Any scary classical pieces?

Question

I'm looking for real scary pieces. Please don't say Beethoven, I already know him. Thanks

Answer 1

Funeral March Of A Marionette
Night On Bald Mountain
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Ride Of The Valkyries

Answer 2

The "Dies Irae" section from Verdi's "Requiem" always sends chills down my spine. Also, the first two sections from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, "O Fortuna" and "Fortuna plango vulnera". Gustav Holst's "Mars, Bringer of War" from "The Planets" is maybe a little more military than scary, but it does have its moments.

Night on Bald Mountain by Mussorgsky and Dance Macabre, I will second.

If you were looking for pieces that are actually from the classical period, I'm less helpful, but all of these are symphonic/orchestral and would generally be grouped in the "classical" section at your local music store.

Answer 3

Are you asking about music from the classical period(like mozart and Hayden , around 1700-1850) or orchestral/instrumental music in general? They are very different things.
There are some very scary modern pieces, as well as some from the romantic and impressionistic era. Not so much classical, as they favored order and balance.
What do you need this for,do you prefer orchestra or wind band, or even movie scores. if you could be a little more specific, we could be of more help.

Answer 4

Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain.
The Witches Sabbath movement from Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique is pretty grotesque as is the March to the Scaffold that ends in a beheading.

Answer 5

Danse Macabre, Mahler's 8th symphony, Symponie Fantastique

Answer 6

Virtue by Hans Zimmer
from the Silence of the Lambs soundtrack

Answer 7

As a concert pianist, I would have to say, 'Mephisto Waltzes' by Listz - frightening to play.

Others would include, 'Macabre' Concerto for piano & orchestra - Bernard Hermmann

Oratorio 'Black Mass' Jerry Goldsmith

Requiem for the Undead - Peter Moore

That should keep you going for a while.

Answer 8

The Banshee by Henry Cowell

More of a spooky kind of scary, not a big bombastic type of scary.

Answer 9

Toccata and Fuge by Bach always came across as a scary piece to me, though I've always loved it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipzR9bhei_o

Answer 10

Swan Lake
Dracula
some parts of Romeo and Juliet
most ballets have scary and frightening melodies.
good luck!