Thunder and Lightning polka - Strauss Jr

Alot of stuff by strauss is very upbeat, rousing and thunderous.

You simply cannot go wrong with Respighi's raucous Roman Festivals - it has been described by some as vulgar, because it is mostly so upbeat, loud and boisterous, but that's all part of the fun of what is a seriously skillful 20-minute score. You will hear lots of imitations of this in later Hollywood epics (such as Ben Hur). Respighi got there first!

And has anyone here mentioned Stravinsky's seminal Rite of Spring - possibly the most influential 20th century classical score?

How about Shostakovich's 5th symphony? Dramatic, always. Upbeat? Not always, but the last movement certainly is.

Among old chestnuts, of course we should remember Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture, where the triumphant ending can include firing a cannon. Would that be thunderous enough? ;-)

If you have ever heard Bach's major keyboard pieces played on a good GERMAN harpsichord, the kind with the crashing sound and powerful bass -- that is thunderous. Unfortunately, you usually hear them played on pianos, which is nice but which they were not intended for, or on French harpsichords, which sound like tinkling fairy dust.

How "Classical" are we talking?

Very Classical, try some of the Beethoven Symphonies, 5th or 9th, perhaps. And of course, the 1812 overture, as mentioned. I mean, c'mon, it's got CANNONS.

Pretty Classical, I'd say Holts's Planets, specifically Mars or Jupiter, and Stravinsky's Rite of Spring.

All these have been mentioned, and for good reason.

For a broader examination of over-the top craziness and smashing in classical music try G.F. Haas's "In Vain." There's a section that is like, FIVE minutes of Tam-tam smashes. Just be forewarned, it's not pop-classical, and it's about an hour of very-intense music. I love it.

-Zack