Five favourite works by Howard Hanson (one symphony allowed)

[vandermolen]

I realise that this may well be of minority interest and a strong candidate for the 0 response competition but here are my choices:

Symphony 3 (worthy IMHO to stand alongside other more famous American third symphonies)
Dies Natalis
Pan and the Priest
Lament for Beowulf
Elegy for Koussevitsky

[springrite]

Let's see how far I can go with this:

Symphony #3
Piano Concerto
Merry Mount
Dies Natalis

OK, this is as far as I can go...

[Karl Henning]

Let's see how far I can go with this:

Symphony #3
Piano Concerto
Merry Mount
Dies Natalis

OK, this is as far as I can go...

Quite a challenge, really.  (For most of us    )

[Mirror Image]

Yeah, I couldn't even begin to imagine making a list for Hanson, especially when there's Ives, Copland, Barber, Diamond, and Schuman clogging up my ear canals whenever I'm listening to American composers.

[Karl Henning]

I've listened to five of the symphonies.  But in a list of five where only one can be a symphony, the rest of the list would be Everything by Hanson Not a Symphony I've Heard (almost) — which I think doesn't quite answer the request for five favorite works 

[Mirror Image]

I've listened to five of the symphonies.  But in a list of five where only one can be a symphony, the rest of the list would be Everything by Hanson Not a Symphony I've Heard (almost) — which I think doesn't quite answer the request for five favorite works 

Indeed. Like you said, a challenge for most of us.

[vandermolen]

OK - after a unanimous vote (me and the cat) I've decided to change the rules so now two symphonies allowed. I'm just delighted that anyone responded. Hanson's music can often be seen as too 'Hollywoody' but I find him underrated. I agree with Paul that the Piano Concerto is one of his best works. I'd select Symphony 1 'Nordic' as my other symphonic choice. The more popular No.2 'Romantic' is not one of my favourites. Koussevitsky's recording of Hanson's Symphony 3 makes it sound like a sibelian masterpiece and has an intensity unlike any other recording of a Hanson symphony known to me.

[Mirror Image]

I really should revisit the Schwarz Hanson set on Delos, but it'll have to be awhile since I'm pretty preoccupied with other music at the moment.

[Karl Henning]

I've quite come around on Hanson's music.  My first experience was poor, but that was (in hindsight) absolutely no fault of the composer's . . . at the tail end of a Community Band rehearsal one evening, we started to read the band transcription of a slowish movement.  The experience was iconically hellish, and it did unfortunately "brand" Hanson in my mind.

But Jeffrey's Hanson thread worked a gradual rehabilitation    and in fact I even enjoy the first two symphonies.  (The band transcription was of some movement or other from either the First or the Second.)

[springrite]

OK - after a unanimous vote (me and the cat) I've decided to change the rules so now two symphonies allowed. I'm just delighted that anyone responded. Hanson's music can often be seen as too 'Hollywoody' but I find him underrated. I agree with Paul that the Piano Concerto is one of his best works. I'd select Symphony 1 'Nordic' as my other symphonic choice. The more popular No.2 'Romantic' is not one of my favourites. Koussevitsky's recording of Hanson's Symphony 3 makes it sound like a sibelian masterpiece and has an intensity unlike any other recording of a Hanson symphony known to me.

Like you, I'd add the Nordic rather than the Romantic, which is probably the one work that gave people the hollywoody impression of his music and deservedly so.

I have, of course, only heard parts of Merry Mount, which sounded absolutely wonderful.

[vandermolen]

I really should revisit the Schwarz Hanson set on Delos, but it'll have to be awhile since I'm pretty preoccupied with other music at the moment.

I'll let you off for the moment John. 

[Heck148]

I realise that this may well be of minority interest and a strong candidate for the 0 response competition but here are my choices:
Symphony 3 (worthy IMHO to stand alongside other more famous American third symphonies)
Dies Natalis
Pan and the Priest
Lament for Beowulf
Elegy for Koussevitsky

Why only 1 symphony allowed??

Sym #3 - an excellent work it does stand up well along with other famous American 3rds...
Sym #1
Merry Mount Suite - the "Love Duet" wipes me out every time..
Merry Mount opera - complete
Chorale and Allelujia

[vandermolen]

Thanks for the responses. I need to get to know Merry Mount as I only know the orchestral suite from it.

[PerfectWagnerite]

The first 2 symphonies and the wonderful Serenade for Flute, Harp and Strings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKtqFJqhGO8

[Sergeant Rock]

Symphony No.1 "Nordic"
Symphony No.2 "Romantic"
Serenade for Flute, Harp and Strings op.35
Dies Natalis
Lux Aeterna

[Sergeant Rock]

The first 2 symphonies and the wonderful Serenade for Flute, Harp and Strings.

You beat me to the punch 

Sarge

[Ghost Sonata]

I believe Hanson is the victim of a kind of double whammy : his bad rep as the tyrannical administrator of the Eastman School and the composer of the "saccharine" Romantic Symphony, for better or worse his most programmed work (at least on radio).  He merits better and it's gratifying to see some enthusiasts here.  And yes, there's much to enjoy in his second symphony and I make no apologies. 

Bold Island Suite
Symphonies 1&2
Pastorale for Oboe, Harp & Strings
Elegy
and the PC as a lagniappe 'cause I so deserve it.

[PerfectWagnerite]

Pastorale for Oboe, Harp & Strings
Elegy

Yes both masterpieces ! How could I have forgotten those.

You beat me to the punch 

Sarge

Yes I really like the Serenade for Flute, Harp and Strings. Too bad not too many recordings available though. Mine is from here:

with Stokowski conducting the NYPO from 1949.

Recently I ordered this one but has not arrived yet:

[vandermolen]

I believe Hanson is the victim of a kind of double whammy : his bad rep as the tyrannical administrator of the Eastman School and the composer of the "saccharine" Romantic Symphony, for better or worse his most programmed work (at least on radio).  He merits better and it's gratifying to see some enthusiasts here.  And yes, there's much to enjoy in his second symphony and I make no apologies. 

Bold Island Suite
Symphonies 1&2
Pastorale for Oboe, Harp & Strings
Elegy
and the PC as a lagniappe 'cause I so deserve it.

Very interesting post. I'd forgotten about the Bold Island Suite which I should have included myself - it is a wonderful score and surprising there is only one recording as far as I can see on an excellent Telarc release. Sorry to hear that Hanson was a tyrannical administrator. I know that he had some run ins with David Diamond, who could be a difficult character (although he sent me a charming response to my fan letter):
[asin]B000AQKUDG[/asin]

[Sergeant Rock]

Yes both masterpieces ! How could I have forgotten those.

Yes I really like the Serenade for Flute, Harp and Strings. Too bad not too many recordings available though. Mine is from here:

with Stokowski conducting the NYPO from 1949.

I have it conducted by Schwarz (and the CD also contains the wonderful Oboe Pastorale):




Sarge