7 of the Most Epic Symphony Endings in Classical Music History

[@obsidianmusic303]

Before anyone comments "stop talking over the music", we have a version without the voiceover here! kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6SuiqSCeq-VpKcsi=UPrJyiW3VcuUUdjn The title of this video has recently been renamed from “7 Greatest Symphony Endings…” to “7 of the Most Epic Symphony Endings…”. As the disclaimer in the description states, this list is highly subjective and open-to-suggestions; we never intended the video to be a definitive “Greatest of All Time” list. Instead, the original purpose was always to introduce potential new audiences to the great and wonderful world of classical music, so we included some lesser-known symphonies for a general audience. Also, please remember, no one has time to make an entire hour of all good symphony endings, so please understand if your favorite ending wasn't included. As you may have picked up from some of our comments, we will be making a second (and possibly a third!) video with more amazing symphony finales, so if you have any suggestions, please kindly comment them! We recently uploaded another version of this video with no voiceover that you can find here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6SuiqSCeq-VpKcsi=XDivJEy7m6dXI8wY Yes Beethoven 9 will be in the second video!!!

[@stnicolastaplow4096]

No-one has time? I have time 😂

[@obsidianmusic303]

@@stnicolastaplow4096Oh, great! We would love to see your choices if you decide to make a video yourself!

[@Flaric99]

Where is Beethoven?

[@obsidianmusic303]

@@Flaric99 He will be first in the next video! I have already started making it and I have found a great recording for Beethoven 9. Stay tuned!

[@jackgonzalez7727]

No Beethoven? Wow... What a list...

[@eduardovieira7001]

The first time you hear Mahler’s second is a lifetime experience. It’s unforgettable.

[@creslinwest9243]

Truly. Also try singing in it as part of the choir. I've done it twice and each time I've had to fight back tears. Also, I love Alondra de la Parra. She was the conductor of our state orchestra for two years. The first major work she performed at the start of her contracted term was the Mahler second symphony. I, unfortunately was not in the choir for that performance and that is one of my life's greatest regrets. She's an incredible conductor, meticulous in rehearsal and exciting and dynamic in performance.

[@LegendsGhostOfficial]

​@creslinwest9243 totally agree! I sang it in 2005 when I was in college and it was an incredible experience!

[@patrickmcisaac3142]

Not to be crude, but I listened to it the first time I ever smoked pot and I swear I flew to another world. It was incredible

[@spedcodm428]

@@patrickmcisaac3142 nothing wrong with that haha. Little smoke sesh right before watching something like that live makes you notice and appreciate and love all the nuances of it that make it so special

[@alfasax]

Divine hope..........

[@doctorcane]

Irony: you could do an entire video of just Mahler symphony endings and it would almost be perfect in and of itself.

[@true_west4704]

I was thinking the same. The endings of 1st and the 5th are also epic.

[@obsidianmusic303]

We're planning to make an entire video dedicated to the life of Mahler, with all his symphonies!

[@pelocitdarney5718]

Mahler 6 ending: I know it's coming every time, but every time, with the quiet lead up to the end, but I almost jump out of my skin on the sudden explosion from the orchestra in the last few bars. Mahler 9 ending: amazing question posed by the violas at the end - what is to be, they are asking Mahler 10 ending: the glissando rise at the end, followed by the descent. So spooky.

[@tannhaeuserx464]

Except the first.

[@doctorcane]

@@tannhaeuserx464 uh what? The coda to 1 is outstanding

[@euledj79]

Imagine you go to a Mahler 2 live concert with a good orchestra/choir the first time and you never listened it on CD/youtube, etc before...How overwhelmed by sheer emotions, epicness, loudness you would be? Always when I go to a Mahler 2 live concert I get completely blown away by a hurricane of this epic soundwall with its heartbreaking harmonies and lyrics, leaving me in tears. There was never a symphonic work comparable and there will never be one that could reach Mahler 2...a lonesome monument.

[@obsidianmusic303]

It is purely amazing! I rarely get to listen to live concerts, I would love to go to a live concert of Mahler 2!

[@euledj79]

​@@obsidianmusic303If you can get a ticket for the frontrows or best: sitting at the same hight like the choir on the balcony, I bet that you won't forget it in your whole life. But choose a very good orchestra with a professional choir.

[@Ardjano234]

I always think I have no patience for Mahler, but after reading this, I think I will just try Mahler 2 out in concert

[@euledj79]

​@@obsidianmusic303 Go for it! But its a long journey to the finale and you might be dissapointed by some movements.

[@crisdekker8223]

I always heard that Mahler was this great composer, but I never could get into his music. I stayed curious as to why people found him so great though. So when dutch television was going to live broadcast Mahler's 2nd conducted by Bernhard Haitink as a 50 year commemoration of the bombing of Rotterdam, I thought let's try again. Well, wow. Starting with this violent 1st movement, the staccato opening theme and those hammering chords in the middle you could envision the destruction of the city. Then you get taken on this hour long musical journey culminating in this glorious celebration of the resurrection of the city at the end. I was speechless. I have been a Mahler fan ever since and the 2nd has been my favourite. The great thing about the internet is that I can still find that performance right here on KZbin. O and as far as live concerts go: I had a balcony seat when the local orchestra played the 2nd. Turned out it was the place where the alto was going to sing from. I spent the finale a few feet away from the soloist!

[@antoineazo9020]

I finally completed my quest to see every mahler symphony live, a quest that began a few years ago when i had the chance to actually discover the 2nd live without any prior listening. This is actually the only time i ever cried listening to music, as I was in a bad place at the moment and I felt that symphony resonating with my very soul. The finale is the greatest piece of music I have ever heard, not only great by itself, but also perfectly resolving 80 minutes of tension and buildup both musically and metaphorically. If angels sang at one's arrival in heaven, this is what you would hear. Mahler was a genius.

[@obsidianmusic303]

That is absolutely amazing, as many people have pointed out, the first time you hear the symphony is one of the greatest feelings you will ever feel, and again the first time you listen to it live. You are incredibly lucky, I wish I will someday be able to hear the symphony live!

[@williamford9564]

The entirety of Dvorak's 9th is classic and the finale is epic!

[@jimslancio]

The end of Shostakovich 7 is as epic as it gets. Bernstein's recorded performance with the Chicago Symphony shook dust out of the rafters all the way from Milwaukee to Gary Indiana.

[@hillcresthiker]

Those final timpani are earth shattering

[@true_west4704]

I’m a bit surprised that Beethoven didn’t make the list. The endings of the 7th and the 9th are pretty spectacular.

[@utha2665]

I was thinking the 9th, personally.

[@yolhanson]

And the 3rd and 5th. The 5th does hammer you in the ears with those loud chords at the end, but there's no doubt about his sense of drama. The ending of the 3rd is completely unexpected.

[@dishington]

Any list omitting Beethoven is highly suspect.

[@edtsch]

@@utha2665 I thought for sure the ending of the 9th would top the list. Very surprised.

[@AdmBerner]

I think either the 5th, 7th and 9th are all good choices but the 5th is my personal favorite. How he prolongs the ending just by going back and forth between the dominant and tonic chords with multiple instances where you think that's it but he changes it and keeps going.

[@Fangvu]

Finale of Shostakovich's fifth symphony is not a movement. It's a revolution!

[@hillcresthiker]

The shosty 5 is incredible but if you have the patience to sit through his 7th, you will lose your breath and your heart will race like never before

[@Fangvu]

@@hillcresthiker I like them both. However, the story in his 5th receives more empathy from me.

[@joeervin1985]

@@Fangvu really? I would think the one written for the people suffering during the siege of Leningrad would be more apt to inspire empathy than 'A Soviet Artist's Reply to Just Criticism'. They're both great symphonies though.

[@DynastieArtistique]

@@hillcresthikernothing compares to the 4th though

[@DynastieArtistique]

@@joeervin1985honestly they’re both dwarfed by the 4th and the 13th in my opinion. 2 of the some of the greatest symphonies of the 20th century

[@andre_p]

The coda to Bruckner’s 5th and 8th symphonies define the word ‘epic’, especially when they are taken at a steady, measured pace.

[@obsidianmusic303]

Completely agree! Bruckner’s 8th will be the final ending in the next video!

[@ΚωνσταντίνοςΚοκολογιαννάκης]

What recordings do you recommend?

[@obsidianmusic303]

@@ΚωνσταντίνοςΚοκολογιαννάκηςThere are some great recordings of Bruckner’s 8th, here are some of our favourites: If you don’t mind a slightly older recording, Herbert von Karajan’s with the Vienna Philharmonic recorded in 1979 is an amazing one. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6Stl2aBoqaaZposi=Z3kbx25KNBqizXzX Many people recommend Celibidache’s recordings with the Münchner Philharmoniker for both Bruckner’s 5th and 8th. His interpretations are much slower than many others. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4C3q3adgt2sldEsi=QfenVx7QKThcAK6w kzbin.info/www/bejne/m525eamKp6qAaZYsi=SnKfBHg8ZeU-kn9W A faster recording of Bruckner 8, and the first recording I personally discovered, Paavo Järvi with the HR Symphony Orchestra in Frankfurt kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3XOm2Sqatx5Z7csi=-2nARHzk_YJ7xLhT And finally, the recording we will use in the next video, Honeck with the WDR Symphony Orchestra. It’s more well rounded in rich tone and balance, as well as a steady tempo. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXOpmqOih694g7csi=KnURB1fPAl25Ov37 Remember to keep in mind, as with most of Bruckner’s works, there exist multiple versions of both symphonies, as he revised them multiple times, so there will be variations between recordings. Hope this helps!

[@ΚωνσταντίνοςΚοκολογιαννάκης]

Thanks a lot!

[@kaysond]

Agreed. As much as I love Bruckner 4, the ending pales in comparison to 8.

[@mtheinvincible4156]

Saint Saens' 3rd is also worth checking out.

[@ronaldtuckerman6785]

Very nice list. One of my favorites is Sibelius' 2nd. Very triumphant.

[@obsidianmusic303]

Thanks for the suggestion, that will definitely be in the third video!

[@JugglernautNr9]

No finale of Mahlers first symphony? The last three minutes are so triumphant and fantastic, i always get goosebumps.

[@mykofreder1682]

It is on theme, you do not have be a music major to enjoy it, it has an operettic feel, it is not just going frantic which is easy to do.

[@JugglernautNr9]

@@mykofreder1682i don't really understand what you wrote

[@scottmiller6495]

I agree, Mahler s Symphony No. 1 is Thee Best Finale of All Time, PERIOD !!!!!!!!!!!

[@obsidianmusic303]

Unfortunately, the list for the next video has already been complete. However, we’ll definitely include this in the third video! Saving the best for last.

[@andre_p]

Mahler’s symphonies are a treasure trove of epic moments - the underlying theme almost always depicting triumph over adversity. The finales of symphonies 5, 7 and 8 could also be considered. No 6, too, except it ends in terrifying defeat and absolute nihility. That whole finale is epic to the nth degree. That of the 3rd comes closest to being the transcending epic culmination of what went before: I-Pan Awakes, Summer Marches In" II- "What the Flowers in the Meadow Tell Me" III- "What the Animals in the Forest Tell Me" IV-"What Man Tells Me" V-«What the Angels Tell Me" VI "What Love Tells That was Mahler’s intent, but did overreach ? Those final D major paragraphs come at the end of a 100 minute work. Worth waiting for surely, but choosing the end of the 2nd was probably the right choice. @@obsidianmusic303

[@wayneolsen8965]

This would have been much better with less talking

[@michaeltrower741]

As with most anything. Less talking makes life better.

[@phil2u48]

I had to give up, annoyed….

[@gottfriedheumesser1994]

@@michaeltrower741 Except for KZbinrs who talk a lot and lack videos.

[@rjuttemeijer]

Exactly!

[@jluo7193]

All of you should check the description. They uploaded a version without talking 6 months ago

[@robertagregory7177]

How can you leave out Saint-Saen’s 3rd symphony? Cymbals, trumpet, percussion and organ full blast?

[@englishrose47]

Not forgetting the four hands piano,

[@obsidianmusic303]

:) kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6aQg4NofJlklZIsi=bnLdaxwEIDckslMq&t=8m9s

[@stephenjablonsky1941]

Neither the audience or the musicians can breath in the last few minutes of Mahler's 9th. It is a farewell to life.

[@joebg47]

The quietness of Vaughan Williams’ ending to his Symphony No. 5 is nothing short of magnificent.

[@dandiehm8414]

The Vaughan Williams 3rd and 5th are masterpieces.

[@hillcresthiker]

The VW 5th is one of the most lyrical, mystical and beautiful musical compositions ever written and as much as I love it, I could not call its ending triumphant

[@joebg47]

Not many codas of RVW are triumphant but the ending of the Fifth with glistening strings and total serenity is in its own way triumphant.

[@davekeyes5589]

It’s pure transcendence.

[@omavioletta6645]

what does rvw stand for?

[@davekeyes5589]

@@omavioletta6645 Ralph Vaughan Williams

[@DaveMorris]

Such a beautiful, wild ride. Thank you. Although choices are always subjective, you chose well, and your descriptions helped newcomers understand what they were experiencing. Bravo.

[@obsidianmusic303]

Thank you so much!

[@vernonsmart]

The ending of Brahms' 2nd symphony is one of the most glorious in the whole symphonic repertoire and deserved a place on this list.

[@obsidianmusic303]

While the list to the second video has already been completed, Brahms 2 will be in the third video!

[@evoandy]

I used to be a professional violinist before I had a Stroke and became paralyzed. I got EXTREMELY burned out during college and auditions. Mahler 2 and Strauss’ Alpine Symphony resurrected my love for music.

[@marksaylor252]

That wonderful F major chord by the trombones!

[@Generalissimo_David-B]

Finale to Shostakovich's 7 was just, pure victory for me..

[@FREDGARRISON]

Yeah, me too !!! Thought they would represent it here, but what they chose wasn't all that bad. I always get goose bumps when listening to the ending of the Shostakovich 7th, especially when the opening theme comes back in the brass and that final chord waiting for the symphony to stop.

[@Gisechan]

Yes, that one is even more epic than the one from the 10th symphony in my opinion.

[@FREDGARRISON]

YES INDEED !!!

[@fatdoi003]

Mahler 8 as well... epic

[@musiclady49]

I'm happy that this ends with the Resurrection because it is beyond comparison to ANY orchestral piece ever composed! It surpasses all other music in it's passion, fear, love, compassion and sheer beauty! I wish I had attended the Saratoga-Potsdam Choral Institute in 1971 when this was performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra in Saratoga Springs during their summer season at SPAC. I was only 21 so it wouldn't have hit me then the way it does now but I know I would have connected with it on a deep emotional level just the same. I always tear up at the end without fail! ♥♥♥

[@obsidianmusic303]

It is an absolutely amazing piece! I wish I will have the chance to hear it performed live someday... Thanks for watching!

[@spannagattinara4970]

I have always loved the sheer, unadulterated wildness at the end of Prokofiev’s 5th….

[@johnnytheyoungmaestro]

These composers were absolute GIANTS of their time! These works are just colossal! Awesome video! :)

[@obsidianmusic303]

Thanks for watching! These composers really are great!

[@smitrotti]

Excellent selection! Thank you!

[@obsidianmusic303]

Thanks for watching!

[@Hongaars1969]

I read the comments and have edited out comment re talking over music. Thank you for letting the music speak for itself. Agree with your assessment.

[@doctormock1]

It is not technically called a "symphony", but Janacek's Sinfonietta has a killer ending.

[@obsidianmusic303]

Oo cool, I feel like that qualifies! That will be in the next video!

[@seanoslin5299]

Yes!!!!’n

[@asym52]

Well, technically it IS called a symphony. Sinfonietta. Small symphony.

[@AnthonyDonnellyTT]

Excellent list... I've seven more and seven more after that ... Classical music never ceases to give...

[@obsidianmusic303]

Indeed… that’s what makes the genre so great!

[@Peter_Kalve]

The end of Sibelius’ Symphony No. 7 - that astonishing resolution of the B natural into C.

[@haomingli6175]

the resolution itself is nothing astonishing, what is astonishing about B natural resolving to C in the key of C major? what is atonishing is that B natural itself comes out of no where.

[@obsidianmusic303]

The way Sibelius builds the tension, it’s absolutely amazing! Another symphony finale to go in our next video!

[@joeweinberg3108]

@@haomingli6175that’s exactly what’s so impressive about it, is that he manages to make it sound so extraordinarily novel and exciting in the way he orchestrates and contextualizes it

[@jasonbriggs77]

Yessss! And the 2nd, or 3rd... I could play the last 15 seconds of each over and over and never lose the nostalgic feeling they leave

[@craigbrush5784]

Fantastic, thank you. I just subscribed. I'm a bit of a fan of the finale of the Tchaikovsky 5th, the Shostakovich 5th and Saint Saens 3rd

[@obsidianmusic303]

Thank you so much! Tchaikovsky 5 and Saint-Saens 3 will be in the next video!

[@hillcresthiker]

All of those symphonies have magnificent triumphant endings

[@Trinity-Waters]

Great sampling of epic moments in symphonic music. As a fan of symphonic movie scores, this was like a greatest hits album! Thanks for your work.

[@obsidianmusic303]

Thank you for watching! Orchestral symphonic music is the best!

[@djsalad5752]

2:36 RIP to the cymbal player's forearms

[@obsidianmusic303]

It’s such a demanding part, but really fun!

[@janiceconnett3192]

Mahler's Symphony #2 is one of the most intensely stunning pieces ever written. I have had a NDE (Near Death Experience) and this is the best musical interpretation I have ever heard of the phenomenal joy and bliss of my experience. Our Spirit never dies but goes on eternally to live in perpetual creativeness.

[@obsidianmusic303]

That’s a beautiful way to sum it up, Mahler’s genius and creativity really was unmatched.

[@anthonybeckett2789]

Some excellent choices here. Thanks. However, the epic finale to Sibelius 5 is incredible without the need for a huge orchestra.

[@obsidianmusic303]

Thanks for watching! Sibelius 5 really does have an incredible ending!

[@sivadepilif]

I miss the end of the Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique.

[@obsidianmusic303]

That’s a great one, it will be in the third video!

[@Boccaccio1811]

If you consider Berlioz's "Harold in Italy" a symphony, that has a wild ending too. It's like purposely over the top and insane... and I love it

[@samuelgendry4917]

I love the transition into Tchaikovskys 4.

[@BritinIsrael]

Thanks for this collection. Two of my very first orchestral concerts that i attended at age 12 ( over 60 yrs ago) were Mahler 2nd followed a week later with Bruckner 4th . Since then of course i have attended many concerts including all the symphonies mentioned here but the experience of hearing a live performance of Mahler 2 at age 12 has left a life long love of this work and i have been fortunate to have heard this work live on 14 other occasions ( so far).

[@obsidianmusic303]

Thank you for watching, and we're glad you enjoyed it! You are very lucky to have been able to hear both those amazing symphonies at 12 years old, and within two weeks as well!

[@geoffashden2]

Sorry but Mahlers 8th Symphony's finale tops everything!

[@DieFlabbergast]

The finale of Shostakovich's No.11 makes my hair stand on end.

[@MilikUrdap]

Berlioz' "Symphonie Fantastique's" finale missing here? Never thought that could be possible. But I agree with all the picks you put in here eitherway.

[@obsidianmusic303]

Thanks, Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique will be in the third video; saving the best for later ;)

[@OrqinusOrca]

Okay but Prokofiev's fifth's ending hit me like a bus the first time I heard it. It had the same effect on me as did The Rite of Spring's final chord- it scared the bejeezus outta me 😂

[@obsidianmusic303]

Me too! It's such a different and shocking ending, but epic nonetheless!

[@olliemartinelli4034]

I always repeat one of the most poignant musical memories I have is listening to Mahler's 2nd for the first time. I was writing an essay in the library and decided to just try Mahler cus I'd heard of him but never really heard anything by him other than the adagio from the 5th. I put the 2nd on from the beginning and basically wasn't really listening, more focused on writing until the choral section near the end began and I literally just had to stop for a second and contemplate what in the godly shit I was hearing. From that section I was completely spell bound though to the end just sitting in the library trying not to make it obvious I was tearing up.

[@ChrisSmith-yq9pr]

This is not just a video, it is a work of art! Bravo!

[@obsidianmusic303]

Thank you so much!

[@westonmarks925]

13:54 the visual effects here really help convey the beauty of that progression. Also, as a composer of classical music, I feel that quote from Mahler in my soul.

[@tinplater]

My first hearing of Mahler's second was the epic recording by the Utah Symphony on Cardinal records. It became the demo recording for high end audio equipment of the day. It is an ethereal experience.

[@tannhaeuserx464]

It is refreshing that you didn't include Beethoven's 9th. Arguably it is the most epic, but it has already won enough glory.

[@patrickmcisaac3142]

I once played the finale to mahlers symphony 2 with nearly 100 low brass (mostly trombone). The video is on yiutube if you search penn state trombone mahler. It may sincerely be the most epic thing ive been a part of

[@obsidianmusic303]

Whoah, that’s amazing! I play trombone, so I wish I will one day be able to play with nearly as many low brass players!

[@adude394]

Yes, a very subjective list, but also an excellent one! As many of my fellow commenters have said, that Mahler 2 ending is simply on another level, and to me it represents one of the greatest achievements in symphonic writing in the entire repertoire. If I'm permitted to add my own preferences, the finale of Saint-Saëns 3 is another great one, as are the finales of Brahms 1 and 4 and Schumann 2 and 3 and Dvořák 8. And of course, Beethoven 9.

[@obsidianmusic303]

Thank you for watching, and I’m glad you agreed with our list! Of course you can add your own preferences (they are some great choices), and in fact, we’ve already included most of them in our second video! Beethoven 9: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6aQg4NofJlklZIsi=-ps81P9YA_OcqTHp&t=1m16s Brahms 1: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6aQg4NofJlklZIsi=-ps81P9YA_OcqTHp&t=3m22s Saint-Saëns 3: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6aQg4NofJlklZIsi=-ps81P9YA_OcqTHp&t=8m9s Schumann 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6aQg4NofJlklZIsi=-ps81P9YA_OcqTHp&t=11m50s

[@adude394]

@@obsidianmusic303 Awesome! Glad that this worked out, and thanks for the reply!

[@AAK1954]

May I suggest one more? There is (or was) not a very famous composer called Beethoven, who wrote not a very famous symphony called "Coral" (his ninth symphony) that could have occupied a modest place on this "very personal youtuber selection" . Plus Schubert's "The Great", Mendelssohn, Schumann, Brahms, etc. Anyway, a nice try. Thanks. Adrian K. (69) Argentina.

[@obsidianmusic303]

Haha, I’ve never heard of this “Beethoven” before, nor his “Coral” symphony! But in all seriousness, Beethoven 9, Schumann 2 and Brahms 1 will be in the next video!

[@AAK1954]

Best regards.@@obsidianmusic303

[@paulerickson5804]

I was surprised that Beethoven 9th was missing also. But I figured, of course, that's the symphony that DEFINES "epic." It holds a special place in the pantheon.

[@obsidianmusic303]

@@paulerickson5804 Yes, it is the father symphony 😊. Oh wait that’s Haydn…

[@dougcargill6730]

The Mahler 2nd and the Bruckner 4th are two of my favorite.

[@obsidianmusic303]

They really are great!

[@Purpleninja7707]

Dvorak's 9th is spectacular!

[@1106gary]

I would mention Beethoven's 5th for the number of endings that are done one after the other.

[@hillcresthiker]

I agree with that magnificent work- but if you really want to hear an ending that never really lets you know when the end is coming, try listening to Mahlers Third symphony. If you are not in tears, you will be wondering which ending is the real ending. When the last chord finally comes, you will feel at peace and know what love feels like.

[@1106gary]

@@hillcresthiker I'll give it a try.

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

This is really a tough one, because there are so many symphonies in the repertoire, and so many great things to discover. Some quiet endings are great, some raucus endings are great. Let me think of a few that come to mind on the top of my head. I'm sure on another day I would come up with different ones, I know so many: Haydn: No. 104 Just a great bookend to his gigantic symphonic body of work. The entire finale is just so much fun. Beethoven: No. 7 If that one doesn't send you dancing off into the night, then something is either wrong with the performance or you. Schubert: Great C Major (however you want to Number it. 8 is probably correct, 7 if you only count the finished ones). The Coda has to be one of the greatest things ever. Berlioz: Symphony fantastique The composer never reached that kind of intensity again. Schumann: No. 2 What a triumph after all that turmoil saying: "Music saved my life". Mahler: No. 6 Staring down the abyss in total defeat. Stanford: No. 5 A perfect illustration of the text that inspired it: "There let the pealing organ blow [...] dissolve me into exctasies and bring all Heaven before mine eyes." Gliere: No. 3 Another illustrative piece that ends with the hero of the story being petrified and his life flashing before his eyes until he finally is completely stone, unable to move just as at the start of the Symphony. And so the music recaps all movements over an organ point that symbolizes the petrification and ends with the music that opened the symphony. Bruckner: No. 5 The Finale itself is a tough nut to crack, but the Coda, if done right, just soars with an exctasy that Bruckner never reached again. Saint-Saens: No. 3 Quite literally pulling out all the stops. That's 10 for starters and one as a bonus: The Shostakovich ones you picked would also have been my picks, but I will add No. 4 as an example of false triumph ending in nothing but doubt and fear.

[@ulysse__]

Woah, amazing set of recommendations there. I'll try them out and come back here when I'm done! (within 3-300 business days)

[@obsidianmusic303]

Impressive suggestions! We will include these in the next video. Thank you for your contribution! Organ symphony and pulling out all the stops 😂 And @ulysse_ hopefully the next video won’t take quite as long as 300 business days…

[@musiclady49]

@@ulysse__ 😂

[@counterfit5]

Symphonie Fantastique has such an epic tuba part at the end

[@callumella8812]

i would like to point out that for shost 10 the timpanist has a beat and a half to retune the high timp while playing the low timp, it is an insane work

[@obsidianmusic303]

That is insanely hard, and you also have to get it as in tune as possible. I’ve played timpani before but never anything that sounds that hard! Thanks for pointing that out.

[@derPapierschredder]

Thanks for explaining why the pieces are so epiiic! I really wouldn't have gotten it otherwise. Really helpful!

[@obsidianmusic303]

Thanks for watching, glad we could help!

[@adelmogimenez2062]

I've performed most of these in the past year. Absolutely magnificent symphonies. I hope to play shostakovich 10 soon. I've never heard his 11th, but it shounds amazing!

[@obsidianmusic303]

Wow, that's amazing! You are very lucky! What instrument do you play?

[@lucastornado9496]

Mahler 8 not being on here is heresey

[@aqueous3051]

Thank you for saying that

[@drums4metal]

Mahler's 2nd Symphony is a whole journey with the most epic majestic ending.

[@jonaskristoffersen23]

Fantastic video guys! Keep at it, looking forward to more classical music education. There's so many to choose from, Jupiter and William Tell are a couple of my faves. Love all of these too, particularly Dvorak 9. 🙌

[@obsidianmusic303]

Thank you so much! We hope you enjoyed watching just as much as we enjoyed making the video! Dvorak 9 is a really great symphony, isn’t it? Also, our second video on more symphony endings will premiere tomorrow, if you are interested.

[@bigg2988]

1:13 For those who like historic trivia like that, the DSCH motif is the "signature" of the composer, read "Dmitri SCHostakovich". He used it in various guises in several of his renowned works.

[@obsidianmusic303]

Indeed! S is German for Eb and H is their B natural. It is similar to the BACH motif, which uses Bb, A, C, B natural. Thanks for sharing!

[@obsidianmusic303]

Before anyone comments "stop talking over the music", we have a version without the voiceover here! kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6SuiqSCeq-VpKcsi=UPrJyiW3VcuUUdjn

[@ragmanv420]

I would highly suggest that you write this in the description (if possible)

[@sebastienriviere7371]

Hard to select only 7 symphony endings. I quite love the selection here but my personal favorites are (in no particular order) : Beethoven's 9 (ok not very original) Mahler's 8 (although the ending of the second one is spectacular as well) Saint-Saens' 3 (my God, the mix between the orchestra and the organ) Scriabin's 1 (no as well-known as the others but what an incredible ending)

[@obsidianmusic303]

Thanks for acknowledging how hard it is to choose! Thanks for the suggestions, Beethoven 9, Mahler 8 and Saint-Saens 3 are already in the next video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6aQg4NofJlklZIsi=OYmLfgxVGvuSNuLs Also, I’ll definitely check out Sciabin’s 1st! Thanks for watching!

[@estebanvenegas1455]

¡¡¡¡¡¡..... Autenticamente fabulosa Directora Alondra de la Parra.....¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

[@will_c294]

I've played violin for the past 20 years of my life (I am 26). This was a certified sob-fest. Some of the greatest 15 minutes of my life, and now I have hours more of music to listen to. Thank you.

[@obsidianmusic303]

Thank you so much! We are so lucky to have this great music in our lives.

[@theasafemoreno]

Thank you so much for remember me how great, and glorious it is these pieces, and give me some motivation to write something here, thanks guys for this incredible work!!

[@obsidianmusic303]

Thank YOU so much for watching!

[@technik-lexikon]

As a Shostakovich fan it's of course cool to have two of his works on this list. But let's also mention his mind-blowing, otherworldly "anticlimactic" endigs like in th 4th, 8th, 13th or 15th symphonies. A completely diferent level of epicness...

[@obsidianmusic303]

@@technik-lexikon Definitely, each of Shostakovich’s symphonies carries such deep meaning, all of the symphonies you have listed are just as amazing as his other grand endings. I think we’ll have to make a completely seperate video about his life and all of his symphonies!

[@alanbarnett6993]

All your choices are loud, grand, and bombastic. That's not the only way to end a symphony. Two symphonies with equally great, but very different, endings are Mozart's Jupiter symphony and Vaughan Williams's 5th. The Mozart ends in a coda in which 5 themes from movement are played on top of each other in an amazing display of mastery of counterpoint. The Vaughan Williams ends in a coda that has a paradoxical feeling of ecstatic calm, the complete antithesis of the loud and bombastic endings in this video.

[@obsidianmusic303]

Great choices, I agree this is an oversight that we didn’t include the full spectrum of symphony endings. We will definitely include more calm endings in the next video!

[@michaelmedlinger6399]

Shostakovich 8!

[@rexz3409]

Yeah, and then to have the audacity to call it the “greatest symphony endings in classical music history”, gimme a break.

[@haomingli6175]

the most unusual ending could be sibelius 4. it is neither a bang nor a whimper, but a mezzoforte on repeated notes/chords marked dolce.

[@andre_p]

Not the only way to end a symphony, but your examples not what I would call ‘epic’ - which is what this video is about. The Mozart is exultant, the VW cathartic. But not epic. Epic refers to a long, grand, rousing story. IMO the symphonies that qualify as having an epic ending must have these qualities of length, grandeur and final triumph.

[@theachievelegend4330]

shostakovich's 11th symphony is a masterpiece beginning to end. listen to it if you haven't. Very worth your time.

[@obsidianmusic303]

It’s absolutely amazing! In fact it’s been dubbed by many “a film without the pictures”

[@evoandy]

The only time I performed Prokofiev 5 it was after I had been runner up for a concertmaster audition for the orchestra I played with. The concertmaster ended up pulling out of the concert due to illness so I was invited to fill in for her. We had a very young and energetic conductor and I almost code browned when we got to the concert and he took it at least 30 clicks faster than in rehearsal. My tux was DRENCHED in sweat afterward. It was actually kind of gross. Anyway, Mahler 5 has my favorite symphonic finale.

[@counterfit5]

I was nice and dry the time I played Prokofiev 5, because the 2nd trombone plays the least of all the brass😒

[@obsidianmusic303]

@@counterfit5 I wish 2nd trombone got more brass parts to play in other pieces…

[@shantihealer]

The Bruckner 4 ending does something unique - it builds to a terrific, grand climax while for much of the time retaining a hushed, mystical ambience.

[@obsidianmusic303]

Indeed, I've never heard anything else like it!

[@denebutube]

The selected reading of the Bruckner 4 seems weak

[@shantihealer]

@@denebutube Possibly, but there are limited options for video performances. Generally I would recommend Jochum, particularly with the Statskapelle Dresden.

[@robertperez2262]

Saint Saens organ symphony finale will knock you into a wall and make you want to get knocked back into that wall again it’s so good

[@obsidianmusic303]

Completely agree, that's why we put it in second video here! kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6aQg4NofJlklZIsi=aCgzjQ1dwv1rFBfH&t=8m9s

[@jonathannavarroespino755]

Nothing but Mahler's 2!!!! Everytime I listen this symphony I cry at the end...is just epic!!! Like being with god!!!

[@andreapandypetrapan]

Excellent analysis. In the next several videos, perhaps we can have Brahms' 4th Symphony, Bruckner's 9th, Mozart's 41st Symphony (of course) and Britten's Spring Symphony? How about Elgar's 1st and 2nd Symphonies? The English can occasionally write music! Whereas Arnold Bax is Celtic, and his 2nd and 3rd symphonies are astonishing combinations of Mahlerian orchestral complexity and wild Irish Atlantic emotional and spiritual dramas! Reading the comments here, I'm sure you would have an audience for life if you devoted a video just to Mahler - his 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. No doubt your Parisian audience would delight in Honegger (Symphonie Liturgique) and Messiaen (Turangalila). Also I wouldn't restrict yourselves to final movements, but instead to any compete component. The closing passages of Brahms' 4th, first movement, for instance, are of supreme formal control and emotional power and complexity. Perhaps also symphonic compositions not necessarily in the so-called classical format? That way we can consider tone poems (hence Richard Strauss, Schoenberg, Debussy, Ravel, Respighi); ballet scores (Rimsky, Stravinsky, Copeland are obvious and foremost choices); and the scores of great opera. After all, parts of Puccini's La Boheme, Manon, Tosca and Turandot, and, of course, hours and hours of Wagner's Ring cycle and Tristan und Isolde and Parsifal and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, are at the absolute pinnacle of writing for full orchestra. It is impossible to understand any music written (and indeed any western art form) after the Magician of Bayreuth, without studying his works. Film music! Where would contemporary, popular, high art, "film-music-dramas" (Wagner's children so to speak) be without Korngold, Bernard Herrmann, Elmer Bernstein, Miklós Rózsa, Leonard Bernstein, Goldsmith, Malcolm Arnold, that scandalous borrower John Williams, Alexandre Desplat, Hans Zimmer, etc, etc? More thanks and much love, Andrea the music fanatic.

[@obsidianmusic303]

Thank you so much, Andrea the music fanatic! These are some excellent choices, and as you said, much of our audience will probably enjoy your suggestions. After this series, perhaps we will remove some more specific limitations, such as the symphonic form, and include endings of a much wider variety of forms. Tone poems are always great! And thank you for reading previous comments before commenting yourself, it does seem that we need to make an entire video just dedicated to Mahler. Messiaen’s Turangalila will be in the next video as well. Thank you so much ❤, ObsidianMusic

[@mauricerivermusic9110]

Those trombones to end the Brahms 2nd are hair raising!! And the end of the Schubert 9 is also fantastic!!

[@BritinIsrael]

Elgar 1..Nielsen 4...Shostakovich 12....Sibelius 2...Rachmaninov 1 ...Mahler 3.....Berlioz Fantastique....Tchaikovsky 5...Vaughan-Williams 4.

[@andreapandypetrapan]

@@BritinIsrael Impeccable suggestions, .... except I would politely dissent from Rachmaninov's 1st symphony, which is an embarrassingly student work, brimming with undigested elements of Liszt. A fact from standard texts, which was confirmed to my poor tortured ears in the 2023 Proms season, on 18th July. I'm not a nerdy woman with perfect recollection, I just happen to have the ticket stub to hand. Whereas Rachmaninov's 3rd symphony is a mistress-piece of sweeping yet taut melodic and instrumental brilliance and haunting Slavic soulfulness. Plus Elgar's 2nd symphony is a greater work, and arguably the finest orchestral work written by any British composer, ever when considering Walton and VW and emigrees like Egon Wellesz, and Britten's hybrid works, and Bax - though s/he of course is Gaelic. Love andrea

[@BritinIsrael]

@@andreapandypetrapan Thanks for your reply and constructive comments. Yes, Rachmaninov 1st was a student work but should not rule it out as a great composition ( in the same vein as Shostakovich 1st symphony) It received bad criticism at the time because it was conducted by a drunken Glazunov who didn't like Rachmaninov anyway. As for the 3rd symphony i am always left disappointed by the finale which in my eyes has too much ( bad) American influence. You certainly can't rate it at the same level as his 2nd. I agree with you concerning both Elgars and Walton's 1st ....all wonderful works too. But the bottom line comes down to personal taste and feelings. I listen a lot more to Rachmaninov 1st and 2nd instead of being let down by his 3rd. But that is MPO. I hope you have a pleasant weekend. x

[@ultradmann2367]

The conclusion of Turangalila Symphony has always and WILL always be one of my favorite climaxes to a piece. Just off of the sheer sound of what you hear and the color of what Messiaen puts on display with unusual sounds is amazing to me.

[@obsidianmusic303]

It's one of my new favorites after researching for the next video!

[@adolfosantosart]

In tears. So glorious. Joyful! Soul stirring.

[@obsidianmusic303]

Thank you so much! The music is amazing!

[@teodorb.p.composer]

Where is Medtner's piano concertos and Liszt's totentanz? Literally the most epic works!

[@obsidianmusic303]

Indeed very epic, but unfortunately they aren’t technically symphonies! We might include them in a future video about non-symphony endings though!

[@66zebulon]

The ending of the first movement of Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony should have taken first place on this list. That ending actually makes the de jure ending of the work anticlimactic. The performance by Bernstein and the NYP, parenthetically, is the epitome of everything inspirational about classical music, in my view. A very interesting topic, thanks for posting!

[@obsidianmusic303]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@comandantegabrielflores6056]

Definitely

[@johntrayner6036]

I tend to split musical endings into two groups. Those like Beethoven 9 and Mahler 2 to which the audience reaction is to roar its acclamation. Then you have something like Tchaikovsky 6 which ends quietly and hopefully the entire audience is still and silent. It is spine chilling to have 2,000 people not making a sound until the conductor lowers the baton.

[@BritinIsrael]

Yes and the ending of Mahler 9. I saw this live with the Czech Phil conducted by Simon Rattle about 18 months ago in Prague. There was total silence for about 30 seconds . That's a long time for audience reaction.

[@alfonsobarragues7874]

Mozart’s 41 Haydn’s 49 Haydn’s 104 Beethoven’s 5, 7 & 9 Schumann’s 4 Berlioz’s fantastic sphny. Brahm’s 1 & 2 Schubert’s 9 Rimski korsakov’ Scherezade

[@ericstromquist9458]

When I saw the title of this video from this new-to-me channel that I just found in in my KZbin recommendations, I thought the winner has got to be Mahler’s Second: and there it was! The most amazing thing about that work is for me that the last five minutes gives the illusion of being an impossible, continuous ascent of the musical scale, which it actually cannot be, to a greater and greater crescendo of sound, which is also impossible: yet that’s the impression it gives. The recording I most love and always listen to is the 1980 performance by the Chicago Symphony under Sir Georg Solti. I can't imagine it being improved upon.

[@obsidianmusic303]

Thanks for watching! Mahler 2 really is incredible isn't it? And thanks for the recording suggestion, I will check it out!

[@andrewhcit]

I'd also nominate Sibelius 2, Nielsen 4, Kalinnikov 1, and Bruckner 5.

[@obsidianmusic303]

Ooo these will definitely go in the next video!

[@youtubeyoutube3409]

@@obsidianmusic303what about Sibelius 5?!

[@obsidianmusic303]

@@youtubeyoutube3409 Already on the list!

[@andreapandypetrapan]

Yes indeed - Nielson's 4,5,6 symphonies.

[@counterfit5]

Oh man, Sibelius 2 is such a fun ending for the trombones

[@sorim1967]

I can't see how one can refer to epic Symphony endings and not mention Sibelius 5.

[@obsidianmusic303]

Will definitely be in the third video!

[@hillcresthiker]

Definitely one of the most epic

[@dikferrari1396]

Shostakovich 's Symphony 12 Finale is "for me" one of the greatest.

[@_Chuvisco_]

Excellent work!... Thank you!

[@obsidianmusic303]

Thank you for watching and supporting us!

[@RollaArtis]

I just love the silent finish of Schubert's eighth symphony..

[@Maningray1960]

When the organ kicks in at the end of Mahler 2, it makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

[@anthonypassante-contaldi]

Great video! For me, the ending to Brahms 1 is one of the greatest endings in symphonic history.

[@obsidianmusic303]

Thank you! Brahms did write some great ones, thank you for the suggestion as well!

[@tanyarobinson1146]

I still can imagine my conductor leading that one. I am not a visual thinker, but the muscle memory and sound memory is very strong.

[@Cesar_SM]

The Russian guys lorded it over the list. I don't blame them, they were phenomenal composers. However, my own list includes the magnificent (and often loud) endings of these symphonies: Beethoven: 5, 7 and 9 Mendelssohn: 3 Brahms: 4 Nielsen: 3, 4 and 5 Sibelius: 1 and 2 Vaughan Williams: 4 Casella: 2 Atterberg: 2 and 3 Langgaard: 1 and 6 (the latter in a similar pacing like on the Chandos recording with Neeme Järvi) Hindemith: Mathis der Maler Symphony and Die Harmonie der Welt Symphony Walton: 1 Shostakovich: 7 Popov: 1 Holmboe: 8 Braga Santos: 4

[@obsidianmusic303]

Great list, many of these will be in future videos! And Atterberg was mentioned again!

[@jeremiahlyleseditor437]

Those were quite good. Mahler using all those diminished chords was invigorating, inspiring.

[@obsidianmusic303]

They make the climax even more amazing! Thanks for watching.

[@DerSlashfuhrer]

Nice lineup! My personal favorites would also include the finales of Shostakovich's 5th and Kalinnikov's 1st

[@jimslancio]

4:50 Dvorak 9 ends with a quiet, sustained woodwind chord. I once, on the way out from a performance, realized why he wrote it that way. At that time, Wagner's music was in the air, and Dvorak's music shows onfluences. The New World finale is a tip of the hat to the quiet, sustained chord at the very end of Goetterdaemmerung.

[@edwinmorillo5873]

Loved this video, editing, narrators, music, everything ❤️

[@obsidianmusic303]

Wow, thank you so much! We are making another one of these videos, hope you are looking forward to it as much as we are! ❤

[@alexnobrasil3062]

4:26 I've always loved this bit in Dvorak's 9th. If memory serves me right it's a DM7b5-Dm7b5 transition over a pedal of E. Such a great variation of the main theme with just the right amount of tension!

[@RenatoDeVuono]

Nice video. You could do another one with Richard Strauss’s “Also sprach Zarathustra” (for me the best finale ever) and Tchaikovski’s 1812 (the second best finale ever). This two, besides (for me) being the best finales ever (again, my opinion), are one of the most recognizables finales on the whole classical music genre.

[@obsidianmusic303]

Glad you enjoyed it! Great suggestions! We’ve gotten a lot of other non-symphony finale suggestions, we’ll definitely make a video on them in the future.

[@RenatoDeVuono]

⁠@@obsidianmusic303ohhhh… now I’m ashamed! 😊 Hookie’s mistake to don’t pay attention that your list was about symphonies… sorry about that. Nonetheless, it will be great to see this new list! Thaks for answer my comment. Great channel, by the way.

[@RenatoDeVuono]

Here again. I need to be honest… I don’t know the difference. 😢 I tried to learn and found this: “Symphony-a piece for, of course, a symphony orchestra. While there are often solo passages for individual sections or players, they remain part of the ensemble rather than featured performers. The classical Symphony typically has four movements as opposed to a Concerto’s usual three.” By this definition, both musics that I said I like, are Symphonies. But honestly, I really have no clue what I’m talking about. So, if you could enlighten me, it would be great. If you want to, of course. Thanks. 😊

[@obsidianmusic303]

@@RenatoDeVuono Hello again! You are correct that symphonies often have four movements (Usually fast, slow, dance-related such as a minuet or waltz, and faster, although some composers from the Romantic period - 1820s - onwards do break these “rules”). While the suggestions you have mentioned are indeed also written for symphony orchestras, they are pieces in other forms. Strauss’s “Also sprach Zarathustra” is a tone (or symphonic) poem, which is a piece that is written in one continuous movement (there are no breaks in the music, unlike between a symphony’s movements), although can be divided into several sections. Other tone poems include Richard Strauss’s “Eine Alpensinfonie” or “An Alpine Symphony”, which despite labelled a symphony by the composer, follows the form of a tone poem; Isle of the Dead by Rachmaninoff; Night on the Bare Mountain and Pictures at an Exhibition, both by Modest Mussorgsky; and Danse macabre by Saint-Saëns. Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, or “The Year 1812, Solemn Overture” is a concert overture. This form changed drastically over time, but is essentially a standalone piece in one continuous movement, similar to the tone poem. In fact, the tone poem evolved from the concert overture in the late Romantic period. The tone poem became the preferred form for some more progressive composers, such as Saint-Saëns and Richard Strauss, while more conservative composers, including Tchaikovsky and Brahms still wrote concert overtures. Other famous concert overtures include A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Mendelssohn (which is generally regarded as the first piece in this form); Romeo and Juliet by Tchaikovsky; Academic Festival Overture by Brahms and Festive Overture by Shostakovich. If you want to learn more, the wikipedia articles on these forms are a great starting point! en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overture (the concert overture section) en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphonic_poem Also, sorry for the late reply, I hope this helps, and again, great suggestions, they are some of the best in each of their forms!

[@RenatoDeVuono]

@@obsidianmusic303 Oh boym what Master Class! Thank you SO MUCH. Most of content creators woudn´t even bother to answer or the would try to make me feel stupid or something to make them feel better about them selves. Now I´ve learned a new thing about a subject that I love. Thank you again. You now have a new subscriber and a new admirer! Bless you.

[@chankwaichoi1]

Carl Nielsen's INEXTINGUISHABLE (SYM#4)

[@NimrodTargaryen]

Excellent… what about Mahler 8th?

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

Shostakovich could really belt out a finale. A couple of equally "epic" ones are the quiet, exhausted ones of the 8th and 15th. Finally, rest.

[@davidstretch5614]

I really think Shostakovich's 15th should be added to the list. After such stirring music, he ends with a very quiet, almost child-like construction that takes us out of this world.

[@BritinIsrael]

Shostakovich 4 th and 8th are truly great works.

[@matthiashartge5520]

You have a similar taste of epicness as I do ^^ Love it!

[@obsidianmusic303]

Great so see someone else agrees with us! Thanks for watching!

[@thomasvendetti3742]

So many treasured finales. Let’s not forget the grand fugues employed in Mozart 41 and Bruckner 5.