Recommend music from so-called One Hit Wonders

[stingo]

After looking at the Holst Planets thread in Great Recordings, I thought I'd ask for recommendations for other music (recordings preferred) from composers known only for one work.

[mahler10th]

After looking at the Holst Planets thread in Great Recordings, I thought I'd ask for recommendations for other music (recordings preferred) from composers known only for one work.

Rott, Symphony One.
PS: I checked out your Last FM Page through the 'haggis' link below, and am going to follow up on that band too, I like the sounds of them. 

[vandermolen]

Holst's 1st Choral Symphony. Either the Boult or the new Andrew Davis recording.

Not sure if this is what you mean.

[stingo]

Rott, Symphony One.
PS: I checked out your Last FM Page through the 'haggis' link below, and am going to follow up on that band too, I like the sounds of them. 

ETH is really good. I saw them live at the Celtic Fling here in PA and have since acquired all their recordings. You can listen to their music on their  bandcamp website. I like their most recent CD the best - The Modest Revolution.

And based on reading this board, I already own a recording of the Rott symphony.

[stingo]

Holst's 1st Choral Symphony. Either the Boult or the new Andrew Davis recording.

Not sure if this is what you mean.

Yes that is what I mean. Something that is not "The Planets" from Gustav Holst. (Or something that is not the Canon from Pachelbel).

[kyjo]

Enescu (for Romanian Rhapsody 1): I highly recommend all three symphonies, orchestral suites, Sinfonia Concertante (for cello), Violin Sonata no. 3, Piano Quintets, Dectet, Cello Sonatas, among others.

[North Star]

Definitely Egdon Heath from Holst.

[asin]B007QEHQY6[/asin]

[kyjo]

For Holst, I would especially recommend Egdon Heath, The Perfect Fool Ballet Suite, St. Paul's Suite, Beni Mora, and The Hymn of Jesus.

[kyjo]

Also, Alfven (for Swedish Rhapsody 1): I would recommend Symphonies 2-5 (esp. 4 and 5), the Elegy from Gustav Adolf II Suite (v. moving), A Legend of the Skerries, and Swedish Rhapsodies 2 and 3.

[Lisztianwagner]

About Gustav Holst, besides the works still mentioned, I would strongly recommend A Somerset Rhapsody, The Golden Goose, Two Songs Without Words, Lyric Movement and A Choral Fantasia too.

[jochanaan]

For Holst, I would especially recommend...The Hymn of Jesus.

Yes indeed!  His First Suite for Band is lovely too.  (I've played it several times; it's very fun to play.)

Dukas' (he of The Sorcerer's Apprentice) Symphony is a very fine piece, and I've heard he did some fine chamber music too.

Aleksandr Borodin is known mostly for the Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor; but I've played his Second Symphony and loved it.  I've also heard his string quartets are fine too.

I've heard that Engelbert Humperdinck wrote some very fine operas in addition to Hänsel und Gretel.

Re Enescu: Decades ago his "one hit" would have been the Second Romanian Rhapsody, not the First.  Of course they're both great fun and very nice music.  I've also heard--I think--his Piano Trio and liked it very much; rather Brahmsian, but you can do worse than take Brahms as a model.

[kyjo]

Dukas' (he of The Sorcerer's Apprentice) Symphony is a very fine piece, and I've heard he did some fine chamber music too.

Yes, I love Dukas' rather Franckian Symphony. His luscious ballet La Peri and Wagnerian Polyeucte Overture are hugely enjoyable. I don't believe Dukas wrote any chamber music, but he did compose an epic Piano Sonata, which takes Beethoven's late piano sonatas as its model.

Another French "one-hit wonder" is Chausson, mainly known for his Poeme. He's composed some very fine music, including a Symphony in B-flat, a couple symphonic poems, the Concerto for Violin, Piano and String Quartet, the Wagnerian opera Le Roi Arthus, and, last but not least, the magically atmospheric song cycle Poemes de l'amour et de la mer.

[amw]

I sort of wrote Enescu off when I heard one of the Romanian Rhapsodies on the radio but I've since discovered the symphonies (especially the Chamber Symphony), string quartets, piano quartets and other chamber music and am starting to think he is actually quite a great composer >.>

Outside Norway I suppose Grieg is a bit of a two-hit wonder with the Piano Concerto and that one bit from Peer Gynt. A lot of his solo piano music is also very fine however. Sibelius used to be a one-hit wonder with Finlandia but people have sort of warmed up to him I think.

In addition to Ma vlást, Smetana wrote a couple of rather fine string quartets, lots of charming piano music and some operas I haven't heard but which are supposed to be good. I suppose the Bartered Bride overture makes him a one-and-a-half hit wonder. There's also Bizet, who definitely wrote some music that wasn't Carmen, I just haven't heard any of it :/

[kyjo]

I sort of wrote Enescu off when I heard one of the Romanian Rhapsodies on the radio but I've since discovered the symphonies (especially the Chamber Symphony), string quartets, piano quartets and other chamber music and am starting to think he is actually quite a great composer >.>

Oh yes, the two Romanian Rhapsodies are not among my favorite compositions of Enescu's. The majority of his other works have greater substance I think.

[Pat B]

In addition to Ma vlást, Smetana wrote a couple of rather fine string quartets, lots of charming piano music and some operas I haven't heard but which are supposed to be good. I suppose the Bartered Bride overture makes him a one-and-a-half hit wonder. There's also Bizet, who definitely wrote some music that wasn't Carmen, I just haven't heard any of it :/

I wouldn't have thought of Bizet but the shoe sort of fits. The music for L'Arlésienne is somewhat known (and has one part that is really really catchy) as is his Symphony in C -- though I can't say I listen to them very often. They might have been forgotten if they hadn't been written by the guy who wrote Carmen.

Smetana, no. His 1st String Quartet is a borderline staple.

Sorry to be the OHW police.

[The new erato]

Outside Norway I suppose Grieg is a bit of a two-hit wonder with the Piano Concerto and that one bit from Peer Gynt. A lot of his solo piano music is also very fine however.

A strong recommendation for his Piano Ballade and Haugtussa song cycle. I live quite close to his home Troldhaugen BTW and am not a great Grieg fan, but those works are worth anybody's time.

And my favorite Holst is Savitri.

[amw]

Smetana, no. His 1st String Quartet is a borderline staple.

Sorry to be the OHW police.

No problem. On reflection I have heard that quartet a few times without really trying (radio broadcasts, concert programmes) so I suppose it is better known than I give it credit for.

Another OHW who comes to mind is Kurt Weill, whose instrumental music includes two symphonies, string quartets, a violin concerto, piano music, etc, much of which is very appealing. He also has some other operas, although the only one apart from the Threepenny I've heard is Der Jasager—written to be performed by children, I think—which is in a much more "serious" style reminiscent somewhat of Hindemith but sparer (as one might expect), or perhaps Orff (but communist instead of Nazi).

[vandermolen]

About Gustav Holst, besides the works still mentioned, I would strongly recommend A Somerset Rhapsody, The Golden Goose, Two Songs Without Words, Lyric Movement and A Choral Fantasia too.

I also like 'The Cloud Messenger'.

[Lisztianwagner]

I also like 'The Cloud Messenger'.

Oh, you're right, that work is absolutely marvelous; such an unforgivable oversight!

[Mirror Image]

Do 'No Hit Wonders' count?