Classical Music That Starts Quiet and Gets Louder
Contents
From Beethoven to Bach, we’ve rounded up some of the most peaceful classical pieces that gradually build to a crescendo. The perfect way to start your day!
Introduction
Classical music has a reputation for being tranquil and relaxing. But there are plenty of pieces that start off quietly and then gradually get louder, building to a thrilling crescendo. If you’re looking for some classical pieces that fit this description, here are a few suggestions.
The Classics
We’re all familiar with the classics. You know, the pieces of music that have been around for centuries and are still popular today. But what makes a piece of music a classic? Is it the melody? The lyrics? The composer?
Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5
Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67, was written between 1804 and 1808. It is one of the best-known compositions in classical music and one of the most frequently played symphonies. First performed in Vienna’s Theater an der Wien in 1808, the work achieved its prodigious reputation soon afterward. E. T. A. Hoffmann described the symphony as “one of the most important works of the time”.
The symphony is acknowledged as one of the cornerstones of Western classical music. It consists of four movements: an opening sonata, an andante, a scherzo and a finale. The first movement is Allegro con brio; the second is Andante con moto; while the third movement, a scherzo and trio, marked Allegro; and finally, a presto finale.
The Fifth Symphony achieved its canonical status as one of the most frequently played symphonies in concert halls around the world with a series of important recordings by leading orchestras and conductors beginning in 1927 with Arturo Toscanini conducting the NBC Symphony Orchestra.
Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake
Swan Lake is a ballet composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1875–76. Despite its initial failure, it is now one of the most popular ballets of all time. The scenario, originally in four acts, was fashioned from Russian folklore and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer’s curse. The choreographer of the original production was Julius Reisinger. The ballet was premiered by the Bolshoi Ballet on 20 February 1877 at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Although it is presented in many different versions, most ballet companies base their productions both choreographically and musically on the revival of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, first staged for the Imperial Ballet on 15 January 1895, at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg.
Swan Lake has been ballets most famous and frequently performed work since around 1895 and has served as a model for many subsequent productions designed to appeal to popular taste. Unlike some earlier ballets, Swan Lake employs classical ballet’s formal mannerisms while adding Diedre Lubowich’s emotionally expressive gestures. Tchaikovsky created special melodies and sound effects to enhance the plot; he used a concert orchestra with added cymbals, horns and trumpets as well as specified passages for solo instruments such as the oboe, cor anglais (English horn) or pizzicato basses. Frequently revised since its premiere, Swan Lake was one of ballet’s first scores to be published as sheet music rather than sold only as an instrumental score performance rights for which were controlled by French publishing houses associated with Diaghilev’s rival company L’Opéra de Paris).
Contemporary Composers
There are many contemporary composers who are inspired by classical music. Some of these composers start their pieces quietly and gradually build up to a loud climax. This can be a very effective way to create tension and excitement in a piece of music. Let’s take a look at some examples.
John Adams’ Short Ride in a Fast Machine
John Adams’ Short Ride in a Fast Machine is a short, fast piece of contemporary classical music by American composer John Adams. The piece was written in 1986 and is one of Adams’ best-known works. It has been described as “one of the most popular contemporary classical pieces ever written”.
The piece is written for an orchestra of winds, brass, and percussion, and lasts for about four minutes. It starts with a slow, quiet section which gradually builds in intensity, before reaching a loud and frenetic climax. The piece then abruptly ends with a single note played on a tam-tam (a large percussion instrument).
Short Ride in a Fast Machine has been widely performed and recorded by orchestras around the world, and has become one of Adams’ most popular works.
Steve Reich’s Different Trains
During the 1980s, contemporary composer Steve Reich pioneered a new style of music called minimalism. In his most famous work, Different Trains, Reich uses recordings of actual train sounds to create a piece that starts very quietly and gradually gets louder and more chaotic.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many types of music that start out quiet and gradually build to a louder volume. Whether you enjoy the sound of a gentle piano melody or the swelling of a full orchestra, these pieces of classical music are sure to please.
