Symphonies

[USMC1960s]

Looking for a list of what are acknowledged by many/most to be the best/most popular symphonies, just four or five would be helpful for now. Thanks very much.

[DaveF]

Well, if we go with the most popular to start with, I would say:

Haydn no.94 (the "Surprise")
Mozart no.41
Beethoven 7
Schubert 8 (the "Unfinished")
Tchaikovsky 5

Welcome aboard, by the way - hope to offer you a few more less popular suggestions at some point.

DF

[Cato]

Thank you. This is my third time coming back to the forum after some absences and usernames I failed to write down etc....I'm ready for those other recommendations anytime. Much appreciated.

Greetings USMC 1960's!

To address your question by touching three centuries and just a few more than in your request: some of us tend to be profligate here!

Franz Haydn: Symphony 101
Wolfgang Mozart: Symphonies 35 and 40

Ludwig Beethoven: Symphonies III and V   ((although you will want to hear all 9!     )
Hector Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
Alexander Borodin: Symphony II
Anton Bruckner: Symphonies IV and VII (although you will want to hear all 9!     )
Antonin Dvorak Symphonies IV and VII  (although you will want to hear all 9!     )
Gustav Mahler: Symphonies I and V (although you will want to hear all 10!     )
Franz Schubert: Symphonies VI and IX
Robert Schumann Symphony IV

Karl Hartmann: Symphonies VI-VIII
Paul Hindemith: Symphony "Mathis der Maler"
Charles Ives: Symphony II
Sergei Prokofiev: Symphonies III and VI
Serge Rachmaninov: Symphonies II and III
Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony X

[TheGSMoeller]

Sergei Prokofiev: Symphonies III and VI

Bravo, Cato!

[NorthNYMark]

Most of my other recommendations have been mentioned, but one that I consider essential has yet to be: Brahms 4 (and I'm surprised no one has specifically mentioned Beethoven 9).

[Cato]

Quote from: Cato on Today at 02:10:50 PM

Sergei Prokofiev: Symphonies III and VI

!

Bravo, Cato!

Absolutely essential!   0:)

[Jubal Slate]

Most of my other recommendations have been mentioned, but one that I consider essential has yet to be: Brahms 4 (and I'm surprised no one has specifically mentioned Beethoven 9).

Bingo x 2

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Saint-Saëns 3rd (The Organ)
Franck's only symphony
Mozart 39th
Bruckner 8th
Brahms 1st
Mendelssohn 4th (Italian)

[jochanaan]

Well, we all have our own personal lists, but there are a few symphonies that have most definitely crept into the common consciousness even among "civilians" (meaning, people who aren't yet fans of "our" music ):

Beethoven #5 and #9
Brahms #1
Mozart #40
Schubert #8 "Unfinished"

You will most likely recognize Beethoven 5 and Mozart 40 immediately from the first measures.  For Beethoven 9 and Brahms 1, it's the main themes in the last movements.  The Schubert themes are not so immediately recognizable, but almost everyone has heard of the "Unfinished Symphony."

[USMC1960s]

All the responses are much appreciated. I'm kind of a beginner, of sorts, although I have been listening for years, and am familiar with many of the symphonies listed. I joined this site around 2008 or maybe earlier, but am still amazed by the breadth of knowledge of classical music of people here. I said this before and repeat it now. I don't understand how anyone could possibly be so extremely knowledgeable about classical music, but then I was told, here, that quite a few of you are professional musicians, and of course that accounts for it. But----it's still interesting, the DEPTH of knowledge about these composers and their compositions.

[Ken B]

I second DD and Jochanaan. Perfect places to start. And they all exist in a billion great recordings. Don't pay a lot! In classical the best stuff is often the cheapest!

[Christo]

Another personal suggestion, a little less Central-European oriented, overall:

Mozart 40
Beethoven 3, 5, 6
Mendelssohn 4
Dvořák 9
Saint-Saëns 3
Tchaikovsky 6

Madetoja 3
Moeran 1
Shostakovich 5
Tubin 4
Vaughan Williams 5
Braga Santos 4

[Karl Henning]

I second DD and Jochanaan. Perfect places to start. And they all exist in a billion great recordings. Don't pay a lot! In classical the best stuff is often the cheapest!

Or, if you're in for a pound:

[USMC1960s]

Thanks, Karl---here's what's on those 60 CDs in that set:


Leonard Bernstein The Symphony Edition brings together all of the conductor's symphonic recordings with the New York Philharmonic from 1953 to 1976. Comprising 60 CDs in an LP- size format, this limited-edition box set includes a 32-page large- format book with extensive essays by Klaus Geitel and Wolfgang Stahr, together with numerous illustrations. It allows listeners to experience the fascinating world of the symphony in all its variety in magnificent recordings by one of the most charismatic conductors of all time.

Selections:
Ludwig Van Beethoven-The Complete Symphonies Nos. 1-9
Hector Berlioz-Symphonic Fantastique
Leonard Bernstein-The Complete Symphonies Nos. 1-3
Georges Bizet-Symphony in C
Marc Blitzstein-The Airborne Symphony
Johnannes Brahms-The Complete Symphonies Nos. 1-4
Anton Bruckner-Symphony No. 9
Carlos Chavez-Sinfonia India
Aaron Copland-SUymphony for Organ and Orchestra Symphony Nos. 3
David Diamond-Symphony No. 4
Atonin Dvorak-Symphonies Nos. 7 & 9
Cesar Franck-Symphony in D minor
Karl Goldmark-Rustic Wedding Symphony
Roy Harris-Symphony No. 3
Joseph Haydn-Symphonies Nos. 82-88,93-104
Paul Hindemith-Symphony in E-flat
Charles Ives-Symphonies Nos. 2&3
Franz Liszt-A Faust Symphony
Gustav
Felix Mendelssohn-Symphonies Nos. 3-5
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart-Symphonies Nos. 36,39-41
Carl Nielsen-Symphonies Nos. 2-5
Sergei Prokofiev-Symphonies Nos. 1&5
Albert Roussel-Symphony No. 3
Camille Saint-Saens-Symphony No. 3
Franz Schubert-Symphony Nos. 5,8&9
Robert Schumann-The Complete Symphonies Nos. 1-4
William Schuman-Symphonies Nos. 3,5&8
Harold Shapero-Symphony for Classical Orchestra
Igor Straginsky-Symphonies of Psalms
Dmitri Shostankovich-Symphonies Nos. 1,5-7, 9&14
Jean Sibelus-The Complete Symphonies Nos. 7
Peter Tchaikovsky-The Complete Symphonies Nos. 1-7
Ralph Vaughan Williams-Symphony No. 4

[Karl Henning]

Aye.  Even before I sprang for the box, I knew Lenny's recordings of the Haydn, Sibelius, Nielsen, Bernstein, Schuman & Hindemith.  As you may suppose, on the strength of enjoying all those so well, I felt the box a worthwhile investment.

[USMC1960s]

It looks very worthwhile.

[Cato]

All the responses are much appreciated. I'm kind of a beginner, of sorts, although I have been listening for years, and am familiar with many of the symphonies listed. I joined this site around 2008 or maybe earlier, but am still amazed by the breadth of knowledge of classical music of people here. I said this before and repeat it now. I don't understand how anyone could possibly be so extremely knowledgeable about classical music, but then I was told, here, that quite a few of you are professional musicians, and of course that accounts for it. But----it's still interesting, the DEPTH of knowledge about these composers and their compositions.

Some of us began at age 5!         

I had the advantage of a public library (in Dayton) back in the 1950's-1960's which invested in all kinds of classical records, many of them "contemporary composers" of the day.  So, given my innate predilection for "the great music" (e.g. my earliest listening often involved Liszt and Wagner and Beethoven ) I was able to progress through Western Music.  The library also invested in a large number of musical scores, so I was able to use those as well, after I taught myself how to read music.

[Ken B]

It looks very worthwhile.

It is. As I recall I gave Karl the final push to buy it.
DG also has a great box, 100 Great Symphonies.

[Karl Henning]

It's well possible.  There was more than hand a-pushing, as I recall 

[USMC1960s]

I just looked at that DG 100 Great Symphonies on Amazon. Looks very good.