While many people associate loud music with drum kits and electric guitars, this style has been around for centuries. While classical instruments are not as aggressive as their rock counterparts, they are still able to produce a tremendous amount of noise. For instance, Ligeti’s “Kurtág” has eight forte markings in one section, while Tchaikovsky’s cannons can reach up to 11 kilometers in sound.
For those interested in loud music, the answer is clear-cut: the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. While Beethoven’s fortissimos are hardly considered classical, they do have their place in the history of rock and classical music. And while you might think that a piece by Wellington’s Victory is pretty schlock, this piece is actually very loud. As for the other albums on the list, there’s plenty of rock and punk to choose from, with each of these bringing a distinct flavor to the music.
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is well known for its use of amplified instruments, including trumpets, trombones, and saxophones. These powerful instruments are used to create new sonic hybrids. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s “De Materie” opens with an overpowering decibel burn, conveying the materiality of sound. Likewise, the EMI’s Heavy Classix vols. 1 and 2 are also loud, but their volume level is far more manageable than the classics.
The loudest classical music can be found in the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra has a brass section that can hit 140 decibels during their soundcheck in 2008. This orchestra’s performance of Nessun dorma is so loud that it will be almost impossible to hear it. In the video below, listen to a few minutes of the concert. They sound incredible! So, what is the loudest classical music?
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s “Battle of Vitoria” was a sonic assault on listeners. It used 100 musicians, and the composer himself has stated that it is the loudest classical music in the world. Its composer had little emotional attachment to the piece, but it was still performed to a crowd in a large city for a royal event. The English prince regent was not a fan, and it was only a matter of time before the opera was re-released with a more appropriate version.
While there are other instruments that have a louder sound than the piano, the violin is one of the loudest instruments, with a 117-decibel peak. The bassoon, on the other hand, can’t be heard at all. Despite the fact that it’s not loud enough to be considered “classical music,” it can be viewed as a great example of classical music.
