Eight Great Eighth Symphonies

[mc ukrneal]

Must have meant Michael Haydn...

[Karl Henning]

:-)

[Christo]

Hi, Karl. 

[Karl Henning]

Hi, Karl. 

Didn't mean to pile on, old bean!

[Christo]

Didn't mean to pile on, old bean!

Should have mentioned the Schuman 8 myself - his most impressive IMHo.

[vandermolen]

Bruckner (Giulini, DG)
Schubert (Giulini, DG if Unfinished; Hengelbrock if Great C Major)
Dvorak (Giulini, EMI)
Beethoven (Chailly)
Shostakovich (Mravinsky)
Mahler (Nagano)
Vaughn Williams (Previn)
Rautavaara (Franck)

The Previn VW is by far the greatest IMHO as are his LSO versions of 2 and 3.

[vandermolen]

For those who hold there's little choice - not mentioned so far, AFAIK:

Englund
Sallinen
Rosenberg
Piston
Frankel
Søderlind
Tüur
Sæverud
Wellesz
Tansman
Kinsella
Schuman
Panufnik
Hoddinott
Marttinen
Schnittke
Simpson
Diamond
Malipiero
Villa-Lobos
Moyzes
Josephs
Fernström
Hill
Lloyd
Nørholm
Milhaud
Harris
Santoro
Meulemans
Badings
Douglas
Langgaard
Coates
Weinberg
Cowell
Ivanovs
Bentzon
Kozeluch
Mozart
Fordell
Hovhaness
Bourgeois
Haydn
Dittersdorf
Segerstam

Thanks for this. The Lloyd is one of his best and the first on LP I seem to remember - it created quite a stir when released.

[Sergeant Rock]

Thanks for this. The Lloyd is one of his best and the first on LP I seem to remember - it created quite a stir when released.

I'm a fan of Lloyd's symphonies but the 8th is my least favorite (which is one reason it didn't make my list). I think the last movement is too long, unvaried and frantic. But I should give it another chance.

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

Dvořák | Giulini, CSO (was listening to this just a couple of days ago — coincidence?_?_?) 

That's my favorite Dvorak Eighth too.

Sarge

[TheGSMoeller]

That's my favorite Dvorak Eighth too.

Sarge

Better than Giulini and Philharmonia? I've always liked that one, never heard the CSO recording.

[Sergeant Rock]

Better than Giulini and Philharmonia?

I don't know. Haven't heard his Philharmonia performance.

Sarge

[vandermolen]

I'm a fan of Lloyd's symphonies but the 8th is my least favorite (which is one reason it didn't make my list). I think the last movement is too long, unvaried and frantic. But I should give it another chance.

Sarge

Has a moving and memorable slow movement though.

[aesthetic]

Glass Davies/Bruckner Linz

+1. I think this is one of his most varied and impressive scores.

Against all odds, this work succeeds in adding something certifiably new to the overstuffed annals of the classical symphony. There are three sections: a twenty-minute movement in moderate tempo, a twelve minute passacaglia slow movement, and a final movement that is slightly slower than the second and about half as long. The musical material is cut from familiar fabric, but it's striking that the composer forgoes the expected bustling conclusion and instead delves into a mood of deepening twilight and unending night." - Alex Ross

[TheGSMoeller]

+1. I think this is one of his most varied and impressive scores.

Against all odds, this work succeeds in adding something certifiably new to the overstuffed annals of the classical symphony. There are three sections: a twenty-minute movement in moderate tempo, a twelve minute passacaglia slow movement, and a final movement that is slightly slower than the second and about half as long. The musical material is cut from familiar fabric, but it's striking that the composer forgoes the expected bustling conclusion and instead delves into a mood of deepening twilight and unending night." - Alex Ross

Agreed, and great quote from Ross. The structure and tone of the 3 mvts has always fascinated me, which Ross so perfectly describes. And for that I often consider it Glass' best symphony.

Thanks for the post, aesthetic.

[aesthetic]

The structure and tone of the 3 mvts has always fascinated me ...

Good stuff.

btw, an interesting quote from Glass himself:

"At first I wrote symphonies because Dennis Russell Davies asked me to. Now I write symphonies to see what they sound like."

http://philipglass.com/glassnotes/glass-notes-new-interview-with-philip-glass-in-advance-of-the-the-premiere-of-his-new-symphony/

[TheGSMoeller]

Good stuff.

btw, an interesting quote from Glass himself:

"At first I wrote symphonies because Dennis Russell Davies asked me to. Now I write symphonies to see what they sound like."

http://philipglass.com/glassnotes/glass-notes-new-interview-with-philip-glass-in-advance-of-the-the-premiere-of-his-new-symphony/

Thanks for the article!

I was at Carnegie Hall in January for the premiere of Glass' 11th Symphony, such a memorable event.

[Maestro267]

Well, I started to compile a list, and I don't think I've even heard eight 8th Symphonies. Many of my favourite composers never got anywhere near that many symphonies. I mean, how many French examples of a Symphony No. 2 are there, let alone No. 8?!

[chadfeldheimer]

Only Bruckner, RVW, Shostakovich, and Dvořák come to mind immediately, but that's about it. There's really not much to choose from here.

I think you only forgot about Schnittke's 8th here, or? 
I remember we agreed that this is his best symphony, despite there are some strong contenders in his oeuvre.

[Madiel]

Holmboe.

I'm not sure I need any more. Though Beethoven and Schubert (I'm calling the C major no.8 these days) and Dvorak are excellent. And from a first listen I think that was one of Tubin's finest. But Holmboe's 8th is flat out essential as a piece of Holmboe.

[Karl Henning]

Holmboe.

I'm not sure I need any more. Though Beethoven and Schubert (I'm calling the C major no.8 these days) and Dvorak are excellent. And from a first listen I think that was one of Tubin's finest. But Holmboe's 8th is flat out essential as a piece of Holmboe.

Goldarnit, I always miss somebody . . . .