Top 5 Favorite Szymanowski Works

[Mirror Image]

Alright, are we ready for another poll? There are two stipulations for this poll: you can only choose one symphony and one concerto.

Here's my list (in no particular order):

Mythes
Symphony No. 3 "Song of the Night"
Stabat Mater
Harnasie
Violin Concerto No. 1

[Daverz]

I approve your list

I think you have the best of the symphonies, concertos, and violin & piano music.  I don't know the solo piano music that well.

[Mirror Image]

I approve your list

I think you have the best of the symphonies, concertos, and violin & piano music.  I don't know the solo piano music that well.

Yeah, I don't know the solo piano music either but I'm not particularly drawn to this genre anyway.

[Ken B]

Mythes.

That is the only Szymanowski work of which I have a clear impression.

[amw]

Piano Sonata 3
Symphonie Concertante
Masques, or possibly Mythes or Metopes
the op. 50 Mazurkas
one of the string quartets

[Luke]

Symphony 3
Litany to the Virgin
Stabat Mater
Violin Concerto 1
Mazurkas (all of 'em, though technically that's a few different op numbers combined)

The lean and gem-like Mazurkas a nice corollary to the intensely perfumed gorgeousness of the other four. But I don't know my Szymanowski at all as intimately as my Ravel or my Janacek, so this list isn't based on as complete a picture of the music as I'd like. Maciek is the man for that...

[Mr Bloom]

I think you have the best of the symphonies, concertos, and violin & piano music.  I don't know the solo piano music that well.

Wrong ! Sure the third symphony and first violin concerto are amazing, but the fourth symphony and the second violin concerto are unjustly overlooked. They're maybe a little less innovative, but they're as good.

He's one of the most equal composer I know. From Pieśni miłosne Hafiza to his death, everything he wrote was somewhere between great and amazing.

My five... argh :
Symphony 4
Violin concerto 2
First string quartet
Siedem pieśni do słów Jamesa Joyce'a
Mythes... Masques... Krol Roger... second string quartet... Litania do Marii Panny... Demeter... La berceuse d'Aitacho Enia... Etudes op.33... Slopiewnie... sorry, I can't chose.

[Christo]

Stabat Mater (great piece!)
Symphony No. 3 'Song of the Night'
Harnasie
Violin Concerto No. 2
....... (thinking)

Yes! Król Roger (thanks, Wanderer, for reminding me in time.  )

[Wanderer]

Król Roger
Violin Concerto No.2
Mythes
Violin Sonata
Stabat Mater

[Sergeant Rock]

String Quartet No.2

(Szymanowski is a composer I really don't connect with. With the exception of the Second String Quartet, I couldn't list any favorites. I suppose hearing that work live once (played by the Szymanowski Quartet) was key to my appreciation. Should hear more live...but he's seldom programmed in Germany.)

Sarge

[Dax]

3rd Symphony
1st violin concerto
Stabat mater
3rd piano sonata
Demeter

[Mirror Image]

My list has changed a bit since my initial post:

(In no particular order)

Symphony No. 3 "Song of the Night"
Litania do Marii Panny (Litany to the Virgin Mary)
Stabat Mater
Violin Concerto No. 1
Mythes

[Symphonic Addict]

I hadn't participated in this thread till today:

Stabat Mater
Symphony No. 4
Harnasie
King Roger
Violin Concerto No. 2

Runner-ups: Litany to the Virgin Mary and the two string quartets