20th/21st Century Essentials?

[AndanteCantabile]

Hello everyone,

My knowledge is woefully lacking regarding 20th and 21st century classical repertoire. Frankly, it is not my favorite era where music is concerned, but I would like to be more familiar with it. My question is this: What, in your opinion, are the most important or essential pieces of the 20th and 21st centuries that no one should be without? I am interested in anything you come up with--orchestral, solo, chamber, etc.

Thank you!

[Diletante]

Essential and great:

Stravinsy - Rite of Spring
Shostakovich - 5th symphony

[AndanteCantabile]

Essential and great:

Stravinsy - Rite of Spring
Shostakovich - 5th symphony

Fortunately, I have already had the privilege of experiencing the Rite. As for Shostakovich, I must do some shopping....

[Cascade]

Vier Letzte Lieder, Richard Strauss.

[DavidW]

Shostakovich's 10th symphony
Mahler's 9th symphony
Strauss' Salome
Berg's Violin Concerto
Schoenberg's Verlacht Nacht
Prokofiev's 1st, 5th and 6th symphonies
Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde
Sibelius' Symphonies 2, 4-7
Rachmaninov's 2nd Symphony
Ligeti's Requiem
Gorecki's 3rd Symphony
Shostakovich's String Quartets #5, 6, 8, 10-13
Schnittke's Viola Concerto
Schnittke's String Quartets

um... I'm missing alot...
 

[westknife]

Come on, there was just a big thread about this:

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,19643.0.html

[AndanteCantabile]

Come on, there was just a big thread about this:

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,19643.0.html

Considering that it is currently three, nearly four pages back, you mustn't be surprised that I missed it.... Also, notice that I asked about the 21st century as well.

For a really fun (and more meaningful) education on the subject explore the pre-eminent composers of the 'modern era' in-depth. For instance, take Bartók, Stravinsky, Webern, Ligeti & Stockhausen (to name a few big ones) and you have enough territory there to last a life-time and bring yourself up to date.

This is a very good idea. One can't go wrong with names like that....

[madaboutmahler]

Come on, there was just a big thread about this:

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,19643.0.html

Which reminds me that I must go and write up all the totals at some point soon....

In response to your question...
my personal recommendations, the ones off the top of my head at least:
20th century:
Mahler 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Das Lied. (the first four were written in the 19th Century...)
Elgar Symphony no.2
Strauss Alpine Symphony
Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet
Shostakovich Violin Concerto no.1/Symphony no.5, 10, 11 and 12
Nielsen Symphony 5
Sibelius 7
Vaughan Williams Symphony 6

late 20th/21st century
Adams Harmonielehre
MacMillan 'Veni Veni Emmanuel'
Larcher Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra
Henning Viola Sonata
Hogan Seascapes (have to do some self-advertising somehow!)

EDIT: HOW ON EARTH COULD I LEAVE OUT:
Ravel Daphnis et Chloe
Debussy La Mer

[Lisztianwagner]

Quite hard, there are so many masterpieces; about the 20th century:

Mahler Symphonies 5-9
Rachmaninov Piano Concertos 2-3/Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
R. Strauss Eine Alpensinfonie
Shostakovich Symphonies No.5, No.10, No.11, No.12/Piano Concerto No.2
Holst The Planets
Sibelius Symphonies 5-7
Nielsen Symphonies 3-4
Ravel Daphnis et Chloe
Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet
Debussy La Mer
Respighi Roman Trilogy
Schönberg Pierrot Lunaire

[KeithW]

Some great pieces listed already. I'll add a book to the mix - The Rest is Noise. Really worth reading.

http://www.amazon.com/Rest-Noise-Listening-Twentieth-Century/dp/0374249393

The author's website is gat, too, and carries a summary of the book.

http://www.therestisnoise.com/

[Mirror Image]

My opinion should only be taken as an opinion and not as a fact. Just thought I would clear this up before I list a few works which I consider essential to the 20th Century, so here are 20 (in no particular order):

1. Stravinsky: Petrushka (many will argue about the Rite and I say let them argue --- this is a finer composition IMHO)
2. Mahler: Symphony No. 9
3. Bartok: The Miraculous Mandarin
4. Ravel: Daphnis et Chloe
5. Berg: Violin Concerto
6. Schoenberg: Five Pieces for Orchestra
7. Webern: Six Pieces for Orchestra
8. Debussy: La Mer
9. Nielsen: Symphony No. 5
10. Sibelius: Symphony No. 7
11. Villa-Lobos: Choros No. 11
12. Ligeti: Atmospheres
13. Dutilleux: Metaboles
14. Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8
15. Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending
16. Part: Cantus in Memoriam of Benjamin Britten
17. Honegger: Pacific 231
18. Delius: In A Summer Garden
19. Copland: Appalachian Spring
20. Ives: Three Places In New England

[AndanteCantabile]

It looks as if I'm in desperate need of some Shostakovich (he seems to pop up everywhere... ). To that end, I've been considering this:
[asin] B000005824[/asin]

Or perhaps this:
[asin] B000G6BJS0[/asin]

Thoughts?

[Mirror Image]

It looks as if I'm in desperate need of some Shostakovich (he seems to pop up everywhere... ). To that end, I've been considering this:
[asin] B000005824[/asin]

Or perhaps this:
[asin] B000G6BJS0[/asin]

Thoughts?

The Jansons is a good set but beware of a defective disc which apparently is in all of the sets (it's the disc with Symphony No. 7 "Leningrad"). Why EMI allowed this to happen and won't recall it is baffling to me. Other than this disc, the performances are quite good. The Rostropovich set can be bought in a cheaper set which looks like this:

[asin]B000NJM1H8[/asin]

The Rostropovich is good but some of the performances are a little scrappy, but I suppose this lends a certain authenticity to the performances.

I would seriously consider getting the Haitink set on Decca:

[asin]B000F3T7RO[/asin]

Haitink is a natural in this music and his cycle is one of the more consistent I've heard.

[Mirror Image]

It looks as if I'm in desperate need of some Shostakovich (he seems to pop up everywhere... ).

There's a reason his music pops up everywhere: he's an outstanding composer. His music touches people and it appeals to a wide audience. Not all composers have had this luxury.

[AndanteCantabile]

There's a reason his music pops up everywhere: he's an outstanding composer. His music touches people and it appeals to a wide audience. Not all composers have had this luxury.

Then I suppose that desperately needing Shostakovich's music is no overstatement.

[Mirror Image]

Then I suppose that desperately needing Shostakovich's music is no overstatement.

That's right! But I would approach Shostakovich with some caution. While I always tell people listen to the symphonies, it maybe best to listen to the concerti, chamber works, ballets, and film music first. Shostakovich wrote 15 symphonies all encompassing a unique vision and there's a lot of depth to the works that may take some time to appreciate. I would say the 1st and 5th are probably the most approachable of his symphonies so if haven't heard any of his symphonies, try to listen to these first.

Here's a fun little work called Festive Overture that you may enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/v/1gDZTah8J2A

[Mirror Image]

Did I kill this thread talking about Shostakovich?

Anyway, I hope the initial poster gets something out my own list and my comments about Shostakovich.

[mahler10th]

The Jansons is a good set but beware of a defective disc which apparently is in all of the sets (it's the disc with Symphony No. 7 "Leningrad"). Why EMI allowed this to happen and won't recall it is baffling to me. Other than this disc, the performances are quite good. The Rostropovich set can be bought in a cheaper set which looks like this:
[asin]B000NJM1H8[/asin]
The Rostropovich is good but some of the performances are a little scrappy, but I suppose this lends a certain authenticity to the performances.

Very interesting, but horribly disappointing.     I have the grey covered Rostropovich set, which I thought was as close as one could get to Shosty, given that they were very close friends and collaborators.  But you know your Shosty, so I for one will in future augment the set with Haitink, which you as as Shostakovian so highly recommend.  Thanks for that John, I'll have a listen to it before buying, I'm only just getting into Shosty these days, and anything 'scrappy' is not good enough for pure listening.

[Mirror Image]

Very interesting, but horribly disappointing.     I have the grey covered Rostropovich set, which I thought was as close as one could get to Shosty, given that they were very close friends and collaborators.  But you know your Shosty, so I for one will in future augment the set with Haitink, which you as as Shostakovian so highly recommend.  Thanks for that John, I'll have a listen to it before buying, I'm only just getting into Shosty these days, and anything 'scrappy' is not good enough for pure listening.

You're welcome, John. The problem I've encountered with the Rostropovich set is it's very uneven. The performance of the 5th was just drab. The performances of the 6 & 8 seem to lack fire. The 10th is played pretty well if I remember correctly. The 11th, which is a difficult symphony to pull off well, seemed pretty tame, especially in the finale where going for the glory as it were would be the more beneficial approach to the music. As I said, the playing isn't up to par, but to be honest I have never been too impressed with Rostropovich's conducting. As you said, Shosty and Slava knew each other very well, but this doesn't always translate through the music and it certainly doesn't give it any kind of interpretative benefits. What matters is the conductor has a clear vision of what he wants to do with the music and I don't always get this impression from Slava.

Yes, the Haitink set is especially fine. Very consistent and recently I've been impressed with Kitajenko's cycle too, which has proven to be also consistent. They definitely give some serious competition to Kondrashin and Barshai.

[North Star]

Did I kill this thread talking about Shostakovich?

Anyway, I hope the initial poster gets something out my own list and my comments about Shostakovich.

Well, according to some folk, he is fading. 



Regarding the topic,  I think these are also worthy:

Prokofiev's piano works (Visions fugitives, Sonatas nos. 6-9), Violin Sonata no. 1 in F minor
Sibelius: Violin Concerto, Tapiola
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances
Bartók: String Quartets, Dance Suite, Concerto for Orchestra, Sonata for 2 Pianos & Percussion
Debussy: Préludes for piano, books I & II
Ravel: String Quartet
Stravinsky: Symphonies of Wind Instruments, The Firebird