What do you think is the most intense piece of classical music you`ve heard? Or even just heard of?

I dunno. But compared to the other musical periods, i find classical music in nooooo way intense. Or do you mean most intense piece of classical music, in the sense most ppl take classical as? Coz if that is what you mean, i would have to say a 20th century piece, or a piece of programme music, like threnody to the victims of hiroshima, or one of shoenbergs or something, i dunno.

Since you`ve answered in the classical section, I`m, giving you `intense` classical music.
Revolutionary Etude- Chopin
Apassionata Sonata-Beethoven
Pathetique Sonata- Beethoven
Hugarian Rhapsody no. 2-Liszt
Liberstrom-Liszt
Any thing buy Debussy or Liszt or Chopin
Try the impressionist or romantic periods of music.

Don Davis has done a lot intense classical for the matrix. His best in my opinions is Neodeammerung, used in the last fight between Smith and Neo.

Try Summa and Fratres by Arvo Part. This music always boggles my mind when listening to it. A second nomination for Penderecki`s Hiroshima.

On a second wind, one reason that music can be tense is that we as people love to hear resolve. In many of the pieces listed, there is a lack of a clear resolve of key. Another good composer for this type of music is Wagner. Try listening for reslove in Tristan and Isolde!

Well, I think it`s pretty hard to give a definate answer to this...
I think Holst`s `The Planets` is intense... but sometimes Liszt`s Sonata will work as well, or Lutoslawski`s arrangement of 4 hands Paganini`s Caprice.... There`re too many to name.

well.. i personally like funeral marches.. especially from chopin.. but i wouldnt say they are intense..ide say "etude in c minor no12" by chopin i personally think its an outstanding piece :D or mabey the revolutionary etude by chopin thats also amazing......i think the first one is by far better but when it comes to intensity id have to say revolutiounary etude..
jen

I concur with Don Davis and "Neodammerung." Although its neoclassical, its world-shattering. Same for Sir Rob Dougan`s "Clubbed to Death, and "O Verona" from the Romeo + Juliet soundtrack.

As far as true classical, Carmina Burana "O Fortuna" would do the job, Wagner`s "Die Walkur," Beethoven`s Fifth and Hammerklavier symphonies, Grieg`s "In the Hall of the Mountain King," Moussorgsky`s "Night on Bald Mountain," and Bach`s abstract "Tocatta & Fugue."

n e s s you posted "I dunno. But compared to the other musical periods, i find classical music in nooooo way intense. Or do you mean most intense piece of classical music, in the sense most ppl take classical as? Coz if that is what you mean, i would have to say a 20th century piece, or a piece of programme music, like threnody to the victims of hiroshima, or one of shoenbergs or something, i dunno." how can you say classical music is "in no way intence" if any thing its more intence than whatever your comparing it to... how can you say songs like revolutionary etude by chopin, or Hugarian Rhapsody no. 2 by Liszt or Pathetique Sonata by Beethoven etc.. how can you say such songs are not intence... have you ever listened to them?! the kind of classical music youve probly heard is conservatory pieces or pieces like ode to joy or fur elise... they are good songs .. but more for begginners or for doing grades.. which if you say that theres no intence classical music, you probly are.. so why dont you not post anything unless your sure of what your saying.

Which "intense" do you mean? There`s the extrememly tense, often violent kind of intense music, and then there`s the intensely emotional music. Sense most people seem to have taken the former, I`ll go ahead and give a more emotionally intense piece of music: Rachmaninoff`s 2nd Concerto. The 2nd and 3rd movements are pretty good, but the 1st movement is stunning! And it`s packed with feeling without getting sappy. I`ll make another list later if I have time.