Your Top 20 Favorite 20th Century Orchestral Works

[kyjo]

I need to refresh this list:

Symphonies:

Glière: Symphony 3 Ilya Murometz
Tubin: Symphony 3
Khachaturian: Symphony 2 The Bells
Nielsen: Symphony 5
Mahler: Symphony 6 Tragic
Schmidt: Symphony 4
Walton: Symphony 1
Respighi: Sinfonia Drammatica
Casella: Symphony 2
Vaughan Williams: Symphony 4
Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie 
Arnold: Symphony 5
Bantock: A Celtic Symphony
Shostakovich: Symphony 11 The Year 1905
Prokofiev: Symphony 5
Langgaard: Symphony 4 Løvfald
Holmboe: Symphony 6
Rachmaninov: Symphony Колокола, for soloists, chorus and orchestra
Sibelius: Symphony 5
Braga Santos; Symphony 4


I'd have liked to include these ones:

Copland 3, Hanson 2, Stenhammar 2, Atterberg 3, Kabalevsky 4, Melartin 3, Peterson-Berger 3, Merikanto 2, Miaskovsky 17, Martinu 3, Moeran, Hindemith Symphony in E-flat, Yoshimatsy 2, Korngold, Herrmann, Madetoja 2, Barber 1, Hovhaness 50, Magnard 4, Villa-Lobos 10,, Zemlinsky 2, Lloyd 4, Ivanovs 4, Pettersson 6, Alwyn 4, Rubbra 1, Ben-Haim 2, Bax 1, Bliss A Colour Symphony, Stravinsky Symphony in 3 movements, Malipiero 1, Alfvén 4 Fran Havsbandet, Scriabin Symphony 4 Le Poème de l'extase, Elgar Symphony 2, Lilburn 2, Englund 2, Suk Asrael, Bloch Symphony in C sharp.


Excluding symphonies (I mean, whatever that includes orchestra):

Janácek Glagolitc Mass
Vaughan Williams Dona nobis pacem
Langgaard: The End of the Times
Respighi: Church Windows
Tippett: Fantasia concertante on a theme by Corelli
Tubin: Sinfonietta on Estonian motifs
Schnittke: Cello concerto 1
Penderecki: Polymorphia
Szymanowski: Harnasie
Bartók: Music for strings, percussion and celesta
Nielsen: Flute concerto
Alwyn: Odd Man Out Suite
Shostakovich: Violin concerto no. 1
Prokofiev: Zdravitsa!
Pärt: Tabula Rasa
Villa-Lobos: Chôros
Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring
Lyatoshinsky: Grazhyna
Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé
Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez

I'd have liked to include these ones:

Poulenc Organ concerto, Martinu Les Frescoes de Piero della Francesca, Novák Toman and the Wood Nymph, Strauss Metamorphosen, Klami Kalevala Suite, McEwen Gray Galloway from Three Border Ballads, Janácek Tarás Bulba, Grofé Grand Canyon Suite, Kodály Dances of Galanta, Debussy La Mer, Bridge Enter Spring, Roussel Bacchus et Ariane, Shostakovich The Execution of Stepan Razin...

We have very similar tastes, my friend!! I'm "pounding the table" for almost every single one of your nominations that I know

[kyjo]

First, I'm gonna do symphonies only (one per composer). Here's my very tentative list:

Mahler: Symphony no. 9
Sibelius: Symphony no. 2
Rachmaninoff: Symphony no. 2
Elgar: Symphony no. 2 (beats no. 1 by a very slight margin)
Nielsen: Symphony no. 5
Vaughan Williams: Symphony no. 6
Shostakovich: Symphony no. 5 (no. 10 is a very close second)
Prokofiev: Symphony no. 5
Scriabin: Symphony no. 2
Copland: Symphony no. 3
Atterberg: Symphony no. 2 (no. 3 is a very close second)
Braga Santos: Symphony no. 4
Arnold: Symphony no. 5
Schmidt: Symphony no. 4
Martinu: Symphony no. 1
Hanson: Symphony no. 2
Weill: Symphony no. 2
Honegger: Symphony no. 3
Korngold: Symphony in F-sharp
Yoshimatsu: Symphony no. 3

Concertos and "short" pieces coming soon!

[kyjo]

Concerti:

Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto no. 2
Sibelius: Violin Concerto
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto no. 3
Shostakovich: Cello Concerto no. 1
Bartok: Piano Concerto no. 2
Ravel: Piano Concerto for the left hand (the G major concerto is a very close second)
Gershwin: Piano Concerto
Khachaturian: Violin Concerto
Barber: Violin Concerto
Korngold: Violin Concerto
Walton: Violin Concerto
Britten: Violin Concerto
Szymanowski: Violin Concerto no. 1
Martinu: Cello Concerto no. 1
Medtner: Piano Concerto no. 3
Liebermann: Piano Concerto no. 2
Atterberg: Piano Concerto
Glazunov: Violin Concerto
Schnittke: Cello Concerto no. 1
Alwyn: Piano Concerto no. 2

[kyjo]

Orchestral works other than symphonies or concerti:

Holst: The Planets
Copland: Appalachian Spring
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances
Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphosis
Ravel: Daphnis et Chloe
Janacek: Taras Bulba
Shostakovich: Festive Overture
Kabalevsky: Colas Breugnon Overture
Ginastera: Estancia
Revueltas: Sensemayá
Lutoslawski: Concerto for Orchestra
Respighi: Pines of Rome
Elgar: In the South
Bax: November Woods
Bartok: Divertimento for strings
Escher: Musique pour l'esprit en deuil
Roussel: Bacchus et Ariadne
von Koch: Impulsi Trilogy
Adams: Harmonielehre

[Christo]

Concertos and "short" pieces coming soon!

Waiting for your promised short pieces! Here was my attempt, all less than ten minutes - but I forgot Tormis, Overture No. 2, Zoltán Kodály, Minuetto serio, and many more:

20 short pieces:

1897 Frederick Delius: La Calinda, from Koanga
1903 Claude Debussy: Danse (Tarantelle styrienne)
1910 Igor Stravinsky: Berceuse and Finale, from The Firebird
1914 Frank Bridge: Summer
1917 Béla Bartók: Rumanian Folk Dances
1918 Carl Nielsen: Pan og Syrinx
1920 Leoš Janáček: Balada Blanická
1924 Ottorino Respighi: Belfagor Overture
1930 Joaquin Rodrigo: Sarabanda lejana e Villancico
1931 Ernest John Moeran, Lonely Waters, from Two pieces for small orchestra
1932 Gustav Holst: Capriccio (Jazz-Band Piece; Mr. Shilkret's Maggot)
1937 George Gershwin: Walking the Dog
1938 Silvestre Revueltas: Sensemayá
1940 Eduard Tubin: Prélude Solennel
1944 Sergei Prokoviev: March Op. 99
1946 Camargo Guarnieri: Três danças brasileiras
1955 Malcolm Arnold: Serenade for guitar and strings
1955 Ralph Vaughan Williams: Prelude on Three Welsh Hymn Tunes
1963 Samuel Barber: Night Flight
1986 Vagn Holmboe: To a Dolphin

[vandermolen]

Non Symphonies and Concertos:

Kabelac: Mystery of Time
Sainton: Nadir
Pingoud: Prophet
Vaughan Williams: Five Variants on Dives and Lazarus
Barber: Essay No.2 for Orchestra
Glazunov: The Kremlin
Moeran: Overture to a Masque
Bax: Nympholept
Alwyn: The Magic Island
Braga-Santos: Alfama
Sibelius: Tapiola
Walton: Spitfire Prelude and Fugue
Ives: The Unanswered Question
Copland : Quiet City
Rubbra: Resurgam
Bliss: Things to Come
Ireland: Mai Dun
Elgar: Sospiri
Delius: In a Summer Garden
Honegger: Pastorale d'ete

[Mirror Image]

To the members making multiple lists, please condense your lists into one! If I can do it, you can, too!

[SymphonicAddict]

We have very similar tastes, my friend!! I'm "pounding the table" for almost every single one of your nominations that I know

That is a pleasing symptom, and according to your mentions...

First, I'm gonna do symphonies only (one per composer). Here's my very tentative list:

Mahler: Symphony no. 9
Sibelius: Symphony no. 2
Rachmaninoff: Symphony no. 2
Elgar: Symphony no. 2 (beats no. 1 by a very slight margin)
Nielsen: Symphony no. 5
Vaughan Williams: Symphony no. 6
Shostakovich: Symphony no. 5 (no. 10 is a very close second)
Prokofiev: Symphony no. 5
Scriabin: Symphony no. 2
Copland: Symphony no. 3
Atterberg: Symphony no. 2 (no. 3 is a very close second)
Braga Santos: Symphony no. 4
Arnold: Symphony no. 5
Schmidt: Symphony no. 4
Martinu: Symphony no. 1
Hanson: Symphony no. 2
Weill: Symphony no. 2
Honegger: Symphony no. 3
Korngold: Symphony in F-sharp
Yoshimatsu: Symphony no. 3

Concertos and "short" pieces coming soon!

Concerti:

Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto no. 2
Sibelius: Violin Concerto
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto no. 3
Shostakovich: Cello Concerto no. 1
Bartok: Piano Concerto no. 2
Ravel: Piano Concerto for the left hand (the G major concerto is a very close second)
Gershwin: Piano Concerto
Khachaturian: Violin Concerto
Barber: Violin Concerto
Korngold: Violin Concerto
Walton: Violin Concerto
Britten: Violin Concerto
Szymanowski: Violin Concerto no. 1
Martinu: Cello Concerto no. 1
Medtner: Piano Concerto no. 3
Liebermann: Piano Concerto no. 2
Atterberg: Piano Concerto
Glazunov: Violin Concerto
Schnittke: Cello Concerto no. 1
Alwyn: Piano Concerto no. 2

Orchestral works other than symphonies or concerti:

Holst: The Planets
Copland: Appalachian Spring
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances
Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphosis
Ravel: Daphnis et Chloe
Janacek: Taras Bulba
Shostakovich: Festive Overture
Kabalevsky: Colas Breugnon Overture
Ginastera: Estancia
Revueltas: Sensemayá
Lutoslawski: Concerto for Orchestra
Respighi: Pines of Rome
Elgar: In the South
Bax: November Woods
Bartok: Divertimento for strings
Escher: Musique pour l'esprit en deuil
Roussel: Bacchus et Ariadne
von Koch: Impulsi Trilogy
Adams: Harmonielehre

... your choices are just ravishing! I'm curious because you chose the Atterberg's 2nd instead of the 3rd, which is still more interesting. The Hanson's 2nd has to be one of the most beautiful American symphonies imho, I love it! The Shostakovich's cello concerto 1 is also an obligatory favorite of mine, and the Schnittke as well. About the miscellaneous ones, I should include the Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances, I had that clear omission. I have to get acquainted some of yours (von Koch, Escher, Liebermann).

[SymphonicAddict]

Non Symphonies and Concertos:

Kabelac: Mystery of Time
Sainton: Nadir
Pingoud: Prophet
Vaughan Williams: Five Variants on Dives and Lazarus
Barber: Essay No.2 for Orchestra
Glazunov: The Kremlin
Moeran: Overture to a Masque
Bax: Nympholept
Alwyn: The Magic Island
Braga-Santos: Alfama
Sibelius: Tapiola
Walton: Spitfire Prelude and Fugue
Ives: The Unanswered Question
Copland : Quiet City
Rubbra: Resurgam
Bliss: Things to Come
Ireland: Mai Dun
Elgar: Sospiri
Delius: In a Summer Garden
Honegger: Pastorale d'ete

I played the Kabelac some time ago. I must say it was an excellent recommendation of yours, the same with Novák's The Storm. I need to explore those ones by Sainton, Pingoud and Ireland.

[kyjo]

... your choices are just ravishing! I'm curious because you chose the Atterberg's 2nd instead of the 3rd, which is still more interesting. The Hanson's 2nd has to be one of the most beautiful American symphonies imho, I love it! The Shostakovich's cello concerto 1 is also an obligatory favorite of mine, and the Schnittke as well. About the miscellaneous ones, I should include the Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances, I had that clear omission. I have to get acquainted some of yours (von Koch, Escher, Liebermann).

The Atterberg Third is probably a "greater" work than the Second, but I gave a slight edge to the Second in my preferences just cause it's so gloriously over-the-top (in a good way ) and has some great melodic writing. Don't get me wrong though, I love the Third with all of my being. Heartily agreed re. Hanson's Second - it's one of the most unfairly maligned works in the repertoire. Nowadays, most of the major American orchestras consider it to be "beneath them", and only regional and youth orchestras program it with any regularity.

[vandermolen]

I played the Kabelac some time ago. I must say it was an excellent recommendation of yours, the same with Novák's The Storm. I need to explore those ones by Sainton, Pingoud and Ireland.

Glad you liked those works Caesar. 
Sainton was, IMHO, a most interesting composer and largely forgotten.
'Nadir' is a very moving, short 'despair turning into defiance' war-time work. Sainton wrote it, apparently, after witnessing the death of a young child during a bombing raid on Bristol during the Second World War. His 'The Island' is very Baxian and there is his fine movie score for 'Moby Dick' - now on Naxos.

[SymphonicAddict]

Glad you liked those works Caesar. 
Sainton was, IMHO, a most interesting composer and largely forgotten.
'Nadir' is a very moving, short 'despair turning into defiance' war-time work. Sainton wrote it, apparently, after witnessing the death of a young child during a bombing raid on Bristol during the Second World War. His 'The Island' is very Baxian and there is his fine movie score for 'Moby Dick' - now on Naxos.

War-time works are favorites of mine. 'Baxian' sounds intriguing, too. Now, all that sounds appealing for me. Thanks for your response Jeffrey!

[Symphonic Addict]

I could say these lists sum up my overall tastes in the 20th century (in alphabetical order):


Works that are neither symphonies nor concertos but can include chorus or vocal soloists

Bax - Tintagel
Falla - El Sombrero de Tres Picos
Hindemith - Symphonische Metamorphosen über Themen von Weber
Holst - The Planets
Janáček - Glagolitic Mass
Langgaard - Music of the Spheres
Lutoslawski - Concerto for orchestra (not concerto for solo instrument)
Kabeláč - Mystery of Time
Martinů - The Parables (or Estampes)
Prokofiev - Romeo and Juliet
Puccini - Turandot
Ravel - Daphnis et Chloé
Reger - Hiller Variations
Schmitt - Psaume XLVII
Shostakovich - The Execution of Stepan Razin
Sibelius - Tapiola
Strauss - Don Quixote or Also sprach Zarathustra
Vaughan Williams - Fantasy on a theme by Tallis (if applies)
Tubin - Kratt
Villa-Lobos - Floresta do Amazonas


Symphonies

Alfvén - Symphony No. 4
Bantock - A Celtic Symphony
Bloch - Symphony in C sharp minor
Holmboe - Symphony No. 8
Langgaard - Symphonies 4 and 6
Madetoja - Symphony No. 2
Mahler - Symphony No. 6
Magnard - Symphony No. 4
Martinů - Symphony No. 6
Melartin - Symphony No. 3
Nielsen - Symphonies 4 and 5
Prokofiev - Symphony No. 5
Rachmaninov - The Bells
Schönberg - Chamber Symphony No. 1 Sibelius - Symphony No. 7
Shostakovich - Symphony No. 8
Tubin - Symphony No. 4
Vaughan Williams - Symphony No. 9
Walton - Symphony No. 1


Concertos

Alwyn - Concerto for harp and strings Lyra Angelica
Arnold - Clarinet Concerto No. 2
Atterberg - Horn Concerto
Bartók - Piano Concerto No. 2
Britten - Violin Concerto
Hindemith - Violin Concerto
Ibert - Flute Concerto
Lutoslawski - Cello Concerto
Martinu - Piano Concerto No. 4 Incantations
Mosolov - Piano Concerto No. 1
Nielsen - Clarinet Concerto
Shostakovich - Violin Concerto No. 1
Poulenc - Organ concerto and Concert champêtre
Prokofiev - Piano Concerto No. 3
Ravel - Piano Concerto (left hand)
Respighi - Concerto Gregoriano
Schnittke - Concerto for piano and strings
Stravinsky - Violin Concerto
Szymanowski - Violin Concerto No. 2

[vandermolen]

I could say these lists sum up my overall tastes in the 20th century (in alphabetical order):


Works that are neither symphonies nor concertos but can include chorus or vocal soloists

Bax - Tintagel
Falla - El Sombrero de Tres Picos
Hindemith - Symphonische Metamorphosen über Themen von Weber
Holst - The Planets
Janáček - Glagolitic Mass
Langgaard - Music of the Spheres
Lutoslawski - Concerto for orchestra (not concerto for solo instrument)
Kabeláč - Mystery of Time
Martinů - The Parables (or Estampes)
Prokofiev - Romeo and Juliet
Puccini - Turandot
Ravel - Daphnis et Chloé
Reger - Hiller Variations
Schmitt - Psaume XLVII
Shostakovich - The Execution of Stepan Razin
Sibelius - Tapiola
Strauss - Don Quixote or Also sprach Zarathustra
Vaughan Williams - Fantasy on a theme by Tallis (if applies)
Tubin - Kratt
Villa-Lobos - Floresta do Amazonas


Symphonies

Alfvén - Symphony No. 4
Bantock - A Celtic Symphony
Bloch - Symphony in C sharp minor
Holmboe - Symphony No. 8
Langgaard - Symphonies 4 and 6
Madetoja - Symphony No. 2
Mahler - Symphony No. 6
Magnard - Symphony No. 4
Martinů - Symphony No. 6
Melartin - Symphony No. 3
Nielsen - Symphonies 4 and 5
Prokofiev - Symphony No. 5
Rachmaninov - The Bells
Schönberg - Chamber Symphony No. 1
Shostakovich - Symphony No. 8
Tubin - Symphony No. 4
Vaughan Williams - Symphony No. 9
Walton - Symphony No. 1


Concertos

Alwyn - Concerto for harp and strings Lyra Angelica
Arnold - Clarinet Concerto No. 2
Atterberg - Horn Concerto
Bartók - Piano Concerto No. 2
Britten - Violin Concerto
Hindemith - Violin Concerto
Ibert - Flute Concerto
Lutoslawski - Cello Concerto
Martinu - Piano Concerto No. 4 Incantations
Mosolov - Piano Concerto No. 1
Nielsen - Clarinet Concerto
Shostakovich - Violin Concerto No. 1
Poulenc - Organ concerto and Concert champêtre
Prokofiev - Piano Concerto No. 3
Ravel - Piano Concerto (left hand)
Respighi - Concerto Gregoriano
Schnittke - Concerto for piano and strings
Stravinsky - Violin Concerto
Szymanowski - Violin Concerto No. 2

We have very similar musical tastes Cesar! 

[Symphonic Addict]

We have very similar musical tastes Cesar! 

Of course, my friend! 

[vandermolen]

OK - here we go again:

Non symphonies:
Sainton: Nadir
Kabelac: Mystery of Time
Bax: Nympholept
Lilburn: A Song of the Islands
Rubbra: Resurgam
Glazunov: Stenka Razim
Sibelius: Tapiola
Diamond: Romeo and Juliet
Walton: Portsmouth Point
Mazaev: The Krasnodonians
Martinu: Frescoes of Piero della Francesca
Vaughan Williams: Five Variants on Dives and Lazarus
Alwyn: Aphrodite in Aulis
Robin Walker: Great Rock is Dead
Vaughan Williams: Job
Respighi: Church Windows
Ireland: The Forgotten Rite
Bliss: Hymn to Apollo
Pingoud: Prophet
Rachmaninov: The Isle of the Dead

Symphonies:
Bruckner: No.9 (wrong century  ) Madetoja: Symphony No.2 or Lilburn Symphony No.2 'Legendary'
VW: No.6
Kinsella: No.3
Walton: No.1
Piston: No.6
Harris: No.3
Bernstein: 'Jeremiah'
Miaskovsky: No.6
Bax: No.3
Gliere: No.3
Diamond: No.3
Copland: No.3
Arnold: No.1
Kabalevsky No.4
Havergal Brian: No.8
Honegger: 'Liturgique'
Korngold: Symphony
Eshpai: No.5
Sumera: No.2
Salmenhaara: No.3

Concertos
Pettersson: VC No.2
Kabalevsky Cello Concerto No.2
Kabalevsky: Piano Concerto No.1
David Morgan: Violin Concerto
Malcolm Williamson: Violin Concerto
Walton: Viola Concerto
VW: Piano Concerto
Berkeley: Concerto for Two Pianos
Britten: Violin Concerto
Rawsthorne: PC No.2
Bliss: Piano Concerto
Delius: Piano Concerto
Alwyn: Violin Concerto
Poulenc: Organ Concerto
Williamson: Organ Concerto
Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No.1
Arnold: Piano Concerto
Mosolov: Harp Concerto
Miaskovsky: Cello Concerto
Rubbra: Piano Concerto

[arpeggio]

^^^^^^^^^^^

Nice lists 

[Symphonic Addict]

OK - here we go again:

Non symphonies:
Sainton: Nadir
Kabelac: Mystery of Time
Bax: Nympholept
Lilburn: A Song of the Islands
Rubbra: Resurgam
Glazunov: Stenka Razim
Sibelius: Tapiola
Diamond: Romeo and Juliet
Walton: Portsmouth Point
Mazaev: The Krasnodonians
Martinu: Frescoes of Piero della Francesca
Vaughan Williams: Five Variants on Dives and Lazarus
Alwyn: Aphrodite in Aulis
Robin Walker: Great Rock is Dead
Vaughan Williams: Job
Respighi: Church Windows
Ireland: The Forgotten Rite
Bliss: Hymn to Apollo
Pingoud: Prophet
Rachmaninov: The Isle of the Dead

Symphonies:
Bruckner: No.9
VW: No.6
Kinsella: No.3
Walton: No.1
Piston: No.6
Harris: No.3
Bernstein: 'Jeremiah'
Miaskovsky: No.6
Bax: No.3
Gliere: No.3
Diamond: No.3
Copland: No.3
Arnold: No.1
Kabalevsky No.4
Havergal Brian: No.8
Honegger: 'Liturgique'
Korngold: Symphony
Eshpai: No.5
Sumera: No.2
Salmenhaara: No.3

Concertos
Pettersson: VC No.2
Kabalevsky Cello Concerto No.2
Kabalevsky: Piano Concerto No.1
David Morgan: Violin Concerto
Malcolm Williamson: Violin Concerto
Walton: Viola Concerto
VW: Piano Concerto
Berkeley: Concerto for Two Pianos
Britten: Violin Concerto
Rawsthorne: PC No.2
Bliss: Piano Concerto
Delius: Piano Concerto
Alwyn: Violin Concerto
Poulenc: Organ Concerto
Williamson: Organ Concerto
Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No.1
Arnold: Piano Concerto
Mosolov: Harp Concerto
Miaskovsky: Cello Concerto
Rubbra: Piano Concerto

I forgot Church Windows, silly me. And having rediscovered The Isle of the Dead under Svetlanov blew me away.

The only works I don't know at all are the Salmenhaara and the Morgan.

[vandermolen]

I forgot Church Windows, silly me. And having rediscovered The Isle of the Dead under Svetlanov blew me away.

The only works I don't know at all are the Salmenhaara and the Morgan.

And I forgot any Shostakovich symphonies, although I did include VC No.1
A strong recommendation for Salmenhaara (Harry is also a fan) and David Morgan (Lyrita CD).
Svetlanov's 'Isle of the Dead' is terrific. I have it on a CD coupled with his equally fine Symphony No.1.

[vandermolen]

^^^^^^^^^^^

Nice lists 

Thank you!
It was a fun displacement activity to avoid getting on with writing school reports for my students.