# Good bombastic choral/choir pieces? (Modern, or classical.) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 6, 2004, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bombastic-choral-choir-pieces-modern-or-classical/243793 "2004-05-06T06:03:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bombastic-choral-choir-pieces-modern-or-classical/243793/1 "2004-05-06T06:03:38Z")
Inspired by the new trailer for _Spider-Man 2_, which features a particularly lively choral piece for the soundtrack, I’d like to ask…what are some good and lively choral/choir pieces? And by “lively,” I mean “bombastic, or thereabouts.” Works that are wistful, mournful, or can put you to sleep don’t count…I’m looking for music that practically conjures up images of berserkers charging into battle under blazing torchlight. Stuff like that. My picks, so far… Modern: •“Escape” from the _Plunkett & MacLeane_ soundtrack. Y’all have probably heard this one in any number of movie trailers, even though you probably don’t know it by name. •“Charging Fort Wagner” from the _Glory_ soundtrack. Oddly enough, this was called "Charging Fort _Sumnter"_ on the cassette I bought, many years back. This song was used in a trailer for the _Medal of Honor: Allied Assault_ video game. •_In The Eyes of Truth,_ by Enigma The actual choir bit from this one is pretty brief…but it’s what they used in the trailers for the original _Matrix_ movie. (1999…it was a simpler time, wasn’t it?) •Parts of “Riders of Doom,” and most of “Battle of the Mounds” from the _Conan the Barbarian_ soundtrack. 'Nuff said. •“Hiroshima/Nagasaki Requiem” from the _Trinity and Beyond_ soundtrack. Classical: •Many of the songs, especially “O Fortuna,” from _Carmina Burana_. Carl Orff, and a bunch of debauched medieval monks…a better combination than Elton John and Tim Rice. There should be many more in the “classical” column, but my brain is worn out right now. So…any thoughts or recommendations, anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bombastic-choral-choir-pieces-modern-or-classical/243793/2 "2004-05-06T06:26:08Z")
Right up there with “O Fortuna” is “Dies Irae”, by Verde, in the classical column. And for movies, add John Williams’ “Duel of the Fates”, from _The Phantom Menace_. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bombastic-choral-choir-pieces-modern-or-classical/243793/3 "2004-05-06T08:07:32Z")
The Hallelujah Chorus, if you’re in a Christmas mood. The Anvil Chorus, if you’re in a banging on anvils mood. ---
**Author:** ![ryanbobo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ryanbobo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryanbobo)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bombastic-choral-choir-pieces-modern-or-classical/243793/4 "2004-05-06T14:10:27Z")
Williams’ _Sea Symphony_ ---
**Author:** ![counsel\_wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/65b543/32.png) [@counsel\_wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/counsel_wolf)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bombastic-choral-choir-pieces-modern-or-classical/243793/5 "2004-05-06T14:26:54Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > There should be many more in the “classical” column, but my brain is worn out right now. > > So…any thoughts or recommendations, anyone? The choral portion of Beethoven’s 9th symphony spring immediately to mind. It’s a bit over used though. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bombastic-choral-choir-pieces-modern-or-classical/243793/6 "2004-05-06T14:36:09Z")
Borodin’s _Polovtsian Dances_, my very favorite piece of music. It’s not about berserkers charging into battle – it’s the party afterward. Quite a few of Howard Shore’s compositions from _The Lord of the Rings_ would certainly qualify. Verdi’s _Dies Irae_ is an excellent pick. It’s the God-is-coming-and-is-He-ever-pissed-off school of composition. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bombastic-choral-choir-pieces-modern-or-classical/243793/7 "2004-05-06T14:40:39Z")
Therion has done a lot of pieces that should qualify. In particular, “To Mega Therion” from _Theli_, “Wine of Aluqah” from _Vovin_, and “Muspelheim” from _Secret of the Runes_ stand out. ---
**Author:** ![Bren\_Cameron\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@Bren\_Cameron\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bren_Cameron_1)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bombastic-choral-choir-pieces-modern-or-classical/243793/8 "2004-05-06T15:46:18Z")
It’s not purely a choral piece, being part of an opera, but have you considered the coronation scene from Mussorgsky’s _Boris Godunov_? ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bombastic-choral-choir-pieces-modern-or-classical/243793/9 "2004-05-06T16:06:45Z")
Another vote for Verdi’s _Dies Irae._ There’s nothing quite like standing smack-dab in the middle of a full orchestra and 100-person choir belting that one out at the top of their lungs. ::sniff::: I miss choir! I’m also fond of the first movement of Francis Poulenc’s _Gloria._ I’d probably be able to think of more in the classical vein, except now my brain is full of Verdi. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to hum in four-part harmony? ---
**Author:** ![AmericanMaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@AmericanMaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmericanMaid)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bombastic-choral-choir-pieces-modern-or-classical/243793/10 "2004-05-06T16:13:32Z")
Mozart’s Requiem has a couple great pieces especially “Rex” and “Confutatis” ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bombastic-choral-choir-pieces-modern-or-classical/243793/11 "2004-05-06T16:47:41Z")
> [@AmericanMaid](#): > > Mozart’s Requiem has a couple great pieces especially “Rex” and “Confutatis” It also has a killer _Dies Irae_. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bombastic-choral-choir-pieces-modern-or-classical/243793/12 "2004-05-06T17:41:45Z")
Whenever I hear the _Rex Tremendae_ from Mozart’s _Requiem_, I think of a man wandering the streets of Vienna at night searching desperately for his lost dog. “REX!” “REX!” “REX!” And I feel your pain, **Eva Luna**. I quit singing with my symphony choir when my daughter was born (five years ago!!) and haven’t gotten back into it yet. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bombastic-choral-choir-pieces-modern-or-classical/243793/13 "2004-05-06T18:35:50Z")
Lots of tracks on LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring. The other two movies don’t have hardly as much choral music ☹ [aside]I’m not sure if any of these are choral, but if you’re into ironic-bombastic, a lot of Danny Elfman scores are a bit over-the-top bombastic.[/aside] Ohhhh, and i third Mozart’s Dies Irae. I also second the person who thinks of a person looking for a dog during “Rex” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bombastic-choral-choir-pieces-modern-or-classical/243793/14 "2004-05-06T18:54:23Z")
I’m aware that some folks find his stuff banal (I don’t) but Randall Thompson can sure cause a choir to sound like it’s rearranging the pillars of creation. I’d recommend “The Last Words of David” and “Have Ye Not Heard / Ye Shall Have a Song”. For a more modern texture, check out the works of Scandinavian (Norwegian? Swedish?) composer Knut Nystedt, which unrolls from chanting into weird and majestic 8 part pseudopolyphony. Also Jean Berger’s _The Magnificat_, which varies between shimmery-textured and bombastic. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bombastic-choral-choir-pieces-modern-or-classical/243793/15 "2004-05-06T19:11:16Z")
Prokofiev’s **Alexander Nevsky** ; specifically \*Arise, You People of Russia \* and _The Battle on the Ice_. You’ll get chillbumps. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bombastic-choral-choir-pieces-modern-or-classical/243793/16 "2004-05-06T20:46:30Z")
Let us not forget the \*Ride of the Valkyries \* from Wagner’s \*Die Valküre. \*I’ve never heard a full choral arrangement, but it’d be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bombastic-choral-choir-pieces-modern-or-classical/243793/17 "2004-05-06T22:55:06Z")
Both of these are ever-so-slightly cheesy, but sprang right to mind from my choir days: Hubert Perry, “I Was Glad” (when they said unto me, we will go, etc. etc.) Beethoven, “Hallelujah” from the Mount of Olives. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2004, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bombastic-choral-choir-pieces-modern-or-classical/243793/18 "2004-05-06T23:22:59Z")
There’s the “Danse guerrière” at the beginning of the second act of Ravel’s ballet “Daphnis and Chloe”. It’s about 5 minutes long, but the chorus only sings during the last minute. And it’s a wordless chorus - they just sing “ah” and “oh”. The bacchanal at the end of the ballet is similar. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2004, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bombastic-choral-choir-pieces-modern-or-classical/243793/19 "2004-05-07T21:14:55Z")
Oh, and in a more contemporary vein, some of Enya’s material falls into this category, too. Of course, most of her work is the “wistful, mournful, or can put you to sleep” category, but “Cursum Perficio” and “Tempus Verbum” definitely come to mind as bombastic. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2004, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bombastic-choral-choir-pieces-modern-or-classical/243793/20 "2004-05-07T22:24:02Z")
“The Bridge of Khazad Dum” from the \*Fellowship of the Ring \*soundtrack.