Favorite Orchestra/Symphony Music

[RJ 17]

As the title implies, this topic is dedicated to paying tribute to REAL music. Not to say your favorite bands aren't music, but in all honesty I find that while music from your favorite band or artist might be fun to listen to and sing along to, it takes an orchestra or a symphony to give us music that's powerful enough to evoke a true sense of emotion. I'm sure there's still plenty that want to argue over that, but damnit that's not why we're here!

As I said, we're here to listen to some good orchestra/symphony music. So, my fellow Escapists, what's the music that reaches out and touches your very soul?

I'll start us off by picking one that's pretty damn cliché...but that's exactly why I'm picking it: get it out of the way in the OP so we don't have 500 (HA! As if I could get that many commenters in one of my topics, this'll probably be a dud like all the rest ) people posting it.

My friends, I give to you...

Spoiler: Lux Aeterna

A.K.A Requiem for a Dream


And behold, the pretty sweet (though I still say impossible) piano version!

Thus concludes the overture, ladies and gentlemen. Let the show begin.

Edit: Though I hope just having a music appreciation topic would be enough, in case it isn't here's the discussion: explain why the piece(s) you picked move you so much.

 

[Keoul]

I'm personally quite fond of the phoenix wright orchestra.

Spoiler

And for something with a little jazz thrown in

They really did an amazing job.

 

[RJ 17]

I'm personally quite fond of the phoenix wright orchestra.

Spoiler

And for something with a little jazz thrown in

They really did an amazing job.

Gotta say, those are both very good selections. I appreciate you posting them for our (well, at least my) enjoyment. :3

 

[madwarper]

I've gotta go with the 25th Anniversary Legend of Zelda Theme Medley.

Spoiler

 

[RJ 17]

I've gotta go with the 25th Anniversary Legend of Zelda Theme Medley.

Spoiler

One thing I've ALWAYS said about the Zelda games is that they have some good damn music in them. Particularly the main them when played by a full orchestra. Truly frickin' epic.

 

[Leighcakes]

Anything by Two Steps From Hell. I am so in love with them, listen to them all the time. On the way to work, cooking dinner, gaming - it makes everything three times more epic. Song for every mood.

Spoiler: Two Steps From Hell - Infinite Legends

 

[Nouw]

Spoiler: Sometimes you don't need an actual orchestra, or an actual choir either for that matter.

I actually kinda prefer these versions over the original. There's something frightening yet compelling about these electronic re-imaginations of pure, classical pieces of music we've come to admire and respect.

Just goes to show how great they are doesn't it? A piece of music can really be considered timeless if even after being transformed into a bizarre distortion of its former self it holds up.

 

[Prime_Hunter_H01]

Spoiler

One of my recent favorites is Dvorak's New World Symphony.

I don't know how to describe it, I guess, cautiously triumphant.

And the 4th movement of the song should be familiar since it was used in the fight with Augus in Asura's Wrath, and in the trailer for Killer is Dead.

 

[Nouw]

Spoiler

One of my recent favorites is Dvorak's New World Symphony.

I don't know how to describe it, I guess, cautiously triumphant.

And the 4th movement of the song should be familiar since it was used in the fight with Augus in Asura's Wrath, and in the trailer for Killer is Dead.

Excellent choice good sir. If you're open to symphonic metal, check this [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L95MNCQzD-A] out. Actually got me into the original haha.

 

[Estranged180]

This should do the trick for me, as it puts me in a happy type mood every damned time I hear it (helps during christmas as well).

Spoiler: Trans-Siberian Orchestra

 

[Hero of Lime]

I've gotta go with the 25th Anniversary Legend of Zelda Theme Medley.

Spoiler

Ninja'd! That's exactly what I came here to mention. It was amazing when I saw that show in person, whenever Zelda music is done as an orchestra, it always sounds amazing.

OT: The Super Mario Galaxy orchestra is amazing in both of the games, so many instant classics were born in those games.

Considering symphony orchestras are just about my favorite types of music formats, my list of favorites could go on for a very long time.

 

[Mossberg Shotty]

Serj Tankian's Elect the Dead Symphony is the best example of orchestral music I've ever encountered. I strongly urge you to check out the rest of his music if you like this song, because it only gets better.
<spoiler=Lie Lie Lie><youtube=wK2U0dYZeQI>

Edit: Sorry about that, it should be fixed now.

 

[Julius Terrell]

Tchaikovsky: Symphony #6: I got to see this symphony performed live. I felt like a kid in a candy store. So.......emotional!!!

The fourth movement is my favorite because it's dedicated to the frustration and torment of someone who is at the end of his days and realizing that his life is incomplete.

Edit: The DQ 8 symphonic cd that was used for the actual game was AMAZING!!! I listen to that CD quite regularly.

OP I couldn't possibly agree with you anymore!!!

 

[Chromatic Aberration]

Ohhh Orchestral Music....yeah love it and am always on the lookout for more

Spoiler: First have some orchestral game music picks

Spoiler: Then some classical choices (expect a long runtime)

Spoiler: And lastly some fusion-y thingies

Really need to go on a lookout for more classical music again - been a while since I found something new and awesome.

EDIT: Okay...didn't see that there was a discussion here *clears throat*

As to why I love the things I posted here? Well I do love epic music or music that simply tells a tale, so to speak - from walking through a gallery (Pictures of An Exhibition) seemingly outlining Ravels musical interests (Piano Concerto G-Dur) to the description of games (Kingdom Hearts Suite) - that really works wonders if done by an orchestra. And considering that orchestras always take the cake when it comes to sounding epic in the classical sense (Albert Odyssey Theme, Tetris) yeah that then does the trick for me. Lastly I enjoy a lot of variation in my music so the whole third spoiler is a given - despite the fact that successfully coupling drums and guitars with an orchestra is not that easy and I'm picky when it comes to that.

EDIT 2: Might want to point out that those picks here aren't necessarily my favourites - very good picks nonetheless...

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

Really freaking hard choice. It depends on my mood.

Under just about any condition, I'd say Mahler's symphonies are the most timeless, amazing things. People say his fifth, his eighth, and his fourth are his best symphonies, I think his second is the best.

[youtube.com/watch?feature=sHsFIv8VA7w#t=44s]

Recently I've been listening to Sibelius, who's easily becoming my favorite composer.




And there's Camille Saint-Saens.



Tchaikovsky, Dvorak...




Bach, Brahms, Beethoven, Mozart...







Holst, Smetana, Shostakovich...




Fillmore, John Williams, Prokofiev....






And some random bits and pieces I like.



Don't make me choose!

Pieces I'd highly suggest listening to above: Mahler's Second Symphony "Resurrection" in C Minor, Sibelius's Violin Concerto in D Minor, Dvorak's String Quartet 12 "American" in F Major, Bach's Chaconne for Solo Violin in D Minor, and Smetana's The Moldau

 

[The Wykydtron]

Fairly sure this counts:


I need to get back into BB before Persona 4 Arena just ruins everything I ever knew...

"Oh fuck, autocombos aren't a thing in this game. Oh shit there's no good GTFO button for every character. Lol jk Origins"

 

[someonehairy-ish]

BIG GODDAMN SNIP

Err, you might want to Spoiler all that, it kinda takes forever to scroll through all of it.

I enjoy the stuff Howard Shore composed for the Lord of the Rings films, and I tend to like my orchestral game soundtracks, but I don't really know enough about actual Classical composers to talk about them. I kinda feel like it's a disservice to call yourself a fan of someone when you're barely aware of what they did.

I do like my four seasons symphony by Vivaldi though.

Plus you ninjaed me with Lux Aeterna. I figured out how to do all of it on bass the other day ^^

 

[Byte2222]

Snip

Now that's a lot of music! You've got 2 pieces I've done in there, including Holst's Planets, which was one I was going to say. I'll throw in Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2:

 

[Baron von Blitztank]

If you recognise my avatar you'll know what's coming:

I could not think of better music to play when two godlike beings are having a fistfight on the moon.

 

[Fiz_The_Toaster]

That's a hard one for me since I love orchestral music and I have a lot of favorites.

Spoiler: Corelli's Christmas Concerto

Spoiler: Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings

Spoiler: Dvorak's String Quartet No. 12 in F Major

I could go on, but those are the one I've been listening to a lot as of late, so I'm sure in about a month that will change.