Sibelius Symphony Showdown: the 4th vs. the 5th

[Mirror Image]

It's time for an all-out death match!

[Lisztianwagner]

Two stunning compositions, but my vote is for Symphony No.5.

[Brian]

EZ
PZ
squeezy

#5

[Brahmsian]

I cannot chose.    Don't be cruel, John. 

[Mirror Image]

I cannot chose.    Don't be cruel, John. 

Hah! For me, the choice was quite simple: the 4th. I do love the 5th a lot, though.

[Jo498]

Not a big Sibelius nut but the 4th and the 6th are probably my favorites (and the 2nd as "guilty pleasure"); I liked the 5th better in former times, for some reason I am not so fond of it anymore, so I voted 4th.

[Mandryka]

4th in Autumn and winter; 5th in Spring and Summer.

[Sergeant Rock]

Sarge

[Brian]

Sarge

yup.

[Jo498]

I might be a philistine but re-listening to the 5th a few times in the last months or so, I found that famous finale quite trite.  The most interesting section for me in the 5th is the first (or first two, depending how one counts) movements.

[Mirror Image]

I might be a philistine...

You said it, not me.

[Elgarian]

Voted for 5, but with some misgivings. My admiration for 5 isn't quite what it used to be  (after all these years I still can't listen to the final notes without a sinking 'oh no' feeling, and that dejection has become more ingrained over the decades). Whereas I think my enjoyment of 4, always low thus far, may well be somewhat on the up.

What I really feel is that these aren't the two symphonies I'd have picked myself, for an OK Corral Shootout. But that's rather like the examinee asking the examiner for a set of questions more to his liking.

[springrite]

Me, always the tie-breaker, though only temporarily...

[Mirror Image]

Voted for 5, but with some misgivings. My admiration for 5 isn't quite what it used to be  (after all these years I still can't listen to the final notes without a sinking 'oh no' feeling, and that dejection has become more ingrained over the decades). Whereas I think my enjoyment of 4, always low thus far, may well be somewhat on the up.

What I really feel is that these aren't the two symphonies I'd have picked myself, for an OK Corral Shootout. But that's rather like the examinee asking the examiner for a set of questions more to his liking.

One reason I chose the 4th and the 5th, and pitted them against each other, has to with 1. both are polar opposites in overall mood/temperament and 2. while the 5th was a huge success, people were confused by the 4th and, thus, leading to it's relative neglect.

[amw]

The most interesting section for me in the 5th is the first (or first two, depending how one counts) movements.

The most interesting section for me is the last six notes >.>

[Elgarian]

One reason I chose the 4th and the 5th, and pitted them against each other, has to with 1. both are polar opposites in overall mood/temperament and 2. while the 5th was a huge success, people were confused by the 4th and, thus, leading to it's relative neglect.

Perfectly reasonable, and more sensible than I was being: I was just registering my preferences as being different, which is neither here nor there really.

[Elgarian]

The most interesting section for me is the last six notes >.>

Now there y'go, y'see. Vive la difference!

[Brian]

both are polar opposites in overall mood/temperament

I think the Fourth Symphony's polar opposite (if it has one, which it may not) is the Third. #4 and #5 share a heroic "questing" quality, and both face many challenges and hardships. Each movement of the Fifth has at least one moment of great pain, uncertainty, and/or anguish, most notably the very Fourth-ish bassoon solo. I think the two symphonies start from a similar place*, but they pursue the material in very different ways and, of course, achieve very different ends. The Fourth begins with mystery, unease, and disquiet, and ends the same way; the Fifth begins with those same things, but mostly overcomes them - or almost overcomes them - or hey, maybe it does overcome them.

*the Fifth Symphony's first movement is expanded from the first movement of the Fourth Symphony, very literally; compare their opening themes, or wait until 4:07-4:15 in this performance, when the French horns foreshadow the Fifth Symphony's main tune.

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

Now the 5th vs. the 6th, that decision would have shredded my sensitive sensibilities to the core, TO THEIR VERY CORE!

[amw]

I think the Fourth Symphony's polar opposite (if it has one, which it may not) is the Third.

I don't think any Sibelius symphonies are "opposites" in that sense. The polar opposite of the 4th in overall mood/temperament might be, like, Stravinsky's Symphony in Three Movements or something, but with Sibelius most of his works are outgrowths of similar ideas.