Great underrated pieces.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I would say Antichrist and Music of Spheres by Rued Langgaard. Don't even know if his music is played outside of Scandinavia? 

Music of the Spheres was played at last year's Proms, with Dausgaard and the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra...

[vandermolen]

I'd like for people to list some of their favorite pieces of music that they feel are not performed as often as they should be.Or  said  in another way some really great pieces that are underrated. For example I think Allan Petterson's Seventh Symphony is a great symphony not performed often enough. Carl Ruggles' Sun Treader another one.

I'd agree with these two.

Braga Santos: Symphony 4
Lilburn: symphonies 1 and 2
Bax: Symphony 3
Miaskovsky: Symphony 27
Egge: Symphony 1
Goossens: Symphony 1
Tubin: symphonies 2 and 4
Atterberg: Symphony 8
Lo Presti: The Masks

[Klaatu]

I immediately thought of Elgar's In The South - it's described as an "overture" but in fact it's a substantial tone-poem about Italy. The orchestration is masterly; the "Italian popular song" violin solo at its heart is wonderfully wistful and poignant; and the surging, uplifting final pages are superbly life-affirming. It's perhaps the least-known and least-performed of EE's major orchestral works - maybe because of that totally inappropriate "overture" designation.

[DavidRoss]

I immediately thought of Elgar's In The South - it's described as an "overture" but in fact it's a substantial tone-poem about Italy. The orchestration is masterly; the "Italian popular song" violin solo at its heart is wonderfully wistful and poignant; and the surging, uplifting final pages are superbly life-affirming. It's perhaps the least-known and least-performed of EE's major orchestral works - maybe because of that totally inappropriate "overture" designation.

Nice call!

[Scarpia]

I immediately thought of Elgar's In The South - it's described as an "overture" but in fact it's a substantial tone-poem about Italy. The orchestration is masterly; the "Italian popular song" violin solo at its heart is wonderfully wistful and poignant; and the surging, uplifting final pages are superbly life-affirming. It's perhaps the least-known and least-performed of EE's major orchestral works - maybe because of that totally inappropriate "overture" designation.

Recently listened to this work.  I agree it is a wonderful piece, but I must say it sounds more British than Italian to my ears. 

[Klaatu]

Recently listened to this work.  I agree it is a wonderful piece, but I must say it sounds more British than Italian to my ears. 

I quite agree - it's an Englishman's rather romantic impressions of Italy (inspired by EE's holidays in Alassio), rather than any attempt to write in an Italian idiom. As such it is distinctly English in sound, apart from that lovely wistful canto populare.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Just want to add my voice in praise of Elgar's In the South - what a marvellous piece! I have two recordings - one by Barbirolli and the other by Sinopoli, both very good.

[Wanderer]

That's my favourite Elgar overture, as well (although Cockaigne - the overture -  is not half bad, either).

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

That's my favourite Elgar overture, as well (although Cockaigne - the overture -  is not half bad, either).

I have listened to it 10 times already today... It's sublimely inspired and I can't get enough of it at the moment. (Which performance(s) do you know?) And yes, Cockaigne is an exciting piece, too.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Dvorak's symphonic poems. Seriously, listen for ex. Golden spinning wheel, it's magnificent!

[Wanderer]

Which performance(s) do you know?

I have several, but the one I keep returning to is the VPO/Gardiner.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I have several, but the one I keep returning to is the VPO/Gardiner.

Don't know that one, yet. Sinopoli, Barbirolli (historic), Barenboim and Weldon (historic) are the ones I have. They're all good in their own way. But it's the Barbirolli that made me 'hear' the work for the first time, and it's this first love I keep returning to...

[RJR]

Luke, I was taken by your suggestion of Satie's Socrate. I have pre-ordered this recording.........


No idea when it will arrive. Most of the recordings of the piece are NLA.

Mike

It's two years later but thanks for the suggestion of Satie's Socrate.

[schweitzeralan]

Basically self-explanatory. However, please include why you feel the way you do. 

Joseph Marx  "Autumn Symphony."

[Klaatu]

http://image.musicimport.biz/sdimages/upc02/034061001003.jpg

Ok, here's another..........

Poor old George Lloyd gets a lot of stick for his anachronistic style. He was over-rated by musical conservatives when he was first "re-discovered" 20 years ago. This has led to him being under-rated now - indeed he's often regarded as a bit of a joke. But I think the Symphonic Mass may be his masterpiece; it's certainly a work of considerable passion and skill, even though it's stylistically about a century behind the times. Built around a plainsong-like "motto theme", this is a big, late-romantic work that sounds contemporary with the Vaughan Williams Sea Symphony or Elgar's Gerontius. It builds to a tremendous climax in the penultimate movement but - unusually for Lloyd - the final movement resolves the Mass in quietude and peace.

The trick with this is to forget the date of composition - just pretend it was composed around 1905-1925, turn up the volume and enjoy a tuneful, colourful choral/orchestral blockbuster!

[vandermolen]

George Lloyd's 4, 7th and 8th symphonies are all worth revival - I even heard him conduct the 11th in London many years ago.

Ruth Gipps Symphony No 4 is a wonderful score but never performed at all - sad.

[Klaatu]

Ruth Gipps Symphony No 4 is a wonderful score but never performed at all - sad.

I've heard her 2nd Symphony recorded on the Classico series - not any sort of masterpiece but tuneful and enjoyable. I've heard others enthuse about her later symphonies and I'd love to hear them - a job for the English Music Festival and/or Dutton Vocalion!

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

The Britten Violin Concerto. It's a moving and beautiful work. I think I prefer Ida Haendel's performance (on EMI) to the new one by Janine Jansen on Decca, though I applaud the latter's staunch advocacy of the piece.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Violin concerto by Richard Strauss. I can't believe how he was able to compose such a great work in his youth. I guess one reason why they don't play it more often is because they can't believe 17-18 year old boy could have really composed a great concerto and won't even listen the damn concerto.

[Scarpia]

The Britten Violin Concerto. It's a moving and beautiful work. I think I prefer Ida Haendel's performance (on EMI) to the new one by Janine Jansen on Decca, though I applaud the latter's staunch advocacy of the piece.

Not Lubotsky/Britten?