Which symphony has the most poweful ending?

[Palmetto]

isn't that the standard for another 'art form'? 

Oh, and I'd say 'moving' would be a good synonym.  I'll abstain from voting since I haven't heard any of the referenced pieces yet, or at least don't recognize that I have.

[Lethevich]

I picked Bruckner's 5th, but the one that comes to mind most readily is Dvořák's 7th. It may not be the longest or most hyper symphony, but it ties the work together so well and is very cathartic, but also mildly chilling. Super stuff

[Sergeant Rock]

isn't that the standard for another 'art form'? 

I have no idea what you mean 


Sarge

[Wanderer]

I may not be able to define it but I know powerful when I hear it 

Succinctly put. 

I also object to the implied notion that a poll  thread about disparate symphonic endings should have any less aspirations to silliness than the multitude of similar poll threads before it. 

[karlhenning]

Not sure anyone said anything about silly.

But I am enjoying my popcorn, thank you very much ; )

Of course, the poll at the start of the thread says powerful and hair-raising.

And some of us have scalp follicles which are always up for some stimulation . . . .

[Gurn Blanston]

Without Beethoven's 9th, which would raise MY hair if I had any, the poll loses all credibility.

[karlhenning]

Also missing from the poll is the Shostakovich Leningrad, which, when the Mariinka performed it in Worcester's Mechanics Hall, may well have been the most powerful ending to any symphony in a performance I have witnessed.

[Gurn Blanston]

Also missing from the poll is the Shostakovich Leningrad, which, when the Mariinka performed it in Worcester's Mechanics Hall, may well have been the most powerful ending to any symphony in a performance I have witnessed.

Yeah, I know. I'm sure the OP doesn't want us to complain about what isn't there, but The 9th! Just sayin'...

[Grazioso]

but what if there's a powerful quiet ending, like Zemlinksy's Lyric Symphony?

Or Pettersson's 7th? A whisper can be more dramatic than a shout.

Yeah, I know. I'm sure the OP doesn't want us to complain about what isn't there, but The 9th! Just sayin'...

Is that the one where the big guy starts singing about tuna?  He must be hungry 

[mahler10th]

My definition of powerful in music is in its touch.  It can do as much blasting, ripping and throwing daisies as it likes, but how does the effect of the music in consideration affect my thoughts?  For example, I consider Lutoslawski a powerful composer because his works have a tendency to alter the electromagnetic pathways of my brian and send me to Neptune and back, that is why he is powerful to me.  Mahlers 10th and Schmidts 4rth can OVERWHELM me with sadness.  They are powerful works.  Sibelius leaves me feeling reflective and damnable intense.  He is a powerful composer for me.  The power is in how intensely the music makes me respond, whether it is loud, quiet or whatever.
Och aye the noo, etc.,

[Gurn Blanston]

Is that the one where the big guy starts singing about tuna?  He must be hungry 

YES! That's the one, right there! See, how could you leave that out? 

[Brian]

I picked Bruckner's 5th, but the one that comes to mind most readily is Dvořák's 7th. It may not be the longest or most hyper symphony, but it ties the work together so well and is very cathartic, but also mildly chilling. Super stuff

Yeah, that ending is simply apocalyptic, to these ears. You don't need a battery of percussion and reinforced brass to make it feel like all the world is collapsing around you...

[Opus106]

Dvořák's 7th. It may not be the longest or most hyper symphony, but it ties the work together so well and is very cathartic, but also mildly chilling. Super stuff

Yeah, that ending is simply apocalyptic, to these ears. You don't need a battery of percussion and reinforced brass to make it feel like all the world is collapsing around you...

I feel that it's AD's tribute to Don Giovanni (or to his fate).

[Brahmsian]

I feel that it's AD's tribute to Don Giovanni (or to his fate).

Off topic:  No word of a lie, the Commendatore statue in this performance of Don Giovanni, looks a lot like Antonin Dvorak!   

[asin]B0009F7G30[/asin]

[Sef]

.... and if powerful can be quiet and reflective then Bruckner's 9th always affected me deeply. During a very heavy depressional episode a few years back the ending went round and round my head for weeks.

[Grazioso]

YES! That's the one, right there! See, how could you leave that out? 

O Freunde, nicht diese Töne Tuna!
Sondern laßt uns angenehmere Fische essen,
    und freudenvollere.

 

[JonathanConway]

How could anyone not be affected by the ending of Bruckner's 4th ("The Romantic")?

[Gurn Blanston]

O Freunde, nicht diese Töne Tuna!
Sondern laßt uns angenehmere Fische essen,
    und freudenvollere.

 

Hmm, something smells fishy in here; must be that doggerel-fish....

[Grazioso]

Hmm, something smells fishy in here; must be that doggerel-fish....

http://www.youtube.com/v/pnq96W9jtuw

[DavidW]

Tchaikovsky's 6th and Shostakovich's 8th.  Powerful to me, as in moving not as in bombastic.