Your Top Five Favorite American Symphonies

[NJ Joe]

While I certainly enjoy the Mysterious Mountain, I am not sure that is the Hovhaness symphony I might have included. (One understands that Hovhaness wrote a good many symphonies, and that the Mysterious Mountain benefits from early exposure, and probably more performances than almost any of the rest.)  To continue this paragraph, even, I ought to revisit those of his symphonies I have heard . . . off the top of my head, the symphony I should prefer to be part of the list is the Symphony for Metal Orchestra, Op.203 (№ 17, 1963).  Certainly, as a composer myself, I am never comfortable with the suggestion that a composer wrote his best symphony early on, and failed to build upon that musical capital with further practice 

I've not heard No. 17, but the title sounds intriguing enough to warrant exploration.  The other Hovhaness symphonies I enjoy are No. 19 (Vishnu), No. 22 (City of Light), Mount St. Helen's, and No. 53 (Star Dawn).  I chose Mysterious Mountain mainly because of the Reiner Living Stereo performance, which imho is in a league of it's own.

[Cato]

I've not heard No. 17, but the title sounds intriguing enough to warrant exploration.  The other Hovhaness symphonies I enjoy are No. 19 (Vishnu), No. 22 (City of Light), Mount St. Helen's, and No. 53 (Star Dawn).  I chose Mysterious Mountain mainly because of the Reiner Living Stereo performance, which imho is in a league of it's own.

It is a classic!

Richard Yardumian came to mind as another American of Armenian descent who was big in the mid- 1900's.  I believe Eugene Ormandy was very supportive of his music.

https://www.youtube.com/v/70j9pb3I1Ns

[Mirror Image]

I really enjoyed the Helps Piano Concerto No. 2, though.

I couldn't stand that work at all. The best work on that recording IMHO is Thomson's The Filling Station and it's not a great work by any stretch of the word.

[Ken B]

I couldn't stand that work at all. The best work on that recording IMHO is Thomson's The Filling Station and it's not a great work by any stretch of the word.

I agree that Filling Station is pleasant but not really memorable. Thomson's best stuff is vocal: songs, opera, choral music.

[Mirror Image]

I agree that Filling Station is pleasant but not really memorable. Thomson's best stuff is vocal: songs, opera, choral music.

Have you heard any of his symphonies or film music, Ken?

[Daverz]

I agree that Filling Station is pleasant but not really memorable. Thomson's best stuff is vocal: songs, opera, choral music.

I hear the Helps concerto as jazzy and playful.  The Thomson work seems to burble along amiably to little effect.  Perhaps if Stokowski had recorded it...

[71 dB]

Time to invade Finland!

Typical American militant solution. Stop listening to Finnish composers. I don't mind.

My favorite Symphonies are from UK (Elgar) and Denmark (Nielsen).

Most Finns and Americans ignore all classical music to begin with... ...I must ignore many things because I don't have time and energy.

I have been into American band Guster recently. 

[Ken B]

Have you heard any of his symphonies or film music, Ken?

Of course John! I'm the resident Thomson booster! Fine stuff, especially Plow.

[vandermolen]

No, I have Hanson's own performance on an old Mercury LP.

Hanson's is fine but the Koussevitsky is terrific. In my opinion, like Beecham's recording of Sibelius's 4th Symphony, it has never been equalled.

[vandermolen]

While I certainly enjoy the Mysterious Mountain, I am not sure that is the Hovhaness symphony I might have included. (One understands that Hovhaness wrote a good many symphonies, and that the Mysterious Mountain benefits from early exposure, and probably more performances than almost any of the rest.)  To continue this paragraph, even, I ought to revisit those of his symphonies I have heard . . . off the top of my head, the symphony I should prefer to be part of the list is the Symphony for Metal Orchestra, Op.203 (№ 17, 1963).  Certainly, as a composer myself, I am never comfortable with the suggestion that a composer wrote his best symphony early on, and failed to build upon that musical capital with further practice 

Actually my favourite is probably No. 50 'Mount St Helens' which is a later work.

[vandermolen]

I think that speculation is in line with Jeffrey's question ("What is it about third symphonies?").  Maybe there is a common mental trap which burdens the creation of the symphony № 1, and it takes the composer a process of writing out of that trap.  I don't think it's anything like universal . . . Nielsen, Mahler and Shostakovich (to name but three) started out with strong firsts.  Prokofiev, too, though one might argue that he gamed the task by the deliberate use of a historical model.

Interesting point Karl. The 1st symphonies of Norgard, Blomdahl,Simpson, Egge and Lilburn are my favourites probably because they are written in a more conventional idiom before they developed a more radical (in my view) style and I am perhaps not as adventurous as I should be!

I also like the Hovhaness 'City of Light' Symphony and agree with Paul about that one.

[vandermolen]

Listened to this on Tidal.  I much prefer the Grant Park Orchestra recording of the Kurka symphony.  I really enjoyed the Helps Piano Concerto No. 2, though.

http://www.cedillerecords.org/albums/robert-kurka-symphonic-works

Time to invade Finland!

I agree with you that the GP version of the Kurka is the better performance.

[Karl Henning]

I much prefer City of Light

Interesting point Karl. The 1st symphonies of Norgard, Blomdahl,Simpson, Egge and Lilburn are my favourites probably because they are written in a more conventional idiom before they developed a more radical (in my view) style and I am perhaps not as adventurous as I should be!

I also like the Hovhaness 'City of Light' Symphony and agree with Paul about that one.

Well, you gents are right, the City of Light is well up there.

The special colors of the Symphony for Metal Orchestra may give that one the edge, by me;  but the City of Light is indeed exquisite.

[vandermolen]

Well, you gents are right, the City of Light is well up there.

The special colors of the Symphony for Metal Orchestra may give that one the edge, by me;  but the City of Light is indeed exquisite.

And I must have a listen again to Symphony for Metal Orchestra.

[TheGSMoeller]

My list would be filled with Ives and Glass only. 
Although I'm too sick today to decide which ones to include. 

[ritter]

My list would be filled with Ives and Glass only. 
Although I'm too sick today to decide which ones to include. 

Hope you get better soon! Take good care of yourself!

Cheers,

[TheGSMoeller]

Hope you get better soon! Take good care of yourself!

Cheers,

Thanks, friend. 

[Ken B]

My list would be filled with Ives and Glass only. 
Although I'm too sick today to decide which ones to include. 

Let me help ...

[vandermolen]

My list would be filled with Ives and Glass only. 
Although I'm too sick today to decide which ones to include. 

Hope you feel better soon.

[Sergeant Rock]

My list would be filled with Ives and Glass only. 
Although I'm too sick today to decide which ones to include. 

I'll help you, Greg:

Ives 1
Ives 2
Ives 3
Ives 4
Ives Holidays

There you go. Perfect...well, no Glass, but as I said, perfect

Sarge