Thunderous passionate minor key music

[comme_le_vent]

Most of my favourite pieces seem to have something in common - they are always in minor keys, extremely passionate , often tragic, and could be described as thunderous. A few examples - Scriabin etude in d sharp minor, chopin winter wind etude, rachmaninov etude in c sharp minor, liszt etude no 10, beethovens tempest 1st mvt, pathetique, moonlight 3rd mvt, and appasionata sonata outer movements. alkan symphony for solo piano mvts 1 3 and 4, sonatine mvts 1 3 and 4, grande sonata mvts 1 and 2, and.... well lots of other alkan works  
My question is - what pieces would you recomend to me? or even composers that often compose this type of music?
Thanks in advance.

[ted]

Why not write your own ? That's a fulfilling part of composition - writing in exactly the ways you fancy most.

[xenon]

Well, your name certainly reflects your taste for music .  One composer that would fit the criteria is Rachmaninoff.  His writings came from the opression of communism in Russia and dealt with all of the hardships there.  Composers of Russia were traditionaly to write music that would give the listeners the idea of how glorious the Motherland was, and how great it was being there.  Composers (and authors) who wrote against that false ideal was put in the gulags of Siberia.  So Rachmaninoff's music definately has lots of passion from hardship in it.  Smoe pieces that you might be interested in looking into are the Etudes Tableaux.  Some definately has that character.

Good luck in your hunt

Chopin also has great pieces like that, such as some of his etudes (such as Etude Op 10 No 12 "Revolutionary"), and as far as I know, Ballade No. 1, etc.

[comme_le_vent]

of course i could compose my own music, but i doubt it would ever be as good as the works of these aforementioned masters. I know most of the works of rachmaninov and chopin. Thanks for your replies, but i was thinking more along the line of lesser know composers and works. I have been hunting and ive found some gems such as dohnanyi's 4th and 6th etudes, macdowells piano concertos, liszt's scherzo and march, henselt's piano concerto, and some others. The advice do compose my own music has actually sparked an idea in my head, perhaps i can transcribe other non-piano music of this type for solo piano, such as johm williams' imperial march, or beethoven's serioso quartet, but these are major challenges
Also i wonder if there are other people around in this forum that have similar tastes in music to me?
I could maybe introduce you to some treasures i have found  

[eddie92099]

One composer that would fit the criteria is Rachmaninoff.  His writings came from the opression of communism in Russia and dealt with all of the hardships there.  Composers of Russia were traditionaly to write music that would give the listeners the idea of how glorious the Motherland was, and how great it was being there.  Composers (and authors) who wrote against that false ideal was put in the gulags of Siberia.  So Rachmaninoff's music definately has lots of passion from hardship in it.  Smoe pieces that you might be interested in looking into are the Etudes Tableaux.  Some definately has that character.

Although the music fits the bill, your knowledge of history is a little precarious,
Ed

[ahmedito]

I agree.

I fully recommend shostakovich.... he fits that description quite a bit more, and Im sure you'll find stuff you like.

[xenon]

Bah, I hate history  I can never get the facts straight.  And anyways, that background bit was a somewhat basterdized (by my memory) thingy my piano teacher (of Russian descent) said to me when I played some Rach.  She wanted me to "feel the pain and agony" etc...

History class bites.  Especially Canadian history.  But music history is not too bad, but there's a lot more to memorize  

Comme_Le_Vent: I also share the same tastes in music.  I would be happy to see what treasures you have uncovered.  

[Beethoven87]

Regarding your treasures:  By all means, I love passionate minor music.  I don't think I have anything to add...  A personal favorite of mine is the Second Rhapsodie in G Minor by Brahms...  If you haven't heard It (I'd be VERY surprised)  go find it strait away.  I also enjoy all the Chopin Ballades...  And who doesn't like Beethoven at his most passionate?  Pure genius...

[xenon]

Is Brahm's Rhapsody Op 79 No 2 in g- what you speak of?  I love that one too

[comme_le_vent]

To give you people perhaps a better idea of my tastes....My favourite pieces of all time are -
Alkan - Symphony for solo piano 1st mvt
Alkan - Sonatine for solo piano 4th mvt
Beethoven - The Kreutzer sonata for piano and violin 1st mvt
Thats in no particular order. The striking similarities between these 3 works seem to be that the all have-
1. a dramatic progression in their structure
2. an extremely aggressive character in most parts
3. but also they have contrasts that are beautiful in themselves, but also make the furious and anguished parts , even more furious and anguished
4. they all come to a gut wrenching climax at the end, and in various other parts. All with extreme passion and fury.
I may be going on a bit, but id like to say a few moments of particular emotional and musical prominence in these pieces...
Sonatine 4th mvt...the stomping opening sets a great scene, but the defining moment is the coda..a relentless barrage of unrestrained furious passion, culminating in a huge octave flourish with a massive crunch chord to (de)cap(itate) it all off.
The Kreutzer 1st mvt... that part with the chromatic rising figures leading to the most pathetic descending melody,
and of course the final angry 'door slam'.
The Symphony for solo piano 1st mvt...the absolutely deliciously brooding opening, the tremelo crescendo leading to those stompy staccato chords, the furiously unhappy repetition of the 2nd theme(which used to be calm and happy), the lead up to the final climax which is incerdibly intense, and of course- that collosal crashing thunderous part with the chromatics in the right hand - its the most emotional moment in any piece of music ive ever heard- Heart Stopping and EARTH SHATTERING! . Then after that big dominant chord, it hushes into the final soft chord progression, so simple, but so effective, seemingly ending on c major, but no - c minor - DOOMED FOR ALL ETERNITY!!! AAAHHHHH!!
lol im getting carried away, but thats what great music does to you, it takes you on this amazing emotional ride that thrills you like nothing else in the world.
I have now come to the conclusion that my favourite piece is the symphony for solo piano's 1st movement , i beg of you! check it out!!!  

[comme_le_vent]

To give you people perhaps a better idea of my tastes....My favourite pieces of all time are -
Alkan - Symphony for solo piano 1st mvt
Alkan - Sonatine for solo piano 4th mvt
Beethoven - The Kreutzer sonata for piano and violin 1st mvt
Thats in no particular order. The striking similarities between these 3 works seem to be that the all have-
1. a dramatic progression in their structure
2. an extremely aggressive character in most parts
3. but also they have contrasts that are beautiful in themselves, but also make the furious and anguished parts , even more furious and anguished
4. they all come to a gut wrenching climax at the end, and in various other parts. All with extreme passion and fury.
I may be going on a bit, but id like to say a few moments of particular emotional and musical prominence in these pieces...
Sonatine 4th mvt...the stomping opening sets a great scene, but the defining moment is the coda..a relentless barrage of unrestrained furious passion, culminating in a huge octave flourish with a massive crunch chord to (de)cap(itate) it all off.
The Kreutzer 1st mvt... that part with the chromatic rising figures leading to the most pathetic descending melody,
and of course the final angry 'door slam'.
The Symphony for solo piano 1st mvt...the absolutely deliciously brooding opening, the tremelo crescendo leading to those stompy staccato chords, the furiously unhappy repetition of the 2nd theme(which used to be calm and happy), the lead up to the final climax which is incerdibly intense, and of course- that collosal crashing thunderous part with the chromatics in the right hand - its the most emotional moment in any piece of music ive ever heard- Heart Stopping and EARTH SHATTERINGLY POWERFUL! . Then after that big dominant chord, it hushes into the final soft chord progression, so simple, but so effective, seemingly ending on c major, but no - c minor - DOOMED FOR ALL ETERNITY!!! AAAHHHHH!!
lol, im getting carried away, but thats what great music does to you, it takes you on this amazing emotional ride that thrills you like nothing else in the world.
I have now come to the conclusion that my favourite piece is the symphony for solo piano's 1st movement , i beg of you! check it out!!!  

[comme_le_vent]

WEEEEW today i went to a concert played by Marc-Andre Hamelin, amazing stuff...WOW. Anyways , this is relevent because after the concert i met him and conversed a little, got his autograph and shook his hand. A question i asked was what is his favourite work by alkan, and he said the symphony!, same as me!
I guess geniuses must think alike      

[ravel]

u forgot the ocean etude by chopin,
some of rachmaninovs prelude definitely fit that category

[trunks]

To list a few . . .

BEETHOVEN
Sonatas
Op.27 No.2 (quasi una fantasia) finale
Op.57 (appassionata) finale

CHOPIN
Etudes
Op.10 No.12 (revolution)
Op.25 No.11 (winter wind)
Op.25 No.12 (ocean)
Scherzos 1, 3
Ballades 1, 2(minor section)
Prelude Op.28 No.24
Polonaise 2

RACHMANINOFF
Prelude Op.23 No.5

SKRIABIN
Etude Op.8 No.12

[comme_le_vent]

lol, youve virtually listed my favourite pieces.
about the appasionta- i find the 1st mvt is just as passionate as the finale.

[trunks]

Oh sure . . . how could I have missed out the opening movement of Appassionata!

Also another movement from Beethoven's sonatas, also in F minor - the finale of his very first sonata, Op.2 no.1.