Your fav symphony, composed in the last 100 years?

Ouled Nails

New member
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

Member
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

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

Chi_townPhilly

Sr. Regulator
Sr. Regulator
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

Admiral of Fugues
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

Chief assistant to the assistant chief
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:rolleyes:
 

JHC

Chief assistant to the assistant chief
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

Admiral of Fugues
"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

Chief assistant to the assistant chief
"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. :)
 

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
Yes - begging to differ is probably good on the LvB front with me, Colin. I'll give you an example of where LvB's music is truly awful (and that doesn't include the symphonies by the way): King Stephen Overture the most boring, uninspired load of tripe to come of a quill feather pen in the 18th century. And, the Missa Solemnis, it's just so frantic and demented it's really hard to hear what the singers are trying to impart.

For what it's worth I am VERY fond of the 9th Symphony and personally own about 12 different versions of it. Never want to hear the 5th again before I pop me cloggs.
 

JHC

Chief assistant to the assistant chief
David, I would not venture to question your likes or dislikes, being so utterly subjective music means different things to different people and that is as it should be, one thing I like about this forum is that in general the members are quite a bit older and mature and do not resort to verbal fights over the one subject that we all enjoy.

So while you are a person of absolutely lousy taste I will sleep to night knowing that you are wrong.
[my little joke eh] Colin :cheers:
 

Art Rock

Sr. Regulator
Staff member
Sr. Regulator
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" ;)

All a matter of taste. Personally I'd rate Mahler, Brahms, Bruckner, Shostakovich, Dvorak, Sibelius higher than Ludwig in terms of the overall qualities of their symphonies.
 

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
And for you my dear friend Colin, if you tune into the station mentoined tomorrow at about 3pm you'll hear the Sydney Symphony from the Proms if you like (see the Classical thread for links).
 

JHC

Chief assistant to the assistant chief
Thank you David, I wish they would make it available as a d/l I hope to be at golf.
quote Ct (from the land of the fart tax),the media and politicians couldn't even get their heads around that it was belching that does the damage. they are a useless bunch of ??????????????
 
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