Top 10 favorite contemporary classical works since World War II

[vandermolen]

Ten's impossible--not that twelve's any more possible

So, to attempt the impossible, one work per composer, and only large orchestral or orchestral/vocal works. I may submit a chamber list later.


Havergal Brian Symphony #8 B minor (1948)
Fartein Valen Symphony #4 (1947-49)
Vaughan Williams Symphony #8 D minor (1953-55)
Shostakovich Symphony #15 A major (1971)
Prokofiev Symphony #7 C sharp minor (1951-52)
Rautavaara Symphony #3 (1961)
Stravinsky Agon (1957)
Britten War Requiem (1961)
Korngold Symphony in F Sharp major (1947-52)
Pettersson Symphony #6 (1963-66)
Lloyd Symphony #4 (1946)
Strauss Vier letzte Lieder (1948)


Sarge

Great list.

[Mirror Image]

Martinu is no replacement for such a one-of-kind master like Stockhausen

To degrade Martinu as to anything less than a 'one of a kind master' pretty much sums up how you feel about composers who aren't Stockhausen. You continuously tell us all, who don't like Stockhausen, to 'open up our ears' but with this kind of comment I quoted from you, it is you who actually are in dire need of opening your ears.

[springrite]

Heaven forbid anyone liking something that actually breaks the mold and is different.

Why do I think YOU are crying out: I need some love! You don't need to hide behind Stockhausen, and we (well, most of us) do love (well, mostly tolerate) you!

[Christo]

Another attempt here, some favourite pieces in chronological order (not exactly the kind of music James is thinking about, perhaps, but then, Contemporary music is so much more than just the narrow path of strict Modernism):

Havergal Brian, Symphony No. 8 (1949)
Vagn Holmboe, Sinfonia Boreale [No. 8] (1952)
Alberto Ginastera, Variaciones concertantes (1953)
Ralph Vaughan Williams, Symphony No. 9 (1957)
Dmitri Shostakovich, Symphony No. 15 (1971)
Einar Englund, Symphony No. 4 'Nostalgic' (1976)
Malcolm Arnold, Symphony No. 9 (1986)
Robert Simpson, Symphony No. 9 (1987)
Veljo Tormis, Unustatud rahvad (Forgotten Peoples) (1970-1989)
Peteris Vasks, Symphony No. 2 (1999)

[Mirror Image]

Calm down. I like plenty of composers .. and each one is irreplaceable/indispensable & unique. As it should be.

I'm quite calm, I was just merely telling you how you were wrong, which you still are about Martinu.

[springrite]

I'm quite calm, I was just merely telling you how you were wrong, which you still are about Martinu.

I wouldn't say he is wrong. Nobody is really wrong here. It is more of a social etiquette thing.

Wait! How the hell did I get to 4000 posts? I am supposed to be working all the time! Well, I know it is a modest number compared to the Johns (and soon, Kyjo) of this world, but still!

[Brian]

I'm most amazed by the prejudice toward symphonies and large orchestral works. For some reason, many of my favorite works from the last 60 years are chamber music. It's more true post-1975 for me (almost half that list is chamber music), but in the 1945-1975 and 1975-2013 lists combined, I have a total of only 4 symphonies. So it's surprising to me that Sarge, Jeffrey, Kyle, etc. can have lists of top 10 works where 7-9 of them are symphonies.

[Sergeant Rock]

I'm most amazed by the prejudice toward symphonies and large orchestral works. For some reason, many of my favorite works from the last 60 years are chamber music. It's more true post-1975 for me (almost half that list is chamber music), but in the 1945-1975 and 1975-2013 lists combined, I have a total of only 4 symphonies. So it's surprising to me that Sarge, Jeffrey, Kyle, etc. can have lists of top 10 works where 7-9 of them are symphonies.

It would be easy (seriously) to make a Top 50 Symphonies covering the time period. Despite the Stockhausens and Boulezs, the tradition continued, and the music is marvelous...well, a few of us think so anyway 

Sarge

[kyjo]

I'm most amazed by the prejudice toward symphonies and large orchestral works. For some reason, many of my favorite works from the last 60 years are chamber music. It's more true post-1975 for me (almost half that list is chamber music), but in the 1945-1975 and 1975-2013 lists combined, I have a total of only 4 symphonies. So it's surprising to me that Sarge, Jeffrey, Kyle, etc. can have lists of top 10 works where 7-9 of them are symphonies.

The form of the symphony is the one I am most attracted to. As much as I like concertos, ballets, choral/orchestral works, and some chamber music, the vast majority of my favorites in any category will always be symphonies.

[Karl Henning]

I was only joking, James.

James had a humorectomy early on . . . .

[Karl Henning]

The form of the symphony is the one I am most attracted to. As much as I like concertos, ballets, choral/orchestral works, and some chamber music, the vast majority of my favorites in any category will always be symphonies.

One could easily compose such a list purely of unaccompanied choral works, BTW.

[Brian]

One could easily compose such a list purely of unaccompanied choral works, BTW.

Oh goodness, yes! Lauridsen, Tormis, Rautavaara, Glass... almost a golden age for unaccompanied choir. Silver age or something.

[kyjo]

So your orientation is more traditional / conservative.

Yes, compared to yours, at least.

[chadfeldheimer]

Actually I like lists, although I'm aware how questionable they are. But 10 are definately too little.

Boulez - Pli Selon Pli
Elliott Carter - Double Concerto for Harpsichord & Piano with Two Chamber Orchestras
Feldman - Rothko Chapel
Ferneyhough - 3rd string quartet
Lachenmann - El Grido
Ligeti - Atmospheres
Lutoslawski - 3rd Symphony
Messiaen - Des canyons aux étoiles...
Nancarrow - Studies for Player Piano
Nono - Prometeo
Penderecki - Threnodi
Schnittke - Viola Concerto
Shostakovich - 10th Symphony
Stockhausen - Hymnen
Stravinsky - Agon
Xenakis - Metastasis
B.A. Zimmermann - Die Soldaten

I'm a sucker for huge orchestrations, but there are two string quartets too

[Christo]

It would be easy (seriously) to make a Top 50 Symphonies covering the time period. Despite the Stockhausens and Boulezs, the tradition continued, and the music is marvelous...well, a few of us think so anyway 
Sarge

My words. 

[Ken B]

chronological, 1945-1975 (other selections in other thread)
Lloyd: Symphony #5 (1947)
Strauss: Vier letzte Lieder (1948)
Lutoslawski: Concerto for Orchestra (1950-54)
Prokofiev: Symphony #7 C sharp minor (1951-52)
Shostakovich: Symphony no. 10 (1953)
Martinu: Oboe Concerto (1955)
Holmboe: Four Symphonic Metamorphoses (1956-71)
Bernstein: West Side Story (1957)
Poulenc: Flute Sonata (1957) (also orchestration by Lennox Berkeley, 1973)
Shostakovich: String Quartet #8 (1960)

This is the most congenial list I have seen posted here.

Four Last Songs probably tops my list. Other must haves:
Simpson 9
Nyman Facing Goya
Thomson The Feast Of Love
Shostakovich 49-72 (puzzle for Nate)
Sondheim Sweeney Todd

[Ken B]

Heaven forbid anyone liking something that actually breaks the mold and is different.

Nice to hear such a ringing endorsement of minimalism, and indeed the entire rejection of serialist dogma we have seen in the past few decades.

[Brian]

UPDATED by merging my previous posts in both this thread and the living composers thread.

TOP TEN
Lloyd: Symphony #5 (1947)
Strauss: Vier letzte Lieder (1948)
Lutoslawski: Concerto for Orchestra (1950-54)
Prokofiev: Symphony #7 in C sharp minor (1951-52)
Kernis: String Quartet No. 1, "musica celestis" (1990)
Rouse: Flute Concerto (1993)
Glass: Symphony No. 3 (1995)
Czarnecki: String Quartet No. 2, "Spis" (1997)
Penderecki: String Quintet (after Quartet No. 3; 2008)
Penderecki: Horn Concerto, "Winterreise" (2008-09)

ARGH WHY COULDN'T IT BE TOP TWENTY-FIVE
Shostakovich: Symphony no. 10 (1953)
Martinu: Oboe Concerto (1955)
Holmboe: Four Symphonic Metamorphoses (1956-71)
Bernstein: West Side Story (1957)
Poulenc: Flute Sonata (1957) (also orchestration by Lennox Berkeley, 1973)
Shostakovich: String Quartet #8 (1960)
Glass: String Quartet No. 4, "Buczak" (1989)
Holmboe: Viola Concerto (1992)
Rautavaara: Canto IV, for string orchestra (1992)
Lauridsen: O magnum mysterium (1994)
Frank: Danza de los Saqsampillos (2000; arr. for two marimbas 2006)
Dorman: Piccolo Concerto (2001)
Frank: Leyendas, for string quartet (2001)
Aho: Symphonic Dances (2001)
Kats-Chernin: Ornamental Air, for basset clarinet and orchestra (2007)
Malecki: The Dream of Frédéric, for string quartet (2010)


It's interesting to me that even expanded to 26, I couldn't think of anything between 1960 and 1989, but plenty before and after.

[EigenUser]

I'll keep it post-1970 to make it more interesting:

In approximate order:
Ligeti Clocks and Clouds
Ligeti Piano Concerto
Messiaen Des Canyons aux Etoiles
Ligeti San Francisco Polyphony
Ades Asyla
Feldman Piano and String Quartet
Feldman Rothko Chapel
Feldman Coptic Light
Boulez Notations for Orchestra (orchestrated version is post-1970)
Reich Music for 18 Musicians

[North Star]

I'll keep it post-1970 to make it more interesting:

Nice list, Nate - although a bit narrow with just six composers.
BTW, where is that Ligeti quotation in your signature from? I presume he meant 'medal' and not 'metal'.