Rarely discussed works by well-known composers

[lukeottevanger]

Blimey, this is the sort of question one could spend all day answering. I'm going to confine myself to Ravel, always one of my very favourite composer, though I'm not sure why he sprang to mind when I read this question - perhaps it's that he has a relatively small oeuvre of which the orchestral and piano pieces are best known, but which is perhaps shown at its most sparkling, original, insightful and touching in the chamber and vocal repertoire:


Trois Poemes de Stephane Mallarme
Chansons Madecasses
Histoires Naturelles
Sonata for Violin and Cello
Piano Trio (is this little-discussed? - it is certainly under-discussed)

major masterpieces all. The two operas are too, not sure if they qualify, and I'd really love to add some more of the songs - the Noelle des jouets and the Epigrammes de Clement Marot specifically.

[PSmith08]

Mahler's Das klagende Lied, in my book, is not discussed nearly as much as it ought to be. Whether or not it's "rarely discussed" is for greater minds than mine. However, it seems that his symphonies and song-cycles get more attention than the one cantata (unless you count the 8th) he wrote. It is heavily revised and, still, obviously from someone younger than the Mahler of the 7th or the 9th; however, it is still quite nice.

I'd be inclined to throw Bruckner's Helgoland into the mix, as it is lovely, dramatic, and all that; however, I tend to think that all of Bruckner's stuff is under-discussed, given his importance and wide-ranging contributions to the late-Romantic milieu.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Brahms - Quartets for four solo voices and piano (various opus #'s).
Handel - Practically any stage work other than Messiah.
Prokofiev - Cello sonata.
Ravel - Kaddisch...only the most beautiful song ever written.
Zemlinsky - Anything.
Rimsky-Korsakov - Anything other than Scheherazade (his operas rock!).
Bartok - Violin duos.
Schoenberg - Jacob's Ladder.

[Bonehelm]

Brahms - Quartets for four solo voices and piano (various opus #'s).
Handel - Practically any stage work other than Messiah.
Prokofiev - Cello sonata.
Ravel - Kaddisch...only the most beautiful song ever written.
Zemlinsky - Anything.
Rimsky-Korsakov - Anything other than Scheherazade (his operas rock!).
Bartok - Violin duos.
Schoenberg - Jacob's Ladder.

Actually Korsakov is very well known for his Flight of the bumble bee as well.

[Grazioso]

Actually Korsakov is very well known for his Flight of the bumble bee as well.

Bu why, oh why, do his symphonies not get more attention? Not towering masterpieces, certainly, but quite enjoyable nonetheless.

[Hector]

people don't discuss Schoenberg's neo-classical works at all!

Or Mahler's.

[karlhenning]

people don't discuss Schoenberg's neo-classical works at all!

Yes, the concerti after Monn and Handel are great fun!

[not edward]

Yes, the concerti after Monn and Handel are great fun!

Not that they're pure neo-classicism, but so are the suite for string orchestra and the variations for wind band.

[johnshade]

.
Liszt: Faust Symphony and Dante Symphony

[jochanaan]

Schumann's Three Romances for oboe and piano.  One of the very, very few oboe solo pieces by a major Romantic composer.

Carl Nielsen's woodwind quintet and Sixth Symphony.

Samuel Barber's Summer Music for woodwind quintet.

Howard Hanson's symphonies (except for #2, "Romantic").

Alan Hovhaness' Symphony #50, "Mount St. Helens."

(Yes, Barber, Hanson and Hovhaness are major composers. )

[Mark]

Schumann's Three Romances for oboe and piano.  One of the very, very few oboe solo pieces by a major Romantic composer.

Lovely works.

[mahlertitan]

Or Mahler's.

Mahler wrote Neo-classical works?

[Florestan]

Schumann's Three Romances for oboe and piano.  One of the very, very few oboe solo pieces by a major Romantic composer.

Seconded. Splendid music!

[Sergeant Rock]

Mahler wrote Neo-classical works?

Yes, during his early Gluckian phase he wrote the Scena, recitativo and aria Iphigenia in Stuttgart for castrato in drag, fortepiano and string trio. Unfortunately it was never performed during his lifetime due to a lack of male volunteers willing to tackle the physically demanding solo part. Mahler gave up on neo-classicism at that point and turned instead to bombastic, overblown works employing thousands and lasting for hours without a "comfort" break (or so it seemed to many who, squirming nervously in their seats, grimly cursed that glass of beer they had in the lobby before the concert). His symphonies caused such an uproar the Late Romantic era was prematurely cancelled by popular demand in 1911.

Sarge

[jochanaan]

Yes, during his early Gluckian phase he wrote the Scena, recitativo and aria Iphigenia in Stuttgart for castrato in drag, fortepiano and string trio. Unfortunately it was never performed during his lifetime due to a lack of male volunteers willing to tackle the physically demanding solo part...

I have read that Mahler narrowly escaped being FORCED to sing that part--as a castrato!   (In case it's not abundantly clear, THIS IS A JOKE! )

[not edward]

I have read that Mahler narrowly escaped being FORCED to sing that part--as a castrato!   (In case it's not abundantly clear, THIS IS A JOKE! )

oh, balls! i thought it was serious.

[Kullervo]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Webern's piano quintet and Im Sommerwind.

[Guido]

Cherubini and Vieuxtemps certainly do in my book.

Seconded.


I also think that Debussy's Cello Sonata doesn't get the air-time that it should (on radio, I mean). This recording is an absolute stunner, from it's finely shaped and superbly delivered opening onwards:

This is an absolutely astonishing disc - contains some of the finest cello playing I have ever heard. It's actually not my favourite version of the Debussy (athough it is superb - Tortelier, Gendron and Slava do it for me), but I think the real gem is the Poulenc cello Sonata. I've never heard it more convincingly or more beautifully played than on this recording - ne of the great cello works. (Fournier's version may seem to be the ideal one on paper, given that he premiered it with the composer, but this was early in his career, and as many cellists have noted, Fournier's recording legacy improved with age - this is an early recording). Sorry I know this is off topic.

I remember reading from some eminent scholar once that while he agreed that there were many great unknown works by unknown composers, the well known composers' unknown works were usually unknown for a reason. (I wish I could remember who it was). Not sure I agree, but it made me laugh!

Saint-Saens' La muse et le poete is an interesting double concerto (vilin, cello and orchestra). Not sure its great, but deserves mentioning more often.

Loads of Faure too. Playing the piano trio was one of the best chamber experiences I've had.

[Sergeant Rock]

I'd be inclined to throw Bruckner's Helgoland into the mix, as it is lovely, dramatic, and all that; however, I tend to think that all of Bruckner's stuff is under-discussed, given his importance and wide-ranging contributions to the late-Romantic milieu.

Seconded. Helgoland is the first work that came to mind when I saw the subject of this thread. A late work, and a very good one, it was composed during the same time Bruckner was struggling to finish the Ninth. Another rarely discussed, and rarely recorded Bruckner orchestral/choral gem is Psalm 150.

Sarge

[jochanaan]

Seconded. Helgoland is the first work that came to mind when I saw the subject of this thread. A late work, and a very good one, it was composed during the same time Bruckner was struggling to finish the Ninth. Another rarely discussed, and rarely recorded Bruckner orchestral/choral gem is Psalm 150.

Sarge

Oooooh!  I don't know these.  Recordings available? (drools)