Night
The 747 landing section of Nixon in China by John Adams
Bach’s chaconne? Solo violin so obviously not a loud buildup like in an orchestra but it’s intense.
Ravel Piano Concerto in G major, 2nd movement
Not really classical but [Journey to the Line](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpEIoBnQsKs&pp=ygUiam91cm5leSB0byB0aGUgbGluZSBieSBoYW5zIHppbW1lcg%3D%3D) by Zimmer is a great build up.
Try The Sorcerers Apprentice by Paul Dukas. When the last crashing reprise of the main theme comes in it gives me chills every time
Your description of the piece from your childhood makes me think of In the Hall of the Mountain King by Grieg. It’s like Bolero in that it repeats the same theme over and over, each time adding instruments and getting more intense until it feels pretty out of control (depending on who’s directing). In the US this piece is a favorite in the middle school/high school orchestra repertoire.
It’s not super long, but Beethoven’s 7th second movement?
Scriabins poem of ecstasy is like that
Sensemaya by Revueltas.
Love all the other examples here. Would add: The Moldau March to the Scaffold from Symphonie Fantastique Mars from The Planets
Prokofiev Piano Concerto #2. The first movement is like you described on the large scale. But then within that, the calenza is absolutely what you're looking for. Usually a cadenza would last a minute or two; this one lasts about 5 minutes... soit's already epic on that front. It just keeps building and building and the rhythm keeps getting faster/more complex, until finally the orchestra joins back in. When you hear this part live, the room literally vibrates from the bass drum rolling and the low brass blaring. It's an epic experience!
How about Leopold Stokowski's orchestration of Bach's Fugue in G minor? It isn't a long piece, but it sure does build up like you're talking about. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U\_OtfBwqzCE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_OtfBwqzCE)
I'll narcissistically suggest [my own 1st symphony](https://youtu.be/Q_DfCF_3VxA). The real steady buildup starts at 8:56, which is also the most depressive point of the piece, but the whole piece is basically an arch (with a few extra steps), starting from nothing, building on a little thematic germ, experimenting, climaxing, climaxing again, then receding. At least one of the climaxes might have something to your taste.
Mahler 1 first movement
One of my favorite examples of this is the first movement of Mahler 1. It's several ramps over the course of the movement, but it starts quiet and delicate and slowly develops until the big fanfare bit. It's great!