The Great American Symphony

[Heck148]

I don't know man, is this the best we in the States have to offer: Schuman's 3rd? Don't we have something that remotely approaches the best from Germany and Austria?

Schuman #3 easily surpasses much of the European repertoire...easily...

[Heck148]

All I can say is this.  I have performed the Hanson Second, the Persichetti No. 6 for Band, Dahl's Sinfonietta and Reed's La Fiesta Mexicana.  I have gotten as big a high performing these works as I have performing any symphony of Beethoven.

All good music...and very effective. I've played them all and have thoroughly enjoyed them...I played Hanson #2 with the composer conducting, and played the Reed "La Fiesta" many times, - including with Eastman Wind Ensemble, which was a real kick!!

[Karl Henning]

All good music...and very effective. I've played them all and have thoroughly enjoyed them...I played Hanson #2 with the composer conducting, and played the Reed "La Fiesta" many times, - including with Eastman Wind Ensemble, which was a real kick!!

Must have been!

[Heck148]

And what about Paul Hindemith and his Symphony in Eb from 1940?

a very excellent piece, that should be in the symphonic repertoire, beyond doubt...very strong work.

[Heck148]

For myself, I've found what I have heard of his [note:Harbison's] well written, but I have yet to hear the piece of his which I want to go back to for a second listen.

my impression is very similar.

[Heck148]

But then, 15 years ago, I would not have seen any interest on my part in the Hanson symphonies.

There is no doubt tha tHanson's symphonies are very much in the "late Romantic" mode - a la Nielsen, Sibelius, etc...as such, they were very much outside the entire dodecaphonic, serialism trend of the 20th century...
but Hanson's works are very strong, yes, melodic, he goes for the "big tune", for sure. but there is no doubt an audience appeal, these are very approachable works that deserve much greater exposure. There is so much fine 20th century music, symphonies especially, that deserve much greater exposure - the aforementioned Hindemith Eb, and Walton #1 being just 2 examples...Mennin #7, and the symphonies of Diamond being additional ones.

[hpowders]

A fascinating question ... it's only relatively recently that the Franck won me over.

(Sometimes I wonder if, when the time comes to shuffle off this mortal coil, I may just enjoy practically every piece of classical music ....)

Similarities are there. If Mennin was still alive, I would surely ask him. He was known for his Franck-ness, after all.

[Ken B]

Similarities are there. If Mennin was still alive, I would surely ask him. He was known for his Franck-ness, after all.

Why does it say powders? You are el pithi.

[PerfectWagnerite]

There is no doubt tha tHanson's symphonies are very much in the "late Romantic" mode - a la Nielsen, Sibelius, etc...

Sibelius yes but Nielsen? Nielsen's idiom is a lot more angular and jagged, not as lush as Hanson. There might be moments in Nielsen where there is a semblance to Hanson but as a whole I have to disagree.

[Karl Henning]

Sibelius yes but Nielsen? Nielsen's idiom is a lot more angular and jagged, not as lush as Hanson. There might be moments in Nielsen where there is a semblance to Hanson but as a whole I have to disagree.

A fair point, I think.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[Heck148]

Sibelius yes but Nielsen? Nielsen's idiom is a lot more angular and jagged, not as lush as Hanson. There might be moments in Nielsen where there is a semblance to Hanson but as a whole I have to disagree.

Overall, they sound quite similar...which is good..I like all of them.

[hpowders]

Why does it say powders? You are el pithi.

I changed it. You spelled it wrong. It was El Píthi. 

[Karl Henning]

Now are we a town without Píthi ....

[hpowders]

Now are we a town without Píthi ....

Yes. The sorrow and the Píthi!

[The new erato]

Now are we a town without Píthi ....

No Pithi, but Gene Pitney isn't a bad substitute.

[Mirror Image]

I have concluded that Ives' 4th is 'The Great American Symphony.'

[The new erato]

I have concluded that Ives' 4th is 'The Great American Symphony.'

Welcome stranger!

[Mirror Image]

Welcome stranger!

Thanks, erato.

[Monsieur Croche]

Idle question:

Since when is Hindemith "An American Composer?"

[PerfectWagnerite]

Idle question:

Since when is Hindemith "An American Composer?"

We have so few so we claim any that might have spent any significant time in the US like Stravinsky and Korngold for example

But seriously in Hindemith's case the great Eb Symphony was:

The Symphony in E flat was written in 1940 when Paul Hindemith had gone into exile in the United States and taught at Tanglewood at Serge Koussevitzky's invitation. The symphony was written for the Boston Symphony from a commission by Koussevitzky and the premiere took place on November 21 by the Minneapolis Symphony conducted by Dmitri Mitropoulos.

So it is probably as American as it gets.