Hello

[Lodger]

I've been a passive fan of classical music for a long time, but have hungrily been diving deeper for the last two or three years. I've been poking around this forum for a month or so (I'm not sure how I didn't find it before then) and it seems like a great place to grow.
This past year I've made it a point to listen to a different symphony each day. At times it has been mechanical and uninspired, but it's also introduced me to a number of new composers (Havergal Brian, Richard Wetz, Roy Harris, Alexander Scriabin just to name a few). I'm looking forward to getting more recommendations and suggestions as I continue to explore.

[bhodges]

Hi Lodger, and welcome. "A different symphony each day"...that's a lot of music! Did you keep a list (or diary) of what you heard? And PS, though I know three of the four composers you listed, Richard Wetz is the one I don't know.

Anyway, enjoy yourself here.

--Bruce

[TheGSMoeller]

Hi, Lodger, greetings and welcome! 

Just alternate your listens to Elgar's two symphonies, that's 182.5 times per year for each symphony.

[mc ukrneal]

Welcome. There sure is a lot to explore, isn't there? Not only would Franz Josef Haydn's keep you busy for three months, but his brother would keep you busy for another month after that (43 days to be precise), not to mention the scores of other classical era symphonies (like Richter, Vanhal, Stamitz, etc.). Enjoy!

[Lodger]

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

Bruce-
I've been keeping a list, but it seemed a bit lengthy to post here. Maybe I'll post a link to it at the end of the year.

sanantonio-
So far 22 Haydn symphonies down.

mc ukrneal-
Only five from Michael so far.

TheGSMoeller-
Elgar's symphonies were numbers 23 and 51. Great pieces.

[Mirror Image]

Welcome aboard! Who are some of your favorite composers?

[Lodger]

Vaughan Williams, Mahler, Brahms, Beethoven, Sibelius, R. Strauss, Pärt, Gorecki, lots more.

[Mirror Image]

Vaughan Williams, Mahler, Brahms, Beethoven, Sibelius, R. Strauss, Pärt, Gorecki, lots more.

Great list! You should get along quite fine with some our Mahler nut jobs here. Wait until Daniel (Madaboutmahler) reads you like Mahler, he'll be thrilled. I'm thrilled you like Vaughan Williams. One of the most incredible composers I know and his music still continues to inspire me.

[Lisztianwagner]

Welcome to the forum and have a nice time here!
Excellent list, Mahler, Brahms, Beethoven, Sibelius and R. Strauss are among my favourite composers as well. Do you also like Wagner and Liszt?

Ilaria

[Hollywood]

Howdy there Lodger. Greetings from Beethoven's Heiligenstadt. Welcome to the forum. 

[North Star]

Welcome, Lodger!

Vaughan Williams, Mahler, Brahms, Beethoven, Sibelius, R. Strauss, Pärt, Gorecki, lots more.

Nice choices, especially Sibelius, RVW, LvB, Brahms & Pärt.

A symphony per day, eh?
That kind of thing is a fun way of organizing the exploration, but it's very limiting, too - no Ravel, Chopin, Janacek, Debussy, Bartók, or Schoenberg, for instance. But it seems that you knew plenty of music already. (Although Scriabin is quite a bit less obscure than the others, especially his solo piano music. Lettberg's 8 CD set is superb and cheap, too)

You could always switch to a piano sonata/piece, string quartet or concerto per day, or an opera per day/week. Or maybe make Tuesday a piano piece day, Thursday a string quartet day, Friday a concerto day, and Saturday an opera day.
Fun just isn't fun if isn't organized enough 

[Mirror Image]

A symphony per day, eh?
That kind of thing is a fun way of organizing the exploration, but it's very limiting, too --- or Schoenberg

Are we forgetting the Chamber Symphonies?

[North Star]

Are we forgetting the Chamber Symphonies?

No, but then you might as well include Janacek's Sinfonietta, too. It depends, of course, on how one limits the choices - is Sinfonia Concertante allowed too.

[Lodger]

I've tried to stick to pieces that are traditionally symphonies, but have occasionally played fast and loose with the definition. Some of the works on my list some would consider tone poems, like Strauss's Alpine Symphony, or Sinfonia Concertante like Harold in Italy or Prokofiev's Symphony-Concerto for Cello.

Do you also like Wagner and Liszt?

Ilaria

I know some of the basics. I really enjoy the Liebestode from Tristan and Isolde, and Liszt's Gondoliera from Venezia e Napoli is one of my favorite piano pieces.

[david johnson]

hi!   

[Wanderer]

Welcome, Lodger!

This past year I've made it a point to listen to a different symphony each day.

A fine endeavour. In your explorations, don't let works like e.g. Korngold's diminutively-named Sinfonietta pass you by (it is in fact a full-blown symphony - and quite splendid at that).

Also, you can do the same with concertos; pick a solo instrument you like and you'll be busy for years.  0:)