Your fav symphony, composed in the last 100 years?

[Mat]

Funnily enough the title of the thread is symphony, not concerto, not suite...

Okay. Then it's just Prokofiev's Classical Symphony and Shostakovich's Chamber Symphony.

[Contratrombone64]

Actually, mat, with regard the Classical Symphony of Prokofiev, it didn't set any new ground and it never intended to but it's one of the best examples of titled neon-classical music ever composed. A delight to listen to and a mongrel to play, extremely pianistic string writing that doesn't fall under the fingers at all well.

[Mat]

A delight, indeed.

[Contratrombone64]

Hate Shostakovich, far too much down-trodden Russian Bolshevism in it for me. Would far rather listen to Moniuszko... did he compose symphonies?

[Mat]

No, not that I know of.

As far as symphonies are concerned, I've been looking for a recording of Krzysztof Mayer's composition - Symphony in D major in Mozartean style. In 1977 Poznań Philharmonic asked him to compose a piece for April Fools' Day. He decieded to write a symphony. The audience were told they were going to hear one of lesser known Mozart's symphony. No one was in the know of this hoax, except for the conductor. Funnily enough, a lot of people fell for it and were convinced it was an actual Mozart's composition they were hearing. Would love to hear it myself and see if the resemblance is that apparent.

[Ouled Nails]

The French and South Americans are not going to fare well in this thread because they frequently chose not to call their orchestral works a symphony. So, the question is a tad subjective in that the concept of a symphony became more and more subjective during that century. Are not several of Villa Lobos's Bachianas Brasileiras symphony like? Sorry Heitor! You won't make this cut!

Still, playing along, I would first state that "symphonies" have become extremely numerous during the twentieth century, from a half dozen per year to about fifty recognized, performed and published symphonies every year!

The choice is thus agonizing, so agonizing that I can't choose!

Today, I listened to William Schuman's third, not sure why, other than I just like it. Once a year, I give a spin to Hovhaness's Mount St. Helen Symphony because he tried to express eruption in music. When I want to hear an eruption, I turn to him.

World War II! There's a whole collection of symphonies the Northern Flower label has produced from Russia alone! Sure, we all know about Shostakovich's seventh, but a whole bunch of Soviet composers were writing symphonies about the war or inspired by wartime realities. People in the Soviet Union were by far the greatest victims of that war and it shows. Popov, Weinberg, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Shcherbakov, etc., all contributed their own voice. I have a special place in my heart for M. Weinberg if only because he never forgot and kept composing a lot of symphonies so that people would never forget.

Old man Sibelius is good listening too, particularly in the wilds of Maine.

I'll just stop here because I have got to stop writing spontaneously like this.

[Dorsetmike]

Still, playing along, I would first state that "symphonies" have become extremely numerous during the twentieth century, from a half dozen per year to about fifty recognized, performed and published symphonies every year!

But how many of the 50 per year survive beyond a year, if at all? Listening to Classical radio stations I would think 90% - 95% of the works are well established much earlier works (pre WW2?)

[Montefalco]

I recently heard Henze's 9th symphony, and decided it deserved a mention amongst those I already listed.

[Chi_townPhilly]

O.K.: now I understand... Rachmaninoff 2 misses out by three years (1907), and Mahler 9 misses out by just one year (1909).

All right then- (limiting myself to one composer each, as well)- I'll say-

1. Shostakovich 10
2. Sibelius 5
3. Mahler 10 (Cooke II or Mazzetti)
4. Prokofiev 1
5. Corigliano 1

If not for the restraint of one work per composer, I probably would have found room for Shostakovich 5 & Shostakovich 13

[Contratrombone64]

Philly - you know what - I'd even stretch the title of this thread to include Rachmaninov's 2nd symphony (I didn't think of it before but it's one of my absolute favourites).

As to Shostakovich 10, yeah, it's one of the less dreary of a very dreary bunch.
Love Sibelius 5 - especially the demented E-flat major string arrpeggios at the end of the 1st movement (farking difficult to play, let me tell you)
Mahler 10 I can take or leave
Don't know the Corigliano 1st, I must try and hunt out a recording.
Prokofiev's Classical Symphony (no1) is just such great fun!

[JHC]

I am a fan of all of the Sibelius Sym in particular #6 by BPO + Karajan and #7 by San Francisco Sym + Blomstedt, also BIS put out a few by Lahti Sym Orch + Osmo Vanska #5 was the original version (1925) I think the reworked one is a bit more concise, but the actual audio of the BIS CD's are fantastic. I am a little surprised that Beethoven did not rate, There are just so many great works from a host of wonderful composers, pity they are thin on the ground today

[Contratrombone64]

Colin, yes, BIS CDs are really amazingly engineered ... they are real speaker breakers if you're not careful!

[JHC]

I just realised we are limited to the last 100 yrs so I should not have mentioned LvB "but he aint been beat yet fellas"

[Contratrombone64]

"but he aint been beat yet fellas" now that's a very strong ascertion, one I don't hold as truthful to be honest. I find Beethoven's music tedious in general, rather spend an hour weeding in a garden than listening to ANOTHER 5th symphony.

[JHC]

"but he aint been beat yet fellas" now that's a very strong ascertion, one I don't hold as truthful to be honest. I find Beethoven's music tedious in general, rather spend an hour weeding in a garden than listening to ANOTHER 5th symphony.

Then we beg to differ David, LvB output has one or two compositions that I am not fond of but IMO his Sym, St Qt, P Son have not been bettered the V con one of the best, Cello Son top notch.