My Favorite Symphony

[karlhenning]

I suppose that, to bo consistent, I ought to have included a "I have ten favorites, and they are subject to change" . . . but I'll leave the poll as it stands (gotta like the strong showing kumquat has already put in!)

Today, my favorite ten (in no particular order):

Hartmann Symphony № 1, Versuch eines Requiems
Brian Symphony № 1, Gothic
Langgaard Symphony № 4, Løvfald
Hindemith Symphony in E-flat
Nielsen Symphony № 3, Sinfonia espansiva
Sibelius Symphony № 6
Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms
Schoenberg Kammersymphonie Nr 1
Shostakovich Symphony № 4
Shostakovich Symphony № 10

[Cato]

Interesting. I have long had a top #1 that I just love - Tchaikovsky's 5th (warts and all). After that, it would be:
Schumann 4
Arensky 1
Bruckner 9
Dvorak 6
Elgar 1 (could be 2 - I go back and forth on these two)
Rachmaninov 2
Burgmuller 1
Strauss - Alpine
Mahler 7 (recent addition)

I use the criteria that I listen to these repeatedly over time as the main criteria, but there are others I love almost as much.

What is the attraction with Arensky's and Burgmüller's works?  I would assume you believe they are under-rated: are there any extra-musical associations bringing them into your list, e.g. your grandmother gave you the CD of Arensky.   0:)

[not edward]

For me:

Some symphonies which are always favourites (this list doesn't include Beethoven's 9th, incidentally).
Some rotating symphonies that are favourites but have joined or left the list more recently.

And after this I'll seek out pretty much anything.

[Sergeant Rock]

Thanks for providing the fruit option, Karl. The other choices don't really describe me. Of course I can pick a top 10 when someone holds a gun to my head (or I'm asked in a classical forum  ) but in fact that's only the tip of the iceberg. I can honestly say that Mahler's eleven and Bruckner's Eleven and Beethoven's Nine are favorites and that's just getting me started. But a few symphonies have remained close to my heart for thirty, forty years:

Sibelius 5
Nielsen 3
Shostakovich 15
Beethoven 3
Schubert 5
Brahms 4
Mahler 6
Schmidt 1
Bruckner 3
Brian Gothic


Sarge

[mc ukrneal]

What is the attraction with Arensky's and Burgmüller's works?  I would assume you believe they are under-rated: are there any extra-musical associations bringing them into your list, e.g. your grandmother gave you the CD of Arensky.   0:)

Actually, they were purchases I made of composers I knew nothing about (and had nothing of them(. I immediately fell in love with both. The melodies are outstanding and wonderfully, beautiful examples from the romantic period (if you like that). I never expected to like them as much as I do. I just listened to the first movement of the Burgmuller as I was reading, and as always, I was drawn into the music. They both bring me through an emotional journey, but a journey that is of their own making because of the composer's craftsmanship. I'm not necessarily saying they are the 'best' symphonies, but those that connect with me the most. The Arensky - uch, when that main theme comes in the first movement - to die for (not to mention the finale). Both take me and my imagination on a journey like few other pieces do. Both get repeated listens. Over time, I may develop new loves, but these will still hold a special place for me (and who cares if is top 10 or top 20?), because I get so much out of them (in one way or another).

[Cato]

... I just listened to the first movement of the Burgmuller as I was reading, and as always, I was drawn into the music. They both bring me through an emotional journey, but a journey that is of their own making because of the composer's craftsmanship. I'm not necessarily saying they are the 'best' symphonies, but those that connect with me the most. The Arensky - uch, when that main theme comes in the first movement - to die for (not to mention the finale). Both take me and my imagination on a journey like few other pieces do. Both get repeated listens. Over time, I may develop new loves, but these will still hold a special place for me (and who cares if is top 10 or top 20?), because I get so much out of them (in one way or another).

And there we simply stare wide-eyed at the human being's psycho-spiritual uniqueness: you hear a mighty Niagara Falls in these works, whereas someone else just hears running water!   

Thanks for the explanation and recommendation: I will investigate them, especially Burgmüller.  Works by Arensky I have heard (decades ago), but not Burgmüller.

[DavidRoss]

I don't see the option for "I have 37 favorites and am always open to adding a few more."

[mc ukrneal]

And there we simply stare wide-eyed at the human being's psycho-spiritual uniqueness: you hear a mighty Niagara Falls in these works, whereas someone else just hears running water!   

Thanks for the explanation and recommendation: I will investigate them, especially Burgmüller.  Works by Arensky I have heard (decades ago), but not Burgmüller.

I have heard good things about his chamber music as well if you prefer that, but I have not yet acquired those (MDG can be expensive, so just waiting for a sale of their stuff at some point). I also have not yet heard the new disc that conveniently has both Burgmuller symphonies. I hope to get that at some point just to compare (though it will have to be really good to dislodge Symphony #1 on Sterling). 

[Cato]

I suppose that, to bo consistent, I ought to have included a "I have ten favorites, and they are subject to change" . . . but I'll leave the poll as it stands (gotta like the strong showing kumquat has already put in!)

Today, my favorite ten (in no particular order):

Hartmann Symphony № 1, Versuch eines Requiems

Hindemith Symphony in E-flat

And what will the top 10 be tomorrow?   0:)

A book, with biographies of Hindemith, Hartmann, and Henze, attempts to show them as a 20th-Century trinity of sorts a la Dika Newlin's thesis on Bruckner, Mahler, and Schoenberg.

See:

http://www.amazon.com/Hartmann-Hindemith-Henze-Century-Composers/dp/0714831743

For Newlin's thesis:

http://www.amazon.com/Bruckner-Mahler-Schoenberg-Dika-Newlin/dp/1443728713/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295629443&sr=1-1

[Sergeant Rock]

....trinity of sorts a la Dika Newlin's thesis on Bruckner, Mahler, and Schoenberg.

From Wiki: "Dika Newlin (November 22, 1923 – July 22, 2006) was a pianist, professor, musicologist, composer and punk rock singer."  



Sarge

[Cato]

And for the "Kumquat" voters:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5AjSGrZbxw

[Cato]

From Wiki: "Dika Newlin (November 22, 1923 – July 22, 2006) was a pianist, professor, musicologist, composer and punk rock singer."  



Sarge

Newlin has a story about meeting Schoenberg for the first time, when she was an adolescent and "auditioning" as a composition student.

He tested her ear with a few notes and chords, and she apparently answered with the tone of a bad attitude, as if such a test were beneath her.

He began striking ever more complex chords, which she continued to identify correctly, causing him to become angrier!       Finally he smeared his hands over half the keyboard, and she continued to say "C, C#, D, D#...."

  Talk about a punk!  Or a punkette!   

Despite the inauspicious beginning, she studied with him for a while. 

As a septuagenarian punk rocker, she had a band called ApoCowlypso.  Quite an eccentric!

[Christo]

Always nice to have an opportunity for listing one's favourite symphonies.
Today, they are, in no particular order:

Ralph Vaughan Williams 3 `A Pastoral Symphony'
Ralph Vaughan Williams 6
Ralph Vaughan Williams 9
Carl Nielsen 5
Eduard Tubin 6
Vagn Holmboe 8 `Sinfonia boreale'
Joly Braga Santos 3
Havergal Brian 1 `Gothic'
Arnold Cooke 1
Dmitri Shostakovich 15

[Lethevich]

I love most of the standard rep, but there are certain un-shiftable preferences I have:

Bruckner No.6
Sibelius No.3 (or 6)
Brahms No.3
Brian No.27
Dvořák No.7
Langgaard No.10 (or 15)
Tchaikovsky No.6
Haydn No.44 (or 39)
Simpson No.11

As much as I enjoy many other Romantic or 20th century symphonists, such as Holmboe or Vaughan Williams, I often go through long periods of time without listening to their music, as I burn out on the style. The ones on this list somehow remain eternally fresh to me.

[karlhenning]

Thanks for providing the fruit option, Karl. The other choices don't really describe me.

Thank you, Sarge, for picking up on my small joke!

I don't see the option for "I have 37 favorites and am always open to adding a few more."

I'm alive to the virtues of that option, th0ugh.

[Mirror Image]

I have many favorite symphonies, but lately the following have been in heavy rotation:

Nielsen: Symphonies Nos. 2-5
Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 4, 8, 10, & 11
Gorecki: Symphony No. 3 "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs"
Rawsthorne: Symphony No. 1
Schoenberg: Chamber Symphony No. 1 (does this count?)
Vaughan Williams: Symphonies Nos. 3-6, 8
Rubbra: Symphony No. 5
Rautavaara: Symphony No. 7 "Angel of Light"
Mahler: Symphonies Nos. 2, 3, 5-7, 9
Bruckner: Symphonies Nos. 4-9
Schubert: Symphony No. 8 "Unfinished"
Dutilleux: Symphony No. 2 "Le double"
Honegger: Symphonie Liturgique "Symphony No. 3"

[karlhenning]

Schoenberg: Chamber Symphony No. 1 (does this count?)

I thought it did; I included it ; )

[Mirror Image]

I thought it did; I included it ; )

[ajlee]

Beethoven's 10th, by many miles! XD

mvt1 of Mahler2 + mvt2 of Bruckner7 + mvt3 of Dvorak9 + mvt4 of Beethoven9 = fav hybrid symphony! XD

I guess the serious answer would be Mahler 5, recently at least.

[ajlee]

Beethoven's 10th, by many miles! XD

mvt1 of Mahler2 + mvt2 of Bruckner7 + mvt3 of Dvorak9 + mvt4 of Beethoven9 = fav hybrid symphony! XD

I guess the serious answer would be Mahler 5, recently at least.