Top 10 Favorite Symphony Scherzi!

[kyjo]

At the request of Daniel (but I was going to create this poll sometime anyways )! By the way, this poll isn't limited to just scherzi; you can choose intermezzo-like second or third movements like those of Brahms 1, 2 and 3 or marches such as Tchaik 6 (which is also a scherzo). I'm going to try to do one per composer, but there's so many by Bruckner and Mahler scherzi that I love!

After Bruckner 9 (with 7 running a very close second), Mahler 5 (with 2 and 7 running VERY close seconds) and Tchaik 6, in no particular order: Shosty 5 (with 10 running a close second), Glazunov 5, Schubert 9, VW 6, Dvorak 6, Elgar 1 and Walton 1.

[Brahmsian]

Absolute favourite is hands down from Beethoven's 3rd.  Such a stark contrast to the morose, solemn funeral march 2nd movement.  Lively, energetic and invigorating Scherzo! 

[Brahmsian]

Another favourite is the scherzo from Dvorak's 4th Symphony in D minor.

[springrite]

Mahler 7

[madaboutmahler]

At the request of Daniel (but I was going to create this poll sometime anyways )!

Thanks, Kyle!

Again, all of Mahler's just have to count as one for me Particularly 6, 7 and the 3rd mov of 9 though!

My other 9 votes, one per composer:
Elgar 2
Bruckner 7
Shostakovich 10
Prokofiev 5
Glazunov 4
Tchaikovsky 6
Sibelius 5 (technically the second half of the first movement but oh well!)
Rachmaninov 2
Martinu 4

[kyjo]

Thanks, Kyle!

Again, all of Mahler's just have to count as one for me Particularly 6, 7 and the 3rd mov of 9 though!

My other 9 votes, one per composer:
Elgar 2
Bruckner 7
Shostakovich 10
Prokofiev 5
Glazunov 4
Tchaikovsky 6
Sibelius 5 (technically the second half of the first movement but oh well!)
Rachmaninov 2
Martinu 4

I would have included a lot of those had I listed my top 15 or allowed myself more than one example per composer. And yes, Glazunov was such a great scherzo writer, wasn't he?

[madaboutmahler]

I would have included a lot of those had I listed my top 15 or allowed myself more than one example per composer. And yes, Glazunov was such a great scherzo writer, wasn't he?

I would have included yours as well! And yes, I really am a massive fan of Glazunov, and the 4th symphony is a general favourite of mine! The 5th symphony is awesome too, what a finale in particular!! Love it!

[Lisztianwagner]

Hmm, there are definitely many outstanding scherzi from Mahler's and Beethoven's symphonies I could choose; I think I'll count Mahler 5, 6 and 7, and Beethoven 5, 6 and 9 as one; about the others:

Rachmaninov 1
Tchaikovsky 6
Bruckner 7
Sibelius 5
Shostakovich 10
Schumann 4
Dvořák 9
Melartin 4

[kyjo]

Melartin 4

Awesome! Glad this symphony made as great an impression on you as it did me.

[Sergeant Rock]

Havergal Brian Gothic Symphony Vivace

Bruckner Symphony 8 Allegro moderato ("the engine of heaven")

Brahms Symphony 3 Poco allegretto

Vaughan Williams Symphony 8 Scherzo alla marcia

Bruckner Symphony 4 Scherzo Bewegt - Trio: Nicht zu schnell (Horns!!!)

Rott Symphony Frisch und lebhaft (proto-Mahler)

Dvorak Symphony 8 Allegretto grazioso – Molto vivace

Mahler Symphony 2 In ruhig fließender Bewegung

Elgar Symphony 2 Rondo Presto

Korngold Symphony Scherzo Allergro molto


Sarge

[Lisztianwagner]

Hmm, there are definitely many outstanding scherzi from Mahler's and Beethoven's symphonies I could choose; I think I'll count Mahler 5, 6 and 7, and Beethoven 5, 6 and 9 as one; about the others:

Rachmaninov 1
Tchaikovsky 6
Bruckner 7
Sibelius 5
Shostakovich 10
Schumann 4
Dvořák 9
Melartin 4

On second thoughts, since Wagner's Ring is often compared to a giant symphony, I might have also choosen Siegfried.

[DavidW]

Schubert's 9th
Beethoven's 3rd

[springrite]

On second thoughts, since Wagner's Ring is often compared to a giant symphony, I might have also choosen Siegfried.

Thursday from Licht? Hummm...

[Brian]

Havergal Brian - Gothic
Martinu - Fourth
Shostakovich - Tenth
Dvorak - Second (!), Fourth (!), Seventh, Eighth
Beethoven - Third, Seventh
Janacek - second and third movements of Sinfonietta

My current #1 choice is probably Martinu's Fourth, but my usual #1 choice would be Beethoven's Seventh.

[TheGSMoeller]

This thread is a joke 


But the greatest of all time is Eroica, mainly because of those horns!! Other good ones are Bruckner's 4th, Britten Cello Suite No.2, Dvorak 8th, and Strauss' Symphonia Domestica.

[Brahmsian]

This thread is a joke 


But the greatest of all time is Eroica, mainly because of those horns!![/i] Other good ones are Bruckner's 4th, Britten Cello Suite No.2, Dvorak 8th, and Strauss' Symphonia Domestica.

*pounds the table!*

[TheGSMoeller]

Absolute favourite is hands down from Beethoven's 3rd.  Such a stark contrast to the morose, solemn funeral march 2nd movement.  Lively, energetic and invigorating Scherzo! 

Cool! Was just back peddling the thread and just saw your post, great pick, Ray. 

[Brian]

Britten Cello Suite No.2

Hey, why is this for symphonies only? What's wrong with scherzi that aren't in symphonies?!??

Newly liberated list of favorite scherzi
Dvorak - String Quartet No. 13; Sextet; String Quintet Op. 77; Symphonies 2, 4, 7, 8
...oh wait that's 8 already. That's why he made it symphonies-only. To keep the lists from being Dvorak Dvominated!

[Brahmsian]

Bruckner 9

That is a beast.  A leviathan of blazing sound, especially from the brass section.  It's almost shocking that it came from Bruckner.

[TheGSMoeller]

Hey, why is this for symphonies only? What's wrong with scherzi that aren't in symphonies?!??

Newly liberated list of favorite scherzi
Dvorak - String Quartet No. 13; Sextet; String Quintet Op. 77; Symphonies 2, 4, 7, 8
...oh wait that's 8 already. That's why he made it symphonies-only. To keep the lists from being Dvorak Dvominated!

Oh, you're right! 
I've become quite rebellious lately and just make up my own rules, so...join me!