Six Favorite Symphonists

[Mirror Image]

I need to listen to nos 1-3 more.

Listening to Nielsen's Symphony No. 1 in G major, FS 16 now (the new Storgards/BBC Philharmonic recording). I really don't understand it's neglect at all. It's a fantastic work. Okay, it may not have that same kind of ruggedness and dualistic nature we've come admire in his mature oeuvre, but this is a superbly crafted work full of great melodies, rhythms, and harmonies.

[Madiel]

Ooh. Er...

Sibelius
Holmboe
Haydn
Beethoven
later Mozart...
I don't mind Rachmaninov or Scriabin...

There are actually a whole pile of composers whose symphonies are on the to do list - Schumann, Brahms, Bruckner, Nielsen, Tubin, RVW are all on there, plus more Shostakovich and more Mahler.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Ha, lists!
Hate them, love them.

Here's another conventional one:

1 Mozart
2 Mahler
3 Brahms
4 Beethoven
5 Tchaikovsky
6 Haydn

Runner-up: Bruckner.
And I also adore Schubert, Mendelssohn and Dvorak in this genre.

(Which makes a Top 10 .)

This is close to my list, except that I'd substitute Bruckner as number 5. Vaughan Williams would be 999, Havergal Brian 1999, and  Braga Santos 9999.

[(poco) Sforzando]

I can understand your problem with Mahler (for me, 3 and 4 took a long time to gel) but I'd don't understand your problem with Bruckner. I don't see how anyone can only like a couple of his symphonies when, in effect, they are all the same   Like one, you should like them all. Even the "Study" Symphony has elements that are unmistakably Bruckner; and 0, 1 and 2 could be by no other composer. Sure, there is technical progress, a continual honing of his compositional skills, but the style is the same, his signature elements the same, from Die Nullte to the Ninth.

Sarge

To a degree, but that doesn't explain why I find the first four symphonies rather boring and my great enthusiasm starts with #6. And while there is undeniable consistency of style, here and there you find movements that are unique, like the scherzo of the 9th symphony (and especially its prestissimo middle section).

[Mirror Image]

Who are your six favorite symphonists? I'll go first....(in no particular order):

RVW
Sibelius
Nielsen
Shostakovich
Bruckner
Mahler

I'll have to change my list as I don't really listen to Mahler or Bruckner much these days (or haven't in the past 4-5 years). My new list:

Sibelius
Nielsen
RVW
Shostakovich
Martinů
Atterberg

[vandermolen]

I'll have to change my list as I don't really listen to Mahler or Bruckner much these days (or haven't in the past 4-5 years). My new list:

Sibelius
Nielsen
RVW
Shostakovich
Martinů
Atterberg

Great list although I might substitute Tubin for Atterberg. I like Atterberg's 2nd,3rd,5th and 8th symphonies.

[Mirror Image]

Great list although I might substitute Tubin for Atterberg. I like Atterberg's 2nd,3rd,5th and 8th symphonies.

Well, my initial problem with Tubin lies the realm of memorability. I can never remember what I just heard from him (for the record, I have the same problem with Holmboe). This isn't a slight against the composer as I do like a lot of his music, I just have a difficult time coming to grips with what work I just heard. Some musical passages stand out from the other of course, like I do remember Sinfonietta on Estonian Motifs and the first movement of Symphony No. 1. He's a very 'in-the-moment' kind of composer for me. Not that this is a bad thing, it's just I like music that leaves an impression of some kind whether it be a motif, a melody, a certainly harmonic sequence, etc. and somehow finds a way to get lodged into my mind.

[vandermolen]

Well, my initial problem with Tubin lies the realm of memorability. I can never remember what I just heard from him (for the record, I have the same problem with Holmboe). This isn't a slight against the composer as I do like a lot of his music, I just have a difficult time coming to grips with what work I just heard. Some musical passages stand out from the other of course, like I do remember Sinfonietta on Estonian Motifs and the first movement of Symphony No. 1. He's a very 'in-the-moment' kind of composer for me. Not that this is a bad thing, it's just I like music that leaves an impression of some kind whether it be a motif, a melody, a certainly harmonic sequence, etc. and somehow finds a way to get lodged into my mind.

Interesting point John. I guess that, for me, in relation to Tubin, it can be the atmosphere of a piece that stays with me. Having said that, the opening of the Fourth Symphony, the end of the slow movement of No. 5 and the climax of the first movement of the Second Symphony 'Legendary' to name but a few are moments that I do recall in my imagination. Much the same goes for symphonies 1 and 3 also.

[Christo]

According to Wikipedia, Leif Segerstam finished his 300th symphony, in June. Who knows, is that a world record? See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leif_Segerstam

[Johnnie Burgess]

My favorites are:

Haydn
Beethoven
Mahler
Shostakovich
Vaughan Williams
Sibelius

[Androcles]

Favourites? A slightly odd list, but I hope an honest one.

Bruckner - the last two are awesome, but I have a soft spot for No. 4, which was the first piece of classical music I listened to seriously as a teenager.
Nielsen for 3rd to 6th largely, which get played quite a lot by me
Shostakovich - the best of all things Russian and symphonic
Pettersson - it doesn't much more powerful, at least in terms of the emotion
Carter (for A Symphony of Three Orchestras and Symphonia) - when I don't want much outward emotion, but something powerful to give my brain a workout.
Hindemith - symphonies not numbered, but all quite interesting and very much in a particular Hindemithian style - quite loud and brash, but powerful and with interesting instrumentation.


I have individual symphonies by other composers that I quite like. The last two by Mahler, the two of Elgar, the two of Denisov, Schnittke when I'm in the mood, Tippett's 4th. I've also spent some time getting into Brian, Simpson, Rubbra and Bax, but probably ultimately don't actually like them as much as the above.

I have plenty of favourite symphonies who weren't written by any of these.

[North Star]

Sibelius
Beethoven
Shostakovich
Haydn
Brahms
Nielsen

No, I don't think I'd change anything there. (The list isn't in any order of preference)

[Karl Henning]

No, I don't think I'd change anything there. (The list isn't in any order of preference)

I know ... how could you boot any of those six out?

[Mister Sharpe]

Probably the easiest poll or survey on GMG ever and w/o requiring anything more than split-second decision making :

Brahms
Mahler
Sibelius
Schubert
Martinů
Bax

and Myaskovsky in a photo-finish with Bax.  Also, like örfeö (note I'm spelling his name the way it öught to be, there's relatively little in this world cooler than umlauts as heavy metal bands well know), I'm fond of and greatly interested in Mozart's last eight or ten.   

[Karl Henning]

Martinů: nice!

[Madiel]

örfeö (note I'm spelling his name the way it öught to be, there's relatively little in this world cooler than umlauts as heavy metal bands well know)

When I want to appear German or Swedish rather than Danish, I'll let you know!

[Mister Sharpe]

When I want to appear German or Swedish rather than Danish, I'll let you know!

Ok, but I hope it's soon...

[Mister Sharpe]

Martinů: nice!

Indeed, and it's all GMG's fault (the Good Martinů Guide).

[Mirror Image]

Indeed, and it's all GMG's fault (the Good Martinů Guide).

Anyone who likes Martinů is a friend of mine!

[Mirror Image]

My current list:

Sibelius
Nielsen
RVW
Shostakovich
Martinů