Top 10 Favorite Symphonies of the 20th Century

[AnthonyAthletic]

Loves your inclusion of these works. That AND the exclusion of Rachmaninov and Elgar is more than sufficient for me to excuse you for the exclusion of Mahler.

You can't beat a bit of Elgar!, those rolling clouds, the feeling of patriotism in ones busom, the cascading fields, walking, flowing, caressing the countryside all the way up to White Hart Lane...and onto the League of Europa!

As to Rachmaninov, who doesn't like lovely uplifting slush.... 

[Lisztianwagner]

Quite difficult, but here's my list:

Mahler: Symphony No.6
Mahler: Symphony No.9
Mahler: Symphony No.7
Mahler: Symphony No.5
Rachmaninov: Symphony No.2
Shostakovich: Symphony No.10
Sibelius: Symphony No.5
Nielsen: Symphony No.4
Prokofiev: Symphony No.5
Martinu: Symphony No.4

If the list continued, I would also add the Elgar Symphonies, Lutoslawski No.2, Roussell No.3, Shostakovich No.12, Simpson No.7/9, Honegger No.2, Nielsen No.5 and Rautavaara No.7 Oh, without forgetting WV's No.1 and Britten's Simple Symphony. Und so weiter.....

[starrynight]

just throwing this out there .. a question to throw into this mix here is perhaps .. does the form (or the symphony orchestra even) have much relevance in today's world (21st century)? i'd like to read some perspectives from members here on that, including those who write music themselves ..

I thought orchestral music was alive and well, maybe more so than any other classical genre.

[Mirror Image]

I like your second ten better than your first ten. 

I like both of my tens, but they are mine after all.

[classicalgeek]

Well, since everyone else is doing it, I'll submit a full second list of ten fifteen .  This time not being so careful to avoid duplicating composers:

-Mahler Symphony no. 7
-Shostakovich Symphony no. 10
-Korngold Symphony in F-sharp (haven't seen anyone else nominate this piece, but I love it!)
-Lajtha Symphony no. 8
-Roussel Symphony no. 2
-Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms
-Tippett Symphony no. 2 (just heard for the first time last night - but very impressive!)
-Bax Symphony no. 3
-Lutoslawski Symphony no. 3
-Glière Symphony no. 3 'Ilya Murometz'
-Chávez Symphony no. 2 'Sinfonia India'
-Piston Symphony no. 6
-Pijper Symphony no. 1
-Hindemith Symphony in E-flat
-Sessions Symphony no. 7

And, for shame, I am omitting many composers whose symphonies I've enjoyed, but that I haven't heard enough times (or recently enough) to include in such a list:
Alfven, Alwyn, Antheil, Arnold, Atterberg, Bazelon, Braga Santos, Brian, Creston, Dutilleux, Englund, Gerhard, Guarnieri, Hartmann, Henze, Holmboe, Honegger, Kancheli, Krenek, Langgaard, Malipiero, Mathias, Mennin, Milhaud, Moyzes, Nielsen (Ludolf), Norgard, Norholm, Pettersson, Popov, Rawsthorne, Saeverud, Searle, Simpson, Tcherepnin, Toch, Tournemire, Tubin, Vermeulen, Villa-Lobos, Wellesz, and so on, and so on... 

Actually, I think if I could pick just one body of music to listen to for the rest of my life, it would be 'Symphonies since 1870'.  But luckily I don't have to!

[Karl Henning]

Well, since everyone else is doing it, I'll submit a full second list of ten fifteen

As I read it, only the nuts are doing that ; )

I thought orchestral music was alive and well, maybe more so than any other classical genre.

Chamber music is still going mighty strong.

[Sergeant Rock]

As I read it, only the nuts are doing that ; )

Indeed. If we're allowed to name all our favorite symphonies, what is the point of a Top 10 list? (I mean, I know there really is no point at all, but still...even in the midst of irrational list making, do we want chaos to reign?  )

Sarge, who is considering his alternate three or four Top 10 lists (if you can't beat 'em, join 'em  )

[classicalgeek]

As I read it, only the nuts are doing that ; )

And I am very proud to count myself among said nuts! 

[Karl Henning]

And I am very proud to count myself among said nuts! 

By the bye, good on you for topping your list with the Shostakovich Fourth (which I would have, if my list had not been alphabetical) and for including the Prokofiev Sixth.

[madaboutmahler]

And I am very proud to count myself among said nuts! 

Me too!  

haha

Right, shall start considering the next list. Must get some Shosty and Prokofiev in there!

[Sergeant Rock]

Korngold Symphony in F sharp

Bernard Herrmann Symphony

Langgaard Symphony #4 "Fall of the Leaf"

Franz Schmidt Symphony #1 Symphony #4 (Schmidt's First is from 1996)

Rautavaara Symphony #3

Diamond Symphony #2

George Lloyd Symphony #4

Elgar Symphony #2

Havergal Brian Symphony #16

Magnard Symphony #4


Sarge

[DavidW]

I like seeing these lists, I'll have to use 'em for some inspiration for future listening.

[Mirror Image]

Another list of ten favorite symphonies from the 20th Century:

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 11 "The Year 1905"
Roussel: Symphony No. 2
Copland: Organ Symphony
Vaughan Williams: A Pastoral Symphony 'Symphony No. 3'
Sibelius: Symphony No. 7
Suk: Asrael Symphony
Rubbra: Symphony No. 4
Rawsthorne: Symphony No. 1
Schmidt: Symphony No. 4
Braga Santos: Symphony No. 2

[DaveF]

You can't beat a bit of Elgar!, those rolling clouds, the feeling of patriotism in ones busom, the cascading fields, walking, flowing, caressing the countryside all the way up to White Hart Lane...and onto the League of Europa!

Tony,

I've a sad feeling that many non-British members might not appreciate all the cultural references there - and anyway in Elgar's case it should read all the way up to Molineux... and down to the Championship!  And better do a list while I'm here, although I expect they've all been nominated above:

Mahler 6
Nielsen 5
Sibelius 6
Stravinsky in 3 Movements
Hindemith Mathis
Shostakovich 4
Brian 16
Tippett 4
Vaughan Williams 4
Messiaen Turangalîla

- mostly from the first half of the century, sadly.

DF

[AnthonyAthletic]

I like seeing these lists, I'll have to use 'em for some inspiration for future listening.

I like seeing these lists too David, when I see them I realize how much music I still have to acquire.

Roussel tonight, just ordered the Apex Dutoit set, never heard a note.  Everyone seems to be listening to him on the forum.  MadAboutMahler's listening of his 3rd in another thread has just prompted me to press the "Confirm" button again!! 

[AnthonyAthletic]

Tony,

I've a sad feeling that many non-British members might not appreciate all the cultural references there - and anyway in Elgar's case it should read all the way up to Molineux... and down to the Championship!  And better do a list while I'm here, although I expect they've all been nominated above:

Springrite would have gotten the White Hart Lane reference.  He is sadly a "Gunner"    And hates all things Hotspur.

As for me, I'm glad this year the "DW Stadium of Athletic" didn't fall the Molineux way and we thrive for another season.

Yeah, this does seem like some secret code to the uninitiated.    Cheers.

Just like those 'Merican's talkin' bout the bottom of the ninth, something else I don't understand.

[Mirror Image]

I like seeing these lists too David, when I see them I realize how much music I still have to acquire.

Roussel tonight, just ordered the Apex Dutoit set, never heard a note.  Everyone seems to be listening to him on the forum.  MadAboutMahler's listening of his 3rd in another thread has just prompted me to press the "Confirm" button again!! 

Dutoit's Roussel set is one of the worst I've heard. He does fine in the first symphony, but as a starting point, it will be good to get familiar with his symphonies. You should've went with the Deneve, but it's too late now I imagine.

[AnthonyAthletic]

Dutoit's Roussel set is one of the worst I've heard. He does fine in the first symphony, but as a starting point, it will be good to get familiar with his symphonies. You should've went with the Deneve, but it's too late now I imagine.

No, not too late.  The confirmation button is not clicked yet.

I've got two screens open at the moment...now I have a quandry    I was typing the last message and about to press the go button.

[DaveF]

As for me, I'm glad this year the "DW Stadium of Athletic" didn't fall the Molineux way and we thrive for another season.

And long may you continue to do so.  That end of season revival was one of the most tremendous of its kind in recent years - exactly what my woeful Sky Blues needed and failed dismally to deliver.  And to keep it to symphonies - I'm sorry now that a Lancastrian one (Walton 1) missed the cut at the last minute...

DF

[Mirror Image]

No, not too late.  The confirmation button is not clicked yet.

I've got two screens open at the moment...now I have a quandry    I was typing the last message and about to press the go button.

GET THE DENEVE!!!!