Tone Poems

[Sergeant Rock]

Let's not forget Smetana! Má vlast, that cycle of six tone poems, has to be ranked among the greatest ever composed. In addition he gave us Wallenstein's Camp, Hakon Jarl, and Richard III.

But greatest? It has to be either Strauss or Sibelius. I hold them in comparable esteem.

Sarge

[Tapkaara]

Let's not forget Smetana! Má vlast, that cycle of six tone poems, has to be ranked among the greatest ever composed. In addition he gave us Wallenstein's Camp, Hakon Jarl, and Richard III.

But greatest? It has to be either Strauss or Sibelius. I hold them in comparable esteem.

Sarge

I agree with your assessment of Smetana. Ma Vlast very well could be ranked among the best in the genre.

But based on quality of over-all output, I do see Sibelius or Strauss on a generally higher level.

[not edward]

Even without Tapiola, I'd be tempted to say Sibelius. With Tapiola included, no contest.

[johnshade]

Sibelius, Dvorak, yes they are great.

However, it is Richard Strauss for me by a country mile!  0:)

YES!

[DavidW]

Rachmaninoff.

[matti]

Sibbe

How come, unless you're Finnish?

Edit, to clarify my possibly cryptic post: Sibbe is a nickname of Sibelius used by (mostly) (Finnish?) musicians.

[Christo]

Some of my personal favourites in this category (details to be followed later) would be:

Respighi, Janáček, Martinů, Eller, Freitas Branco, Rey. (Who's Rey?? See Cemal Reşit Rey).

[Tapkaara]

How come, unless you're Finnish?

Edit, to clarify my possibly cryptic post: Sibbe is a nickname of Sibelius used by (mostly) (Finnish?) musicians.

I am not Finnish. But Sibbe was the family name of the composer before is was "Latinized" to Sibelius. (The Latinaztion of family names in Finland and Scandinavia was common at the time.)

Mutta eläköön Suomi!

[schweitzeralan]

I go for Sibelius too, especially the later ones which seal the deal (The Oceanides, The Bard). In addition to those mentioned on your list my other favourites are Bax, Karłowicz and Tchaikovsky.

Yes, Sibelius and Bax.  need more be said in favor of two of my favorite composers.  Much is stated on both these wonderful composers in this forum.

There are other possible mentions, several of whom have been stated.  I'd like to include the following:
Howells - Paradise Rondel' Threnody for Cello and Orchestra

Janacek Idyll -, Suite, Sinfonietta, Fiddler's Child, Taras Bulba

Arthur Farwell  - Gods of the Mountains

Roslavets - In the Hour of the New Moon

Gliere - Sirens

Then, again, perhaps these are more defined as suites or as category other than that of tone poem.  What about Tchaikovsky's Hamlet?  Francesca Da Rimini?  Long time since I've heard these.

[matti]

I am not Finnish. But Sibbe was the family name of the composer before is was "Latinized" to Sibelius. (The Latinaztion of family names in Finland and Scandinavia was common at the time.)

Mutta eläköön Suomi!

Interesting, thanks! Didn't know that.

[Franco]

I am surprised no one has mentioned Delius.

[vandermolen]

Yes, Sibelius and Bax.  need more be said in favor of two of my favorite composers.  Much is stated on both these wonderful composers in this forum.

There are other possible mentions, several of whom have been stated.  I'd like to include the following:
Howells - Paradise Rondel' Threnody for Cello and Orchestra

Janacek Idyll -, Suite, Sinfonietta, Fiddler's Child, Taras Bulba

Arthur Farwell  - Gods of the Mountains

Roslavets - In the Hour of the New Moon

Gliere - Sirens

Then, again, perhaps these are more defined as suites or as category other than that of tone poem.  What about Tchaikovsky's Hamlet?  Francesca Da Rimini?  Long time since I've heard these.

What are the Arthur Farwell and Roslavets pieces like?

[Sid]

I have a deeper affinity with, & seem to connect more with tone poem-like works of Janacek, Sibelius & Bax. I find Strauss' efforts too diffuse & too long, more like symphonies. That said, I enjoy Sibelius' Lemminkainen Suite immensely, even though (at times), that work reads like a symphony.

I'm also surprised that no-one seems to have mentioned Liszt. He wasn't as good as an orchestrator as the others, but I think he gets his ideas across pretty well in works like Les Preludes. He was also one of the originators of the genre.

Recently, I've heard what you'd call a tone poem composed in the 1970's by Hovhaness called Fanfare for the New Atlantis. It's quite an interesting listen, picturing the city rising from the waves, and has a magnificent crescendo at the end. I still enjoy more obscure works like this, if they succeed in getting their message across...

[schweitzeralan]

What are the Arthur Farwell and Roslavets pieces like?

I removed the quoted article as i was attempting to cut and paste; there seems to ave been changes made in this procedure on my computer.  I'm working on it.  I can use traditional attached email forms but not transfer items here.  I have to work on it. All  I can say basically is that both Farwell and Roslavet's very early piece in terms of muscal language only is somewhat similar.  Farwell is dramatic, and quite laden with orchestral color.  Roslavet's piece is more tranquil and impressoistic.  It is a far cry from is later avant garde, post Scriabin piano works.  Roslavets as not composed a great deal of orchestral pieces.  I'll have to learn to upload properly relevant information from time to time. My computer "updates" are making me work.

[Dr. Dread]

Actually, quite an interesting musical construct. I'm tempted to study tone poems now.

[schweitzeralan]

Actually, quite an interesting musical construct. I'm tempted to study tone poems now.

Do you have a favorite?

[Dr. Dread]

No, I can't really pick one. I'm usually in sync with the popular favorites (warhorses).

[Lilas Pastia]

Why 'the greatest'? What's this obsession with greatest, biggest, longest and so forth? Can't any one be confident in their manhood opinions?

Musical tone poems have been around for almost 200 years, in one form or another. From Beethoven's Overtures to plays, to current-day examples.

Much has been written since Sibelius' Finlandia and other early works. Among little-known but very valuable scandinavian composers, I'd single out works by Lindberg (not Karl) and Kallstenius. Has anyone mentioned David Diamond's The Enormous Room ?

Dvorak's late tone poems deserve a special place. The Noonday Witch and The Water Goblin in particular.

[CD]

At the risk of becoming repeating myself yet again, Charles Koechlin's Vers la voûte étoilée has become one of my favorite tone poems — it's up there with Sibelius's masterpieces of the genre (The Bard, Oceanides) in my estimation (really!).

[Lilas Pastia]

Thanks for repeating yourself, Corey  . Where is the Koechlin to be found?