Your Top 20 Favorite 20th Century Orchestral Works

[MusicTurner]

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

Some interesting lists, makes one want explore stuff further. With the exception of around a dozen, all are in my accumulated collection. Listing Bruckner 9 - did you mean Mahler?

[vandermolen]

Some interesting lists, makes one want explore stuff further. With the exception of around a dozen, all are in my accumulated collection. Listing Bruckner 9 - did you mean Mahler?

No, I meant Bruckner, although I'm a great admirer of Mahler's 9th Symphony as well.
PS Oh, I see what you mean! Bruckner's is 19th Century. Silly me. I'll think of something else.

[Brahmsian]

No, I meant Bruckner, although I'm a great admirer of Mahler's 9th Symphony as well.
PS Oh, I see what you mean! Bruckner's is 19th Century. Silly me. I'll think of something else.

Since it's my favourite symphony (of any composer) I'll allow it Jeffrey. 

[DavidW]

Since it's my favourite symphony (of any composer) I'll allow it Jeffrey. 

Bruckner's 9th or Mahler's 9th?

[Brahmsian]

Bruckner's 9th or Mahler's 9th?

Bruckner's 9th.

Although, I do also really love the M9. 

[DavidW]

Rach 2
Mahler 6, 9
Prokofiev 5, 6
DSCH 5,7,8,10
Bartok Concerto for Orchestra
Sibelius 2,4-7
RVW 4-6
Gorecki 3
Penderecki 3

I think that totals to 20 favs.

[Mirror Image]

I couldn't even bother to think of such a list nowadays as I don't listen to a lot orchestral music. I do still listen to ballets and concerti as I seem to be drawn them more than symphonies. I listen to more solo piano, chamber music and songs/lieder/melodies, but, occasionally, I'll listen to an opera.

[Brian]

Off the top of my head:

Barber - Violin Concerto
Janacek - Sinfonietta, Glagolitic Mass
Kabelac - Mystery of Time
Lloyd - Symphony No 5
Lutoslawski - Concerto for Orchestra
Martinu - Symphony No 2, Symphony No 4
Nielsen - Symphony No 3
Prokofiev - Romeo and Juliet
Rachmaninov - Symphony No 2
Ravel - Daphnis et Chloe, Piano Concerto in G, Left Hand Piano Concerto
Rouse - Flute Concerto
Shostakovich - Piano Concerto No 1
Sibelius - Symphony No 5, Symphony No 7
Vaughan Williams - Symphony No 3, Symphony No 5

I quickly came up with 19, then foundered trying to decide on #20. Ultimately chose Rouse since nobody's mentioned Rouse.

Contenders for the 20th spot: Holmboe Viola Concerto, Elgar Symphony No 2, Copland Billy the Kid (complete), Fantasia on Themes by Thomas Tallis, Rautavaara Canto IV, Gershwin An American in Paris, Glass Symphony No 3, Shostakovich Symphony No 9, Martinu Oboe Concerto, Kernis Musica Celestis (arr. from his String Quartet No 1), Ibert Divertissement

Barber - Violin Concerto
Janáček: Glagolitic Mass
Janáček: Sinfonietta
Kabelač: Mystery of Time
G. Lloyd: Symphony No. 5
Martinů: Symphony No. 4
Nielsen: Symphony No. 3
Lutoslawski: Concerto for Orchestra
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1
Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2
Ravel: Piano Concerto for the left-hand
Roussel: Bacchus et Ariane
Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1
Sibelius: Symphony No. 5
Stravinsky: Petrushka
Szymanowski: Symphony No. 4, "Symphonie concertante"
Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Themes of Thomas Tallis
Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 5
Walton: Symphony No. 1
Weinberg: Cello Concerto

Honorable mentions:
Copland: Organ Symphony
Hindemith: Mathis der Maler symphony
Pierné: Cydalise
Piston: Symphony No. 2
Rautavaara: Symphony No. 7
Respighi: Trittico botticelliano
R. Thompson: Symphony No. 2

Still love all my favorites from 2017 (12 of 20 carried over) so we can add the Rouse flute concerto, Ravel two-hand concerto, American in Paris, Shostakovich Symphonies 6, 9, & 10, and Kernis musica celestis to the honorable mentions category. Also shoutouts to Ligeti Concert romanesc, suites condensed from Janáček operas and Der Rosenkavalier, the Martinů and R. Strauss oboe concertos, and Rautavaara's final piano concerto (which maaaay have been written after 2000?).

[vandermolen]

Since it's my favourite symphony (of any composer) I'll allow it Jeffrey. 

[vandermolen]

Barber - Violin Concerto
Janáček: Glagolitic Mass
Janáček: Sinfonietta
Kabelač: Mystery of Time
G. Lloyd: Symphony No. 5
Martinů: Symphony No. 4
Nielsen: Symphony No. 3
Lutoslawski: Concerto for Orchestra
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1
Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2
Ravel: Piano Concerto for the left-hand
Roussel: Bacchus et Ariane
Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1
Sibelius: Symphony No. 5
Stravinsky: Petrushka
Szymanowski: Symphony No. 4, "Symphonie concertante"
Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Themes of Thomas Tallis
Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 5
Walton: Symphony No. 1
Weinberg: Cello Concerto

Honorable mentions:
Copland: Organ Symphony
Hindemith: Mathis der Maler symphony
Pierné: Cydalise
Piston: Symphony No. 2
Rautavaara: Symphony No. 7
Respighi: Trittico botticelliano
R. Thompson: Symphony No. 2

Still love all my favorites from 2017 (12 of 20 carried over) so we can add the Rouse flute concerto, Ravel two-hand concerto, American in Paris, Shostakovich Symphonies 6, 9, & 10, and Kernis musica celestis to the honorable mentions category. Also shoutouts to Ligeti Concert romanesc, suites condensed from Janáček operas and Der Rosenkavalier, the Martinů and R. Strauss oboe concertos, and Rautavaara's final piano concerto (which maaaay have been written after 2000?).

Nice to see a (sort-of) vote for Copland's Organ Symphony. I agree with many of your other choices, although very recently I've come to enjoy Piston's 6th Symphony (BIS recording) just as much as No.2. I'd have gone for Nielsen's 4th, 5th or 6th symphonies rather than No.3.

[Karl Henning]

A new list for a new day. How do we keep it down to 20?

Prokofiev Le pas d'acier
Shostakovich Symphony № 4 in c minor, Op. 43
Mennin Variations Symphony (Symphony № 7)
Langgaard Sinfonia interna
Stravinsky, Symphony in Three Movements
Bernstein Symphony № 2, « Age of Anxiety »
Nielsen Symphony № 4, « Det uudslukkelige »
Elgar Falstaff, Op. 68
Vaughan Williams, Symphony № 5 in d minor
Hovhaness, Symphony for Metal Orchestra, Op. 203
Sibelius, Symphony № 6 in d minor, Op. 104
Dallapiccola Three Questions with Two Answers
Schuman Symphony № 10, « American Muse »
Schnittke Symphony № 1
Schoenberg Pelleas und Melisande, Op.5
Hartmann Sinfonia tragica
Hindemith Symphonia serena
Toch Symphony № 7, Op. 95
Martinů Symphony № 6, « Fantaisies symphoniques »
Bartók Dance Suite

[Brian]

Mennin Variations Symphony (Symphony № 7)

Was this the Mennin symphony that Ken B hated almost as much as he hated La mer?

[Karl Henning]

Was this the Mennin symphony that Ken B hated almost as much as he hated La mer?

No, that was 8. Lawd knows why.

[BWV 1080]

Henze 2-5, Ondine, Nachstuke und Arien, La Selva Incantata, 3 Sinfonische Etuden, The Bassarids, Being Beauteous

[kyjo]

Time for me to come out of GMG hibernation and update my list!

Symphonies:
Alfvén: Symphony no. 3
Arnold: Symphony no. 5
Atterberg: Symphony no. 2
Braga Santos: Symphony no. 4
Casella: Symphony no. 3
Damase: Symphonie
Elgar: Symphony no. 2
Honegger: Symphony no. 3 "Liturgique"
Korngold: Symphony in F-sharp
Lloyd: Symphony no. 4 "Arctic"
Magnard: Symphony no. 4
Peterson-Berger: Symphony no. 3 "Same Ätnam"
Prokofiev: Symphony no. 5
Rachmaninoff: Symphony no. 2
Nielsen: Symphony no. 5
Schmidt: Symphony no. 4
Sibelius: Symphony no. 2
Tubin: Symphony no. 2 "Legendary"
Vaughan Williams: Symphony no. 6
Walton: Symphony no. 1

Concerti:
Alnaes: Piano Concerto
Alwyn: Harp Concerto "Lyra Angelica"
Arnold: Guitar Concerto
Atterberg: Cello Concerto
Barber: Violin Concerto
Bartók: Piano Concerto no. 3
Britten: Piano Concerto
Finzi: Cello Concerto
Honegger: Cello Concerto
Khachaturian: Violin Concerto
Nielsen: Flute Concerto
Peterson-Berger: Violin Concerto
Poulenc: Piano Concerto in C-sharp minor
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto no. 3
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Ravel: Piano Concerto in G (since Cesar chose the left-hand )
Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez
Tcherepnin: Piano Concerto no. 4 "Fantaisie"
Walton: Cello Concerto
Weinberg: Cello Concerto

Anything else involving orchestra:
Barber: Second Essay
Bax: November Woods
Bliss: Meditations on a Theme of John Blow
Canteloube: Chants d'Auvergne
Carreño: Margariteña
Dvořák: Rusalka
Falla: El Sombrero de Tres Picos
Janáček: Taras Bulba
Klami: Kalevala Suite
Lloyd: A Symphonic Mass
Martinů: Double Concerto for 2 String Orchestras, Piano, and Timpani
Lutoslawski: Concerto for Orchestra
Poulenc: Stabat Mater
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances
Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé
Respighi: Metamorphoseon
Schmidt: Das Buch mit dem Sieben Siegeln
Sibelius: Tapiola
Vaughan Williams: Job

[Uhor]

With 1 work per composer, no concertante or vocal as arbitrary limits to ease my choice:


Debussy - La Mer
Stravisnky - Rite of Spring
Ravel - Le tombeau de Couperin
Boulez - Notations for Orchestra
Bartók - Two Images
Messiaen - Et exspecto resurrectionem mortuorum
Webern - Variations for Orchestra
Schoenberg- Five Pieces for Orchestra
Berg - Three pieces for orchestra
Mahler - Symphony No.10
Feldman - The Turfan Fragments
Ligeti - Atmospheres
Carter - Three Occasions for Orchestra
Sibelius - Symphony No. 5
Nono - Variazioni canoniche
Maderna - Composizione No. 2
Berio - Bewegung
Donatoni - Duo per Bruno
Dallapiccolla - Piccola Musica Notturna
Takemitsu - Twill by Twilight

[Symphonic Addict]

Time for me to come out of GMG hibernation and update my list!

Symphonies:
Alfvén: Symphony no. 3
Arnold: Symphony no. 5
Atterberg: Symphony no. 2
Braga Santos: Symphony no. 4
Casella: Symphony no. 3
Damase: Symphonie
Elgar: Symphony no. 2
Honegger: Symphony no. 3 "Liturgique"
Korngold: Symphony in F-sharp
Lloyd: Symphony no. 4 "Arctic"
Magnard: Symphony no. 4
Peterson-Berger: Symphony no. 3 "Same Ätnam"
Prokofiev: Symphony no. 5
Rachmaninoff: Symphony no. 2
Nielsen: Symphony no. 5
Schmidt: Symphony no. 4
Sibelius: Symphony no. 2
Tubin: Symphony no. 2 "Legendary"
Vaughan Williams: Symphony no. 6
Walton: Symphony no. 1

Concerti:
Alnaes: Piano Concerto
Alwyn: Harp Concerto "Lyra Angelica"
Arnold: Guitar Concerto
Atterberg: Cello Concerto
Barber: Violin Concerto
Bartók: Piano Concerto no. 3
Britten: Piano Concerto
Finzi: Cello Concerto
Honegger: Cello Concerto
Khachaturian: Violin Concerto
Nielsen: Flute Concerto
Peterson-Berger: Violin Concerto
Poulenc: Piano Concerto in C-sharp minor
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto no. 3
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Ravel: Piano Concerto in G (since Cesar chose the left-hand )
Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez
Tcherepnin: Piano Concerto no. 4 "Fantaisie"
Walton: Cello Concerto
Weinberg: Cello Concerto

Anything else involving orchestra:
Barber: Second Essay
Bax: November Woods
Bliss: Meditations on a Theme of John Blow
Canteloube: Chants d'Auvergne
Carreño: Margariteña
Dvořák: Rusalka
Falla: El Sombrero de Tres Picos
Janáček: Taras Bulba
Klami: Kalevala Suite
Lloyd: A Symphonic Mass
Martinů: Double Concerto for 2 String Orchestras, Piano, and Timpani
Lutoslawski: Concerto for Orchestra
Poulenc: Stabat Mater
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances
Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé
Respighi: Metamorphoseon
Schmidt: Das Buch mit dem Sieben Siegeln
Sibelius: Tapiola
Vaughan Williams: Job

Lots of fun and great music there, Kyle! The only ones that escape from me are the Carreño and Canteloube.

[vandermolen]

Time for me to come out of GMG hibernation and update my list!

Symphonies:
Alfvén: Symphony no. 3
Arnold: Symphony no. 5
Atterberg: Symphony no. 2
Braga Santos: Symphony no. 4
Casella: Symphony no. 3
Damase: Symphonie
Elgar: Symphony no. 2
Honegger: Symphony no. 3 "Liturgique"
Korngold: Symphony in F-sharp
Lloyd: Symphony no. 4 "Arctic"
Magnard: Symphony no. 4
Peterson-Berger: Symphony no. 3 "Same Ätnam"
Prokofiev: Symphony no. 5
Rachmaninoff: Symphony no. 2
Nielsen: Symphony no. 5
Schmidt: Symphony no. 4
Sibelius: Symphony no. 2
Tubin: Symphony no. 2 "Legendary"
Vaughan Williams: Symphony no. 6
Walton: Symphony no. 1

Concerti:
Alnaes: Piano Concerto
Alwyn: Harp Concerto "Lyra Angelica"
Arnold: Guitar Concerto
Atterberg: Cello Concerto
Barber: Violin Concerto
Bartók: Piano Concerto no. 3
Britten: Piano Concerto
Finzi: Cello Concerto
Honegger: Cello Concerto
Khachaturian: Violin Concerto
Nielsen: Flute Concerto
Peterson-Berger: Violin Concerto
Poulenc: Piano Concerto in C-sharp minor
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto no. 3
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Ravel: Piano Concerto in G (since Cesar chose the left-hand )
Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez
Tcherepnin: Piano Concerto no. 4 "Fantaisie"
Walton: Cello Concerto
Weinberg: Cello Concerto

Anything else involving orchestra:
Barber: Second Essay
Bax: November Woods
Bliss: Meditations on a Theme of John Blow
Canteloube: Chants d'Auvergne
Carreño: Margariteña
Dvořák: Rusalka
Falla: El Sombrero de Tres Picos
Janáček: Taras Bulba
Klami: Kalevala Suite
Lloyd: A Symphonic Mass
Martinů: Double Concerto for 2 String Orchestras, Piano, and Timpani
Lutoslawski: Concerto for Orchestra
Poulenc: Stabat Mater
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances
Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé
Respighi: Metamorphoseon
Schmidt: Das Buch mit dem Sieben Siegeln
Sibelius: Tapiola
Vaughan Williams: Job

What a great list Kyle! I'm glad to see that Damase is still there! I agree with more or less all of your list.

[kyjo]

Lots of fun and great music there, Kyle! The only ones that escape from me are the Carreño and Canteloube.

The Carreño is a marvelous set of symphonic variations by an all-but-unknown Venezuelan composer, rather Braga Santos-like in its uplifting, colorful style: https://youtu.be/LCoC0cyyPFw

Oh, you must get to know the Canteloube Chants d'Auvergne! Some of the most ravishing vocal music I know. Not only is Canteloube's vocal writing exquisite, but so is his orchestration, complete with a wonderful orchestral piano part that conjures up images of the glint of sunlight on water.

[kyjo]

What a great list Kyle! I'm glad to see that Damase is still there! I agree with more or less all of your list.

I don't think he'll be going anywhere anytime soon!