5 Favourite Shostakovich Symphonies - poll

[Guido]

Is anyone not going to choose 10? Can't believe how many people don't like 1, I reckon it's one of the best.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

hmmm.... wasn't that his 2nd symphony though?
Daniel

No. Shostakovich used music from the film for his Twelfth. Just listen...

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Is anyone not going to choose 10? Can't believe how many people don't like 1, I reckon it's one of the best.

I voted for both 1 and 10.

[Sergeant Rock]

Is anyone not going to choose 10?

I love parts of 10 but other parts bore me to death (much like 7).

Sarge

[madaboutmahler]

Daniel - I did vote for the 12th.   

Thank you Ray!

Is anyone not going to choose 1? Can't believe how many people don't like 1, I reckon it's one of the best.

I do love no.1, that would have been my 6th vote The ending of the finale in particular is excellent!

[karlhenning]

I love parts of 10 but other parts bore me to death (much like 7).

Ouch! (We can still be mates, though, Sarge.)

[not edward]

4/14/15.

This has been my answer to this question for the best part of 20 years now, so I guess my preferences on the matter are set.

[eyeresist]

Cannot believe that no.12 has so few votes! What does everyone have against this symphony?! I think it's one of the most thrilling of the lot!

There are a couple of problems with 12. First, its thematic material is fairly limited for such a long work (it's basically the same two themes throughout). More problematic is the second half of the finale, which is repetitious to the point of banality. I think it could be made to work, but haven't heard it done yet.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

There are a couple of problems with 12. First, its thematic material is fairly limited for such a long work (it's basically the same two themes throughout). More problematic is the second half of the finale, which is repetitious to the point of banality. I think it could be made to work, but haven't heard it done yet.

The music works for the film, but not as a symphony, I agree.

[karlhenning]

These days, I like Twelve as much as I've ever done, I suppose. Still, for me, that would never elbow its place into my own Top Five.

[Sergeant Rock]

Ouch! (We can still be mates, though, Sarge.)

I acknowledge there is something wrong with me. The 10th is the most popular (here anyway) so obviously the problem is me. I'm glad you can overlook my severe character flaw, Karl 

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

4/14/15.

You, me, Erato...Brothers in Shostakovich 

Sarge

[karlhenning]

I acknowledge there is something wrong with me. The 10th is the most popular (here anyway) so obviously the problem is me. I'm glad you can overlook my severe character flaw, Karl 

I have been hooked on Ten (as I've probably said ere now) since my Wooster days, when Simon Rattle (not yet knighted) led the Clevelanders in the piece at McGaw Chapel. The symphony, every measure, fixed me with its glittering eye . . . .

You, me, Erato...Brothers in Shostakovich 

Two of my votes went to Four & Fifteen. Another day, I'd vote for Fourteen, two.

[Sergeant Rock]

Two of my votes went to Four & Fifteen. Another day, I'd vote for Fourteen, two.

Actually the only Shosty symphonies I don't enjoy completely are 7 and 10 (and I don't actually dislike either...they just try my patience). Even the Third, that unloved bastard, gives me pleasure. This kind of poll doesn't reflect my true feelings about the composer. It's fun but misleading.

Sarge

[Brahmsian]

I'm still having problems with my enjoyment of the 4th.  I'm finding it overly complex, clamorous and cacaphonous, jarring, alarming - even for me.  I can't quite put it all together in my mind yet.

**This isn't a cry for help - I had similar issues before for a long time with Mahler's 7th symphony, which now happens to be my second favorite Mahler symphony.   

As the old saying goes, 'It's not you, it's me'. 

[Brahmsian]

There are a couple of problems with 12. First, its thematic material is fairly limited for such a long work (it's basically the same two themes throughout). More problematic is the second half of the finale, which is repetitious to the point of banality. I think it could be made to work, but haven't heard it done yet.

Maybe that is why I like it so much.  It is kind of 'a la Bruckner mode'.   

[Guido]

Maybe that is why I like it so much.  It is kind of 'a la Bruckner mode'.   

Bruckner is never guilty of the extreme lapeses that Shostakovich allows himself here. It's just awful.

[karlhenning]

Oh, my . . . .

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I think RVW's Antarctica is the prime example of how to transform a film score into a symphony. I watched October again last night - as I said, the music is excellent and works really well. But too much of it goes verbatim into the symphony, including all the repetition that has to underpin the film - without images, the repetition becomes nonsensical.

[TheGSMoeller]

I've always considered DSCH's 15th to be a great piece, then I saw it performed live and I was blown away, I now consider it my personal favorite symphony of his. Such an interesting structure, and one of the greatest endings.

Top is 15, and then in random order, 5, 10, 11, & 14.

Am I allowed to quote myself?