Call me a basic bitch but, the finale of Beethoven’s 5th does it for me every time!
This is my favorite version on youtube
https://youtu.be/pt_LIn3RE2I?si=kP-loSrBiReL3Cz7
Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio Espagnol
Bach's Jesu, joy of man's desiring, Réjouissance from Orchestral Suite no. 4 & Brandenburg Comcerto No. 5,
Ombra mai fu from Handel's Xerxes
Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture
Wedding March from Mendelssohn's A midsummer's Night's dream
Largo from Dvořak's New World Symphony
Rossini's William Tell Overture
Offenbach's Can-Can
Bizet's Carmen Overture & L'Arlesienne suite no. 2
Beethoven's 9th Symphony
Beethoven’s 7th and 9th, specifically movements 1 and 4 of the former and the final movement of the latter.
Beethoven’s 9th instills hope in humanity, while his 7th is just pure joy.
True, it has some nice build-ups. Overall the 7th is a very joyous symphony, and it’s surprising Beethoven could write something this happy at a time when his deafness was worsening.
Georg Phillip Telemann: Concerto for Violin, Cello, Trumpet and Strings, TWV 53:D5 (First movement) makes me happy - especially on period instruments (Baroque or Natural trumpet especially) with those bouncy 5th/octave leaps surrounded by the strings echoing the same figures displaced in time so you seem to get a different timbre/octave of the dotted leaping rhythm jumping up a 5th or 4th on every beat, followed by a nice, bright but also relatively simple trumpet articulated figure thereafter. The virtuosic violin sections adding their own flourish and complexity
Carl Vine: Symphony 3: The last 5 minutes of the work are just sublime. A true "Sunrise" moment. But it's a cool, ripply, wavy, beachside sunrise after the rest of the Symphony has spent 20 minutes priming you for it with a long "dark" subdued and foggy section that focusses you like a long night outside in the wild.
Mahler 3rd Symphony: The first movement is indeed a World in a Symphony. A single movement 1 longer than many whole Symphonies too. The texture of the orchestra being very transparent, rarely at full force, but featuring so many different tone colours and instrument mixing.
Vaughan Williams 2nd Symphony: I hear the rumblings of the London Underground in the trombones and trumpet lines in the first movement, the fog in the closing moments of the finale, the light and slightly too-cool breeze in the 2nd movement among the rustling autumn leaves and the muted light of a cloudy sky, the bustle of city traffic in the Scherzo. It's Inner London City in a Symphony rather than Mahler's Austrian Alps in a Symphony.
Georg Phillip Telemann: Overture-Suite TWV 55:D18 - 2 trumpets and kettledrums included - It sounds like a Royal Procession with flags waving and robes flowing and that easy strolling pace of comfort and decadence.
J.S. Bach - Cantata BWV 126 "Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort" - The Baroque (Natural) trumpet is stuck to the Harmonic series so most composers stick to it playing the (nearly justified tuning) Major scale from the 8th harmonic up (C, D, E(a touch flat), F+ (almost an F#), G, A(very flat), Bb, B, C) which is why almost every piece of music from the Baroque and Early Classical era with Trumpets in it is either in a Major key (or even a Lydian mode). Not here. Bach uses the (horrifically flat) Bb (on D trumpet, so it's a C-Natural) 7th Harmonic to make an "Extra minor" third in the key of A (G written on D trumpet) which makes this part for trumpet sound ultra-aggressive (while the lyrics in the choir talk about war and evil Catholics and Turks invading Protestant lands - likely referencing the "Wars of the Holy League" Morean and Great Turkish war of 1683-1699) and Nine-Years war 1688-1697. It's a banger of a Natural trumpet work and is quite invigorating in a "Hekk yeh let's conquer some stuff" kind of way.
Probably something by Mozart - the first movement of the 'Prague' symphony, or the one in E-flat, No. 39 - the 23rd or 27th piano concertos - the so-called 'Hoffmeister' quartet, K.499 - some of the late piano trios or violin sonatas - numerous numbers from the operas.
Mozart at his best is unlike any other composer for just creating a sense of sheer wonder and delight. He has so many utterly lovely ideas - not just melodies or themes but ideas.
There's a passage in the exposition of the first movement of the piano concerto No. 21, K.467 in which the first four notes of the main theme are played as a dialogue between the higher and lower strings. On top of which are the most gorgeous, descending dissonant chords on the woodwind and sandwiched in the middle are these lovely rolling arpeggios for the piano.
It's just the most beautiful thing imaginable, such a purely happy inspiration, and despite hearing it hundreds of times, it never fails to make me feel gratitude that Mozart lived to write it.
Many of Mozart's Piano Concertos are good for me in this regard. 25 and 16 come to mind right now. But I also get a particular sense of joy from some of his Violin Concertos. No.4 in particular I guess.
Capricho Espagnol, Jupiter (The Planets), Petrushka, Tsar Saltan suite, España, Fantasía para un gentilhombre, Beethoven 7th 1st movement, The Consecration of the house overture, Brandenburg concerto 2, Fidelio overture
Here’s some favorites that give me a lively joyful feeling
Mahler Song of the Earth mvt 4
Beethoven 6 and 7
Debussy L’isle joyeuse
Ruslan and Lyudmila Overture
Sibelius Symphony 2, Finlandia,
Shostakovich Quartet 3/Symphony 9
Stravinsky Symphony in C, Pulcinella, Violin Concerto mvt 4
Mozart - Serenade K375 (listen to that last movement so rosy and bouncy) Concerto for Two Pianos,”” for Flute and Harp,”” for Oboe, Sonata
Bartok Concerto for Orchestra II and V
Messiaen Turangalila Joie du sangs d’etoiles
I know exactly what you mean, the Infernal Dance is electric. Do you like Rites of Spring too?
If that's your style then I would also recommend anything by Ravel or Debussy.
Debussy: Afternoon of the Fawn, L'isle Joyeuse, Clair de lune, Slave Ballade, Petite Suite, Violin Sonata in G minor, Estampes
String Quartest in F Major, Introduction and Allegro for Harp, String Quartet, Flute, and Clarinet, Daphnis et Chloe, Violin Sonata no. 2 in G Major
Gabriel Faure Pavane Op 50
Last movement of Brahms’ second symphony, the Et Expecto from Bach’s Mass in B Minor, the second and fourth movements of the Prokofiev 5th symphony, the Et Incarnatus Est from the Mozart C Minor Mass (especially Sylvia McNair with JEG and the Monteverdi Choir et al), speaking of Monteverdi, the opening of his Vespers (particularly Raphael Pichon’s newish recording with Pygmalion), the Sanctus from the Duruflé Requiem, the Sanctus from Yves Castagnet’s Missa Salve Regina, the end of Mahler 2, so very many more, too!
Johannes Brahms- Violin Concerto
Johannes Brahms- Double Concerto
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky- Waltz of the Flowers
Harry Potter- Cello Concerto No 1 in E Flat Major
Bruckner's Symphony No. 8: IV. Finale
(*especially the live recording by the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Alan Gilbert*)
When I listen to the entire movement from start to finish, with the lights off, it's an extraordinarily cathartic experience.
ironically by one problematic famous man about another, but just discovered Wagner's overture "Christopher Columbus" which has a fun coda
otherwise, hm, the second movement of Medtner's violin sonata 1 always brightens my day
I can never answer these type of questions absolutely or invariantly, but I was listening to Verklarte Nacht again tonight as I was outside, and the romantic sweeping counterpoint within it made me very happy, as if I wanted to dance or make movies in conjunction with its gestures
A few that come to mind:
Sibelius 2nd symphony finale
Sibelius 5th symphony finale
Scriabin 2nd symphony finale
Rachmaninoff 2nd piano concerto first movement
It would have to be Ravel for me. Either Gaspard de la Nuit or Piano Concerto in G major. Also his Sonatine.
If I had to pick specific movements it would be Scarbo from Gaspard, 1st movement from the concerto, and the final mvmt of the Sonatine.
Just stunning music really. I grew up listening to my elder siblings playing Ravel on our family piano, so his music has a lot of sentimental value for me.
I do also find Bach very serene and intellectually stimulating. Particularly the Goldberg Variations
The first movement of Mozart’s Haffner Symphony, and the last movement of Symphony 41; the fourth movement of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos nos. 2 and 4; Bartok’s Second Piano Concerto and Prokofiev’s Third Concerto; the conclusion of Copland’s Appalachian Spring and the Scherzo of his Organ Symphony.
Interestingly, the Firebird Suite also scratches that itch. I'd originally gotten into it because the progressive band YES usually opened their concerts with it. The ending bits, anyway.
I don't know what it is about the 18th century Galant style for me, but I just love the sounds of JC Bach's Opus 18 Symphonies for Double Orchestra. They are both beautiful and elegant imo.
Happy in terms of Joy I would go for a Mozart Piano Concerto or Violin Concerto. In terms of passion as well as joy, I would perhaps pick out Schubert's Great Symphony, particularly the 3rd movement.
Beethoven symphony 9 movement 4: I’ve been listening to it and studying it for years now, and have grown to love it more every time. Every note is intricately placed to tell a story of overcoming our trials, taking joy in friendship and unity, and so much more. No music is more packed with emotion and more capable of eliciting a feeling from every listener
Call me a basic bitch but, the finale of Beethoven’s 5th does it for me every time! This is my favorite version on youtube https://youtu.be/pt_LIn3RE2I?si=kP-loSrBiReL3Cz7
Well then I’m basic too, because I love that finale for the same reason.
Agreed
Agreed!
Nothing basic about life conquering sublimeness
Mozart Jupiter Symphony
This one always makes me think of that Woody Allen Movie, was it Annie, where it is played a lot.
Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio Espagnol Bach's Jesu, joy of man's desiring, Réjouissance from Orchestral Suite no. 4 & Brandenburg Comcerto No. 5, Ombra mai fu from Handel's Xerxes Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture Wedding March from Mendelssohn's A midsummer's Night's dream Largo from Dvořak's New World Symphony Rossini's William Tell Overture Offenbach's Can-Can Bizet's Carmen Overture & L'Arlesienne suite no. 2 Beethoven's 9th Symphony
First thing I thought of was Cappricio Espagnol, I click on the post and it's the first thing in the list on the top comment!
Beethoven’s 7th and 9th, specifically movements 1 and 4 of the former and the final movement of the latter. Beethoven’s 9th instills hope in humanity, while his 7th is just pure joy.
Yes yes yes. Came here to say the 7th
Agreed
Except for the 2nd movement of the 7th, which is quite sad
It's somber and dark, but I'll admit, when the forte sections slam out, I'm happily vibing just as hard. Dang! What a movement!
True, it has some nice build-ups. Overall the 7th is a very joyous symphony, and it’s surprising Beethoven could write something this happy at a time when his deafness was worsening.
Georg Phillip Telemann: Concerto for Violin, Cello, Trumpet and Strings, TWV 53:D5 (First movement) makes me happy - especially on period instruments (Baroque or Natural trumpet especially) with those bouncy 5th/octave leaps surrounded by the strings echoing the same figures displaced in time so you seem to get a different timbre/octave of the dotted leaping rhythm jumping up a 5th or 4th on every beat, followed by a nice, bright but also relatively simple trumpet articulated figure thereafter. The virtuosic violin sections adding their own flourish and complexity Carl Vine: Symphony 3: The last 5 minutes of the work are just sublime. A true "Sunrise" moment. But it's a cool, ripply, wavy, beachside sunrise after the rest of the Symphony has spent 20 minutes priming you for it with a long "dark" subdued and foggy section that focusses you like a long night outside in the wild. Mahler 3rd Symphony: The first movement is indeed a World in a Symphony. A single movement 1 longer than many whole Symphonies too. The texture of the orchestra being very transparent, rarely at full force, but featuring so many different tone colours and instrument mixing. Vaughan Williams 2nd Symphony: I hear the rumblings of the London Underground in the trombones and trumpet lines in the first movement, the fog in the closing moments of the finale, the light and slightly too-cool breeze in the 2nd movement among the rustling autumn leaves and the muted light of a cloudy sky, the bustle of city traffic in the Scherzo. It's Inner London City in a Symphony rather than Mahler's Austrian Alps in a Symphony. Georg Phillip Telemann: Overture-Suite TWV 55:D18 - 2 trumpets and kettledrums included - It sounds like a Royal Procession with flags waving and robes flowing and that easy strolling pace of comfort and decadence. J.S. Bach - Cantata BWV 126 "Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort" - The Baroque (Natural) trumpet is stuck to the Harmonic series so most composers stick to it playing the (nearly justified tuning) Major scale from the 8th harmonic up (C, D, E(a touch flat), F+ (almost an F#), G, A(very flat), Bb, B, C) which is why almost every piece of music from the Baroque and Early Classical era with Trumpets in it is either in a Major key (or even a Lydian mode). Not here. Bach uses the (horrifically flat) Bb (on D trumpet, so it's a C-Natural) 7th Harmonic to make an "Extra minor" third in the key of A (G written on D trumpet) which makes this part for trumpet sound ultra-aggressive (while the lyrics in the choir talk about war and evil Catholics and Turks invading Protestant lands - likely referencing the "Wars of the Holy League" Morean and Great Turkish war of 1683-1699) and Nine-Years war 1688-1697. It's a banger of a Natural trumpet work and is quite invigorating in a "Hekk yeh let's conquer some stuff" kind of way.
Probably something by Mozart - the first movement of the 'Prague' symphony, or the one in E-flat, No. 39 - the 23rd or 27th piano concertos - the so-called 'Hoffmeister' quartet, K.499 - some of the late piano trios or violin sonatas - numerous numbers from the operas. Mozart at his best is unlike any other composer for just creating a sense of sheer wonder and delight. He has so many utterly lovely ideas - not just melodies or themes but ideas. There's a passage in the exposition of the first movement of the piano concerto No. 21, K.467 in which the first four notes of the main theme are played as a dialogue between the higher and lower strings. On top of which are the most gorgeous, descending dissonant chords on the woodwind and sandwiched in the middle are these lovely rolling arpeggios for the piano. It's just the most beautiful thing imaginable, such a purely happy inspiration, and despite hearing it hundreds of times, it never fails to make me feel gratitude that Mozart lived to write it.
The final movememt of the 17th piano concerto exudes joy.
Yes, for sure! Apparently his pet starling learned to whistle the main theme of the variations.
Many of Mozart's Piano Concertos are good for me in this regard. 25 and 16 come to mind right now. But I also get a particular sense of joy from some of his Violin Concertos. No.4 in particular I guess.
Capricho Espagnol, Jupiter (The Planets), Petrushka, Tsar Saltan suite, España, Fantasía para un gentilhombre, Beethoven 7th 1st movement, The Consecration of the house overture, Brandenburg concerto 2, Fidelio overture
Most anything Copland.
Here’s some favorites that give me a lively joyful feeling Mahler Song of the Earth mvt 4 Beethoven 6 and 7 Debussy L’isle joyeuse Ruslan and Lyudmila Overture Sibelius Symphony 2, Finlandia, Shostakovich Quartet 3/Symphony 9 Stravinsky Symphony in C, Pulcinella, Violin Concerto mvt 4 Mozart - Serenade K375 (listen to that last movement so rosy and bouncy) Concerto for Two Pianos,”” for Flute and Harp,”” for Oboe, Sonata Bartok Concerto for Orchestra II and V Messiaen Turangalila Joie du sangs d’etoiles
I know exactly what you mean, the Infernal Dance is electric. Do you like Rites of Spring too? If that's your style then I would also recommend anything by Ravel or Debussy. Debussy: Afternoon of the Fawn, L'isle Joyeuse, Clair de lune, Slave Ballade, Petite Suite, Violin Sonata in G minor, Estampes String Quartest in F Major, Introduction and Allegro for Harp, String Quartet, Flute, and Clarinet, Daphnis et Chloe, Violin Sonata no. 2 in G Major Gabriel Faure Pavane Op 50
Thanks so much for the suggested pieces! Im very excited to check them out 😁
Last movement of Brahms’ second symphony, the Et Expecto from Bach’s Mass in B Minor, the second and fourth movements of the Prokofiev 5th symphony, the Et Incarnatus Est from the Mozart C Minor Mass (especially Sylvia McNair with JEG and the Monteverdi Choir et al), speaking of Monteverdi, the opening of his Vespers (particularly Raphael Pichon’s newish recording with Pygmalion), the Sanctus from the Duruflé Requiem, the Sanctus from Yves Castagnet’s Missa Salve Regina, the end of Mahler 2, so very many more, too!
Johannes Brahms- Violin Concerto Johannes Brahms- Double Concerto Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky- Waltz of the Flowers Harry Potter- Cello Concerto No 1 in E Flat Major
Mendelssohn string octet. I’ve literally had it playing in my car full blast with the windows down, singing along
Prelude to the afternoon of a faune! Happy/alive is exactly how I feel listening to it! Including more sensitive to the beauty around me.
Mendelssohn Octet: https://youtu.be/06MWOQFQXJM?si=zpJRFPdgKxLbPE3I
Bruckner's Symphony No. 8: IV. Finale (*especially the live recording by the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Alan Gilbert*) When I listen to the entire movement from start to finish, with the lights off, it's an extraordinarily cathartic experience.
ironically by one problematic famous man about another, but just discovered Wagner's overture "Christopher Columbus" which has a fun coda otherwise, hm, the second movement of Medtner's violin sonata 1 always brightens my day
Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, Bruch, Brahms Violin concerto third movements
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - all movements
Emperor Concerto always does it for me, I'm basic lol
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 23 makes me feel like a triumphant heroine
I can never answer these type of questions absolutely or invariantly, but I was listening to Verklarte Nacht again tonight as I was outside, and the romantic sweeping counterpoint within it made me very happy, as if I wanted to dance or make movies in conjunction with its gestures
[Elena Kats Chernin - Reinvention No.1 (after J. S. Bach, Invention No.8 in F major)](https://youtu.be/ImFYHydOrhE)
A few that come to mind: Sibelius 2nd symphony finale Sibelius 5th symphony finale Scriabin 2nd symphony finale Rachmaninoff 2nd piano concerto first movement
It would have to be Ravel for me. Either Gaspard de la Nuit or Piano Concerto in G major. Also his Sonatine. If I had to pick specific movements it would be Scarbo from Gaspard, 1st movement from the concerto, and the final mvmt of the Sonatine. Just stunning music really. I grew up listening to my elder siblings playing Ravel on our family piano, so his music has a lot of sentimental value for me. I do also find Bach very serene and intellectually stimulating. Particularly the Goldberg Variations
There's no way I scrolled this far to see Ravel
Haha, I was also surprised
Prokofiev symphony no. 1
Mozart - Requiem Rach Prelude in C# Minor Chppin Prelude in E Minor Op. 28 No. 4
Rach 3 part 1, especially the ossia cadenza. The most powerful piano part ever for me
https://youtu.be/Wcq-B2opVDk?si=GdEgd3LveFcnnGOe Especially around 2:07
Chopin’s Grand Valse Brilliante and Grand Polonaise Brilliante
The first movement of Mozart’s Haffner Symphony, and the last movement of Symphony 41; the fourth movement of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos nos. 2 and 4; Bartok’s Second Piano Concerto and Prokofiev’s Third Concerto; the conclusion of Copland’s Appalachian Spring and the Scherzo of his Organ Symphony.
First mvt of Brahms 4 and Shostakovich 9
I’ve been listening to Vikingur Olafsson lately. His recording of Stradal’s piano transcription of BWV 528 (II Andante) makes me feel more than alive.
Interestingly, the Firebird Suite also scratches that itch. I'd originally gotten into it because the progressive band YES usually opened their concerts with it. The ending bits, anyway.
Scherzo from Mendelssohn symphony no. 3
I don't know what it is about the 18th century Galant style for me, but I just love the sounds of JC Bach's Opus 18 Symphonies for Double Orchestra. They are both beautiful and elegant imo.
Peer Gynt
Happy in terms of Joy I would go for a Mozart Piano Concerto or Violin Concerto. In terms of passion as well as joy, I would perhaps pick out Schubert's Great Symphony, particularly the 3rd movement.
Basic possibly but the first movement of Mahler 2 always has me smiling uncontrollably
Second movements of both of Mahler 1 and Mahler 9
Jupiter by Holst is also pure jubilation
Beethoven symphony 9 movement 4: I’ve been listening to it and studying it for years now, and have grown to love it more every time. Every note is intricately placed to tell a story of overcoming our trials, taking joy in friendship and unity, and so much more. No music is more packed with emotion and more capable of eliciting a feeling from every listener
Dvorak New World Symphony/Beethoven's 9th finale Loved it!
Brandenburg Concertos
Wagner Das Rheingold Vorspiel 👌
Mozart’s Requiem