Classical music can be soothing, dramatic, it can uplift your spirits, but it can also have a darker side to it. Here we take a look at some of the darkest classical pieces, and composers who made haunting classical music.
Darkest Classical Music
Checkout these [easyazon_link identifier=”B0048NUUS2″ locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]darkest Classical music[/easyazon_link] that can scare/instill fear. Occasions like Halloween party are the perfect time to play these music.
Mozart – the Commendatore scene from Don Giovanni
Mozart’s terrifying music, where a stone statue comes to life.
Weber – the Wolf’s Glen scene from Der Freischutz
From Wikipedia: “In the Wolf’s Glen at night: Kaspar calls upon Zamiel, the black ranger, for assistance, and prepares the casting of the magic bullets. Max arrives and is warned by the spirit of his mother to abandon the project. Zamiel conjures up the shape of Agathe, representing her as drowning herself in despair at Max’s ill success, whereupon he plunges into the glen and with demoniacal noise the casting of the bullets is begun.”
John Williams – Jaws
John Williams managed to instill fear using just 2 notes on the viola – every-time the music played, you knew the shark was coming closer. His soundtrack to [easyazon_link identifier=”B00MA5KL9I” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Spielberg’s Jaws [/easyazon_link] is responsible for keeping many out of the sea (since 1975).
Jaws: The Shark Approaches (Film Version)
Ligeti – Volumina for Organ
Ligeti’s fearscape – terrify everyone around you.
John Zorn – Moonchild
Surreal music ably complemented with Mike Patton’s transcendently ghoulish vocals.
The 50 Darkest Pieces of Classical Music
The 50 Darkest Pieces of Classical Music reviewed.
Overview
Some of the great classical composers have a dark side and while perhaps hidden in their personal lives, it comes alive in their music. There exists a rich variety of gloomy numbers from the darker regions: Beethoven’s 5th, the gothic blueprint of Orff’s Carmina Burana, and Liszt’s Totentanz to name a few.
All of the titles not only showcase the tortured souls of these great composers, but also connect with our universal fascination for the darker side of humankind.
Overall, this collection is indeed an unbelievable deal; you get a fantastic selection of classical works for almost nothing.
Label & Performers
Alessandro Marcello & Various Artists
Record Label: Naxos
To know about the COMPOSERS of the pieces (in iTunes), you have to go to the “view” menu, select “view options” and check the “Composer” column on. You will find all the info about the composers of the various pieces.
Tracks
The Planets, suite for orchestra & female chorus, Op. 32, H. 125: Neptune, the Mystic
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor (“Moonlight”), Op. 27/2: Presto agitato
Suite for solo cello No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: Sarabande
Symphony No. 4 in C minor (“Tragic”), D. 417: Allegro
Fratres, for strings & percussion
Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: Allegretto
Toccata and Fugue, for organ in D minor, BWV 565 (BC J37)
The Swan Lake, suite, Op. 20a: Scène (Lake in the Moonlight)
Symphony No. 10 in E minor, Op. 93: Allegro
Oboe Concerto in C minor, SF. 799 (attributed to A. Marcello): Adagio
Adagio for strings (or string quartet; arr. from 2nd mvt. of String Quartet), Op. 11
Prelude for piano No.1 in C sharp minor (“The Bells of Moscow”), Op. 3/2
Symphony No. 3 in E flat major (“Eroica”), Op. 55: Marcia funébre
Requiem for soloists, chorus, and orchestra, K. 626: Lacrimosa dies illa
Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring), ballet in 2 parts for orchestra: L’adoration de la Terre (Adoration of the Earth)
Lemminkäinen Suite: Four Legends from the Kalevala, for orchestra, Op. 22: The Swan of Tuonela
Symphonie fantastique for orchestra (“Episode de la vie d’un Artiste…en cinq parties”), H.48 (Op. 14): The March to the Scaffold
Nuages gris (Trübe Wolken), for piano, S. 199 (LW A305)
Carnival of the Animals, zoological fantasy for 2 pianos & ensemble: Aquarium
Adagio in C minor for strings & organ (previously attributed to Tomaso Albinoni)
Carmina Burana, scenic cantata for soloists, choruses & orchestra: Fortunae plango vulnera
Piccolo (Flautino) Concerto, for piccolo (or recorder/flute), strings & continuo in C major, RV 443: Largo
Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), opera, WWV 86b: Ride of the Valkyries
Coriolan Overture, Op. 62
Stabat Mater, hymn for voice, strings & continuo in F minor, RV 621: dolorosa
Maurerische Trauermusik (Masonic Funeral Music), for orchestra in C minor, K. 477 (K. 479a)
Night on Bald Mountain (Noch’ na Lïsoy gore), symphonic poem, edited by Rimsky-Korsakov
Sonata for cello & piano in D minor, Op. 40: 2. Allegro
Organ Concerto in D minor, Op. 7/4, HWV 309: Adagio
Requiem Mass, for soloists, chorus & orchestra (Manzoni Requiem): Dies Irae
Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 35, CT. 202: Funeral March
Egmont, incidental music, Op. 84: Overture
Suite Gothique, for organ, Op. 25: Toccata
The Planets, suite for orchestra & female chorus, Op. 32, H. 125: Mars, the Bringer of War
Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta, Sz. 106, BB 114: Adagio
Carmina Burana, scenic cantata for soloists, choruses & orchestra: O Fortuna
Symphony No. 5 in C minor (“Fate”), Op. 67: Allegro con brio
Violin Concerto, for violin, strings & continuo in G minor (“L’estate,” The Four Seasons; “Il cimento” No. 2), Op. 8/2, RV 315: Presto
Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550: Allegro molto
Gnossienne for piano No. 1
Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski), for orchestra, orchestrated by Ravel: Gnomus
Romeo and Juliet, pieces (10) for piano, Op. 75: Montagues and Capulets
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor (“Moonlight”), Op. 27/2: Adagio sostenuto
Requiem for soloists, chorus, and orchestra, K. 626: Dies irae
The Planets, suite for orchestra & female chorus, Op. 32, H. 125: Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age
String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110: Allegro molto
Danse macabre, symphonic poem in G minor, Op. 40
Peer Gynt Suite for orchestra (or piano or piano, 4 hands) No. 1, Op. 46: In the Hall of the Mountain King
Nutcracker, ballet, Op. 71: Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy
Totentanz, for piano, S. 525 (LW A62)
Buying Links & Prices
50 Darkest Pieces of Classical Music Box set by various artists. Great collection of music, good sound quality.
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B0048NUUS2″ locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Buy on Amazon[/easyazon_link] | Buy on iTunes
External Links
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
Do you travel a long distance by car everyday? Listen to this music collection as you drive. Not all the pieces are completely “dark” though.