Best Ending

[jre58591]

ok, so ive decided to make one of these annoying "best of..." threads. which piece do you think has the best ending? use whatever criteria you want for coming to your conclusion, such as virtuosity. my choices are alkan's sonatine and ligeti's etude no 5 "automne a varsovie" (which was posted in the 20th century fear thread).

[Nightscape]

Best endings....

Prokofiev Piano Concerto no.1
Debussy L'isle Joyeuse
Ravel Daphins et Chloe
Messiaen Quartet for the End of Time
Beethoven Symphony no.9
Copland The Red Pony Suite

actually there are lots and lots of pieces with the best endings.  I can't pick a single best one, because for one thing how could you objectively say a fast, virtuosic ending is better than a slow meditative one?  It all depends on my mood at the time really.

[jre58591]

the two that i mentioned would definitely be my virtuosic choices. for the meditative and slow picks, i would say the messiaen quatuor por la fin du temps (i like the french names he gave) and respighi's concerto in modo misolidio (1st movt ending). i would agree iun saying that the mood can help with such a decision.

[JCarey]

The best ending, in my opinion, is Mahler's 8th symphony, with the 2nd symphony as a close second. Nothing else I've heard compares. Here are some of my other favorites:

Beethoven - Op. 111
Busoni - Concerto
Godowsky - Sonata
Grieg - Concerto
Hamelin - Circus Galop
Ives - Symphony No. 2
Liszt - Sonata
Saint-Saens - Symphony No. 3
Shostakovich - Several of the symphonies have great endings.
Sorabji - Opus Clavicembalisticum, Passeggiata Veneziana
Tchaikowsky - 1812 Overture, 6th symphony
Rachmaninoff - 2nd Concerto, 3rd Concerto

[hummel]

For me it's the ending of the two outer movements of Hummel Piano Concerto Op. 85. But the ending of Hummel Piano Concerto Op. 85 mov. 3 isn't bad either.

[jre58591]

For me it's the ending of the two outer movements of Hummel Piano Concerto Op. 85. But the ending of Hummel Piano Concerto Op. 85 mov. 3 isn't bad either.

how could i forget that concerto?? the endings of those two movements always send chills down my spine.

also, the ending of the 6th piece from messiaen's vingt regards gets to me every time. it starts off in f sharp major and then deviates from it as it goes up. absolutely genius.

[jakev2.0]

Alkan Symphony mvt 1
Scriabin 5th Sonata

[pita bread]

Berg - Sonata
Ligeti - L'escalier du diable, Autumn in Warsaw
Rachmaninoff - Sonata #1
Ravel - Scarbo
Scriabin - Sonata #5

[jre58591]

great choices everyone. lets not forget the end of barber's sonata (the awesome fugue).

[Motrax]

Crime and Punishment has an incredible ending. 

[ryguillian]

Alban Berg’s op. 1 Sonate.

[apion]

Brahms, Op. 24 Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Handel.  The piece concludes with a grand fugue; and the fugue concludes with a powerful, decisive statement by the piano.

[desordre]

 Hi there!
 Great choices, especially Messiaen's Quatuor and Beethoven opus 111 (this one heard as the final of a Sonata Cycle by him is an unique experience).
 To me, the most emotional ending, one that always makes me cry, is from Britten's Variations and Fugue on a theme of Henry Purcell. The second in the list should be Bach's Die Kunst der Fuge, because it doesn't end. Makes me think: Oh, boy...

 Another remarkable endings:
 Mozart: Don Giovanni;
 Chopin: Preludes opus 28 (the prelude n. 24 as an ending to the whole series);
 Machaut: any lenghty organa;
 Fernando Sor: Fantasia opus 59 (a guitar work. The composer is a lesser known Beethoven contemporary);
 Wagner: Tristan und Isolde;
 Boulez: Le Marteau sans Maitre.

 By the way, good idea to a thread, Jre! I guess I never thought about this.
 Best wishes!

 PS: Dear Motrax, do you refer to Dostoievsky? What an ending! 

 
 

[Motrax]

Indeed! I finished the book yesterday, and I'm still shivering 

Now, on to Kafka short stories!

[Waldszenen]

Crime and Punishment has an incredible ending. 

Funny you mention that, I bought the book this morning, haven't started reading it yet though


Anyway, favourite endings...

- Brahms, Symphony No. 4
- Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 (the coda, IMO, is possibly the greatest... minute or so of music ever composed)
- Chopin, Sonata No. 3
- Schumann, Carnaval

[superstition2]

Satie: Vexations

[superstition2]

Orchestral:
Scriabin, Poem of Ecstasy
Tcherepnin, Symphony 3 (end of movement 3)
Rachmaninov, Symphony 1
Sibelius, Symphony 7

Concerto:
Scriabin, piano concerto
Grieg, piano concerto
Rachmaninov, piano concerto 2 (ending of central movement)
Scriabin, Prometheus
Prokofiev, piano concerto 3 (strident and thin, but still good)
Rodrigo, concierto de Aranjuez (ending of central movement)

Piano solo:
Rachmaninov, sonata 2 (original version) or Horowitz version (Horowitz 1968)
Scriabin, sonata 7, played by Glemser or Laredo
Scriabin, sonata 5
Scriabin, Vers la Flamme
Scriabin, etude in d#
Myaskovsky, sonata 3
Prokofiev, sonata 6
Beethoven, sonata 23
Chopin, sonata 2
Chopin, ballade in g

Other instruments:

Bach: toccata and fugue in D minor for organ
Bach: passacaglia and fugue in C minor for organ

[brewtality]

Crime and Punishment has an incredible ending. 

Lol, I was going to say Casablanca as my joke reply.

Chopin 1st and 3rd ballades
Rach 3
Liszt GGC

The last choice is a bit lame, but I can't think of anything quickly...

[sinspawnammes]

I've found Chopin's Bb-minor Scherzo to have the most amazing ending, especially when played with lots of rubato.

[pianistimo]

the ending of the first movmenet of the waldstein sonata which ties in directly with the second movement.

[pianochild]

I quite like the rachmaninoff prelude in g minor ending, but thats out of the ones ive played. I like the mendelssohn rondo capriccioso ending its a whole page long its cool, and the beethoven moonlite 3rd ending!

[gymnopedist]

Ravel Concerto for the left hand
Ravel La valse
Korngold Piano Concerto (Really weird ending, but i like it nonetheless)
Langgård Insanity fantasy, 1st movement, autumn-night of insanity (Weird title, but nice meditative ending anyway)
Prokofiev Toccata
Liszt vision
Chopin Ballade in G minor
Debussy Prélude à l'apres-midi d'un faune

[kevinatcausa]

Concerto:
Prokofiev 3rd, first movement
Shostakovich 1st, third movement
Rachmaninov, Paganini Rhapsody

Solo Piano:
Barber Sonata, Final Movement
Debussy "Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum"

Nonpiano
Handel's Messiah (essentially the entire Amen sequence)
Wagner's "Die Walküre" (Wotan's farewell to Brunnhilde and the closing magic fire music)

I may add more to this when I think of it

[rapmasterb]

Ending of 1st movement of brahms d and 4th movement of brahms b-flat major.

[avetma]

Ravel - Scarbo (from Gaspard)
Liszt - Sonata
Liszt - Transcedental no12 Chasse-Neige
Chopin - Etude 25/11
Prokofiev - Suggestion Diabolique (I like this one )

[stucoy]

Non-piano: Mahler 2nd Symphony. (When I hear the finale, I find it hard not to 'air-conduct' it, and go berserk.)

Piano: I think Robbie is the Master of Endings. Such as:
The magical ending of 'Papillons'
Kinderszenen
The Fantasy, op.17

Also:
The coda of Cesar Franck's Prelude, Chorale et Fugue.
Liszt: La Benediction de Dieu dans la Solitude

[quantum]

Chopin Ballade No. 4
Chopin Scherzo No. 2
Chopin Prelude 28/24
Chopin Prelude 28/22
Chopin Mazurka 33/4
Beethoven Symphony 9
Scriabin Sonata No. 5
Scriabin Sonata No. 7
Scriabin Sonata No. 10
Medtner Sonata Tragica
Ginastera Sonata No. 1

Prokofiev Concerto No. 3
Rach Concerto No. 2
Tchaikovsky Concerto No. 1

[dnephi]

For me, Beethoven Op. 111 is one of my favorites.

He puts for his last defiance, endures his final struggle, and at last "finds peace with God" in the arietta. 

Incredible.

[apion]

Concerto:
Prokofiev 3rd, first movement

Oh ... oh .... what about the coda to the 3rd movement of Prokofiev's 3rd Piano Concerto?

[apion]

Ending of 1st movement of brahms d [minor piano concerto]

Gotta agree!

[rapmasterb]

Gotta agree!

Had the pleasure of playing the movement - playing the ending is just the biggest high ever.

[nanabush]

Rach etudes Op 33 #6[7] in Eb major, and op 39 #9 in D major, both extremely powerful, full endings.

Chopin prelude 24, I dunno why it sorta feels like this piece leaves you hanging, and I find that really cool.

I like the endings to many bach fugues in minor keys b/cuz of the tierce de picardi thing. 

Ravel Gaspard de la nuit, Ondine's ending is both very virtuosic and fullfilling, le Gibet maintains the lonely, solemn feel all the way through which is also awesome, and Scarbo's sudden halt is siiiiiiiiiiickkk.

I also second Debussy's L'isle Joyeuse... I'm learning the piece now, mostly because the ending left such an impact!

For piano concertos, I can't think of just one... the ending to prett much every concerto is memorable in its own way 

[verywellmister]

What about Ginastera's other sonatas?

[verywellmister]

Chopin Ballade No. 1
Chopin Ballade No. 4
Chopin Scherzo No. 1
Chopin Scherzo No. 2
Chopin Scherzo No. 3
Chopin Scherzo No. 4
Chopin Prelude 28/24
Chopin Prelude 28/22
Chopin Etude Op. 25 no. 12
Chopin Andante Spianato and Grand Polonaise
Scriabin Sonata No. 4
Scriabin Sonata No. 5
Ginastera Sonata No. 1
Ginastera Danzas Argentinas
Tchaikovsky Dumka
Liszt Transcendental Etudes, esp. 4, 10, 12
Liszt Concerto no. 1
Liszt Concerto no. 2
Liszt Totentanz
Liszt La Campanella (Paganini etude)
Liszt b minor Sonata
Liszt Dante Fantasia
Liszt Hungarian Rhapsodies 2, 6
Ravel Toccata (Tombeau de Couperin)
Ravel Alborada del Gracioso (Miroirs)
Shchedrin Basso Ostinato (Polyphonic  pieces)
Liebermann Gargoyles
Prokofiev Sonata No. 6
Prokofiev Sonata No. 7
Prokofiev Concerto No. 3
Debussy L'isle Joyeuse
Debussy Toccata (Pour le Piano)
Bartok Sonata Sz. 80
Rachmaninoff Etudes Tableaux 33/6, 39/5, 39/9
Rachmaninoff Sonata no. 2
Mendelssohn Rondo Capriccioso
Schumann Sonata in G minor, Op. 22
Balakirev Islamey

[allchopin]

Satie: Vexations

Heh, I would have to agree with you there - but I still haven't finished listening yet..

[JCarey]

Mahler 8th, Symphony of a Thousand - https://www.johncareycompositions.com/requests/mahler8ending.mp3 

Mahler 2nd, Resurrection - https://www.johncareycompositions.com/requests/mahler2ending.mp3

The ending of the 2nd would have been my first choice for "best ending" if it wouldn't have been for the final orchestral conclusion after the chorus finishes singing. It doesn't end the piece as powefully, in my opinion.

[jre58591]

for a non-virtuosic ending, respighi's concerto in modo misolidio takes the cake (1st movt).

[el nino]

chopin 27/2

[jre58591]

the ending of sorabji's gulistan is also a great ending. its almost as if the piece seems to be floating away.

[penguinlover]

For me, it has to be Greig's Piano Concerto in A minor.  I love this piece, and the ending is the best part of it.

[jre58591]

perhaps this ending should take the cake:

[penguinlover]

Wow!  That would take some learning to do that, at least for me.  I wouldn't know where to start.  I guess one note at a time!  Can you play it?

[jre58591]

Wow!  That would take some learning to do that, at least for me.  I wouldn't know where to start.  I guess one note at a time!  Can you play it?

haha i can play it at an awfully slow tempo. the ending, however, is nothing compared to the rest of the piece. for those of you that havent figured it out, that is the ending from sorabji's OC.

[avetma]

This is way more impressive to me:

[ahinton]

This is way more impressive to me:

Both the Sorabji and the Liszt are impressive to me...

Best,

Alistair

[nicco]

Both the Sorabji and the Liszt are impressive to me...

Best,

Alistair

Agreed. Although i would love to hear the alternate ending of the sonata

[bflatminor24]

The best ending for piano pieces would be included in some of the pieces below:

Alkan - Grande Sonata
Alkan - Symphony: Finale (39/7 in E flat minor)
Alkan - Concerto Allegretto alla barbaresca
Alkan - Le Preux
Chopin - Ballade No. 4
Chopin - Sonata No. 2
Chopin - Sonata No. 3
Chopin - Prelude 8, 16, 24
Liszt - Transcendental Etudes 4, 10, 11, 12
Rachmaninoff - Sonata 1
Rachmaninoff - Sonata 2
Rachmaninoff Preludes 23/2, 23/5, 23/7, 23/9, 32/12
Beethoven - Sonata 23, 29, 30, 31
Scriabin - Sonata 2, 7, 9, Etudes 8/5, 8/12


~Max~

[cfortunato]

Egmont Overture.

Heck, "A Day In The Life."

[jre58591]

sorry to bump this, but i just need more opinions. i also remembered another awesome ending: szymanowski's 2nd sonata. its probably the most furious thing ive ever heard, especially with hamelin playing it.

[phil13]

The final minute and a half in Rach 2 is musical ecstasy.

Out of solo piano works, these are some of the best endings I know of:

Scriabin Etude in D# minor Op.8 No.12
Scriabin Etude in C# minor Op.42 No.5
Beethoven Sonata Op.57 in F minor (both the 1st mvt by itself and the whole sonata)
Beethoven Sonata Op.27 No.2 in C# minor
Beethoven Sonata Op.28 in D major
Medtner Skazka in B minor Op.20 No.2
Medtner Skazka in C# minor Op.35 No.4
Chopin Scherzo No.3 in C# minor
Chopin Scherzo No.4 in E major
Chopin Etude Op.25 No.11 in A minor
Chopin Polonaise-Fantasie Op.61 in A-flat major
Chopin Nocturne Op.48 No.1 in C minor
Barber Sonata Op.26 in E-flat minor

Phil