# Help! I need some badass classical music!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-some-badass-classical-music/255412
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [July 16, 2004, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-some-badass-classical-music/255412 "2004-07-16T13:59:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2004, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-some-badass-classical-music/255412/21 "2004-07-16T18:35:59Z")
Here’s an “if-you-can-find-it” one:
[Flamma Flamma](http://members.chello.nl/c.vandervloed/lens.htm) from the Fire Requiem by Nicholas Lens.
I used to play the video when I was a VJ 6 or 7 years ago. It was mostly voice driven but the tension that was built into it was AMAZING.
> [@](#):
>
> Flamma Flamma features six soloists with trained voices, operatic in nature, as well as three singers with striking, ethnically distinctive voices recruited from the Bulgarian womens’ choir that created such a sensation with the bestselling recording Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares. The six trained voices speak for the “gods,” the higher consciousness of man, and they virtually obsess over the meaning of death in the continuum of life. The trio of ethnic voices represents a more primitive view: death is to be scoffed at and ridiculed, especially because the “gods” take its meaning so seriously in their “sublime state.”
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2004, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-some-badass-classical-music/255412/22 "2004-07-16T18:39:10Z")
Mussorgsky: _Night On Bald Mountain_
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### Author:  [@brane\_damaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brane_damaj)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2004, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-some-badass-classical-music/255412/23 "2004-07-16T19:33:18Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> Mussorgsky: _Night On Bald Mountain_
Or his _Great Gates of Kiev_ That was a cool one, too. Great for an entrance.
Also, someone mentioned the Conan The Barbarian soundtrack before. I don’t know if you’re allowed to use soundtracks, but is without a doubt one of the greatest symphonic movie soundtracks ever. Just make sure you don’t get Conan the the Destroyer by mistake. It wasn’t as good.
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### Author:  [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2004, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-some-badass-classical-music/255412/24 "2004-07-16T20:44:21Z")
Many excellent suggestions so far. A few more:
_Finlandia_ by Sibelius. (Used in **Die Hard 2** to great effect)
_In the Hall of the Mountain King_ by Grieg
Shostakovitch’s _Symphony #5_, beginning of the 4th movement
In addition to the _Dies Irae_, the _Confutates_ from Mozart’s requiem is excellent. A little less bangy, a little more moody.
Mahler has lots of great stirring stuff, although I can’t think of a movement that has a snippet right from the beginning that would make it easy to use. Certainly, the climactic parts of Symphony #1 or Symphony #2 would both work great.
If you want your character to come off as hilariously egotistical, you could throw in _The Hallelujah Chorus_. (Actually, parts of it would work pretty well in any case… “King of Kings” (forever, and ever) “And Lord of Lords” (Hallelujah, Hallelujah) (and so forth))
Another somewhat humorous choice would be Tchaikovsky’s _1812 Overture_. You could beat your chest in time with the cannons, or something.
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### Author:  [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-some-badass-classical-music/255412/25 "2004-07-16T20:45:10Z")
Even badder bad-ass Wagner would be [Siegfried’s Funeral March](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/clipserve/B000009ON7001002/0/102-6358313-2022546) If it was good enough to be Arthur’s theme music in _Excalibur_, it’s good enough for you. 🙂
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### Author:  [@1010011010](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1010011010)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2004, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-some-badass-classical-music/255412/26 "2004-07-16T21:33:32Z")
I thought of two pieces of music…
_Montagues and Capulets_ by Prokofiev, which a couple people have already mentioned.
_ **AND** _
_Entry of the Gladiators_ by Julius Fucik. Definitely check this one out. 😃
_The Firebird Suite_ by Stravinsky appears to have been overlooked, so far. And there are probably some good bits from _Rite of Spring_, too.
There’s probably a fair bit of instrumental soundtrack music that would fit the bill, but I don’t know if that would fail for being “totally modern”. Hans Zimmer has written some good stuff for the likes of _Crimson Tide_ and other movies. Matt Uelmen also has some stuff written for Blizzard, the video game company, that would probably fit. The _Batman_ and _Terminator_ movies also had music that might work… but might fail for being too recognizable. What exactly is “too modern”?
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### Author:  [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2004, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-some-badass-classical-music/255412/27 "2004-07-16T21:34:59Z")
Lotsa good suggestions so far.
Liszt’s _Les Preludes_.
The very end of Debussy’s _La Mer_. There are other spots as well.
From Ravel’s _Daphnis and Chloe_, the “Danse guerriere” (“warrior dance”) and its lead-in. It’s included at the end of the suite #1 from the ballet. Also the “Danse general” at the very end of the ballet (included in suite #2).
The middle of Debussy’s nocturne for orchestra, _Fetes_. The section I have in mind starts with soft brass (in the distance), then crescendos from there.
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### Author:  [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2004, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-some-badass-classical-music/255412/28 "2004-07-16T21:53:42Z")
There have been some great suggestions here. I would suggest that when making your choice, you consider the text and context of the music. Requiems are works of mourning for the dead. based on Biblical texts. Although the “Dies Irae” from the Verdi “Requiem”, among others, has been abused for commercial purposes, it is still a piece that has meaning for many people. For me, it is associated with the deaths of 9/11. Likewise, use of the “Hallelujah Chorus” for your purposes might be offensive to some.
Please let us know what you choose (or we may be forced to come after you with an 18"DHIBJD :eek: :eek: ).
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### Author:  [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2004, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-some-badass-classical-music/255412/29 "2004-07-16T22:56:29Z")
[http://www.wolgemut.net/](http://www.wolgemut.net/)
From the album Schauspeluden
Goddesses, 2:51
Michaeleska, 2:12
Of course if you were Edward Beerslayer, a nice drinking song Tummel Dich, gutes weinlein =)
Go for period music=)
samples of the first 2 are on the site…
Of course there is a nice processional from their album Danza=)
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### Author:  [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2004, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-some-badass-classical-music/255412/30 "2004-07-16T22:59:39Z")
Throwing in another Wagner/Ring cycle selection: **Magic Fire Music**. It’s both menacing and heroic without all the pop culture baggage so many (but not all) of the other selections listed above have. [This version](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002763/qid=1090017900/sr=8-4/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i4_xgl15/002-2263817-4676038?v=glance&s=music&n=507846) (play Track 3) omits the singing if you prefer the symphonic version for maximum effect.
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### Author:  [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-some-badass-classical-music/255412/31 "2004-07-17T04:05:55Z")
> [@1010011010](#):
>
> _The Firebird Suite_ by Stravinsky appears to have been overlooked, so far. And there are probably some good bits from _Rite of Spring_, too.
_The Firebird_ is one of my absolute favorite pieces, but the most obviously ass-kicking part has much more of a “A ha, triumph has been achieved” feel than a “I’m here to kick ass and chew gum, and I’m all out of gum” feel, imho
Plus it’s in 7
Of course there the mad king’s mad dance… but that would be, well, mad
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### Author:  [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-some-badass-classical-music/255412/32 "2004-07-17T05:18:46Z")
Could it be written “recently,” but still classical sounding? If it does, I might suggest…
•[Inquisition Symphony](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000AFDY/qid=1090040730/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl15/102-5555246-9613700?v=glance&s=music&n=507846), by “Apocalyptica,” a Metalica-tribute band of…cellists.
•Or maybe [the=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00006GOHM/qid%3D1090040965/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/102-5555246-9613700]The String Quartet Tribute to Black Sabbath, if you really want “Iron Man.”
•Or the obvious, [Dead Can Dance’s _Aion_](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002MQ7/qid=1090041014/sr=2-3/ref=sr_2_3/102-5555246-9613700). I’d reccomend “Saltarello” from the latter—which, as it happens, is based from a 14th Century Italian dance.
•That, or maybe something peppy by the [Medieval Baebes](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000JMXJ/qid=1090041224/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-5555246-9613700?v=glance&s=music), like Kinderley or Gaudete. If you have any “Amazons” fighting, they might like it.
•Or Jupiter from Holst’s _The Planets_. Hail to the king, baby.
In any case, be sure to report back with us on how things went at the fight. Pictures too, if you can manage.
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### Author:  [@RobuSensei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobuSensei)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-some-badass-classical-music/255412/33 "2004-07-17T06:08:42Z")
Here’s a suggestion from left field:
I’d check out the soundtrack from _Princess Mononoke._ More specifically, I’d find a copy of the [Princess Mononoke: Symphonic Suite](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005IC2T/qid=1090044254/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_2/104-7317910-1317513) CD, and check out track 7, “The World of the Dead - Adagio of Life and Death.” Lots of different spots that you could grab 20 seconds of.
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### Author:  [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-some-badass-classical-music/255412/34 "2004-07-17T17:14:59Z")
“The Hall of the Moumtain King” from \*\*Pier Gynt \*\* (Grieg)
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### Author:  [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)
#### Post date: [July 17, 2004, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-some-badass-classical-music/255412/35 "2004-07-17T22:15:01Z")
Berlioz, “Tuba mirum” from _Grande Messe des Morts_. I’m not too familiar with this piece, and other parts may be useful.
Also parts of Berlioz’ _Symphonie Fantastique_, especially “March to the Scaffold”.
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### Author:  [@Cockatiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cockatiel)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2004, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-some-badass-classical-music/255412/36 "2004-07-18T01:37:53Z")
The fourth movement of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 in D Minor. It starts out with a bang right away and it’s got a great tune.
One of the Bad-Assiest pieces ever, IMO 😛 .
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### Author:  [@Cockatiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cockatiel)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2004, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-some-badass-classical-music/255412/37 "2004-07-18T01:44:15Z")
Oy, dammit, didn’t see that **MaxTheVool** already mentioned Symphony No. 5 :smack: .
Another suggestion: Try this one piece from Prokofiev’s The Love for Three Oranges Symphonic Suite. IIRC, it’s called “Magician Celio and Fata Morgana Play Cards.”
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### Author:  [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2004, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-some-badass-classical-music/255412/38 "2004-07-18T01:56:52Z")
I might suggest Amilcare Ponchielli’s **Dance of the Hours** …
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### Author:  [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2004, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-some-badass-classical-music/255412/39 "2004-07-18T01:57:29Z")
Wow, this event sounds incredibly, embarassingly geeky. Just the way I like my entertainment :D. Where is this taking place at?
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### Author:  [@FaerieBeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FaerieBeth)
#### Post date: [July 18, 2004, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-i-need-some-badass-classical-music/255412/40 "2004-07-18T02:45:37Z")
[Diamond Wars XX](http://www.diamondwars.org/) near beautiful, scenic Hot Springs, AR!
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