6 favorite French symphonies besides "Fantastique" and "Organ"

[kyjo]

Landowski

I keep forgetting about him (probably due to his most un-French sounding name). His 5 symphonies seem like they should be interesting!

[kyjo]

Just listened to Damase's Symphonie at Jeffrey's recommendation. My goodness, words cannot describe how wondrously uplifting and glorious this piece is (the ominous beginning is a bit of a "red herring")! Wow! This goes straight to the top of my list. Huge hat tip to Jeffrey for recommending this one!

[vandermolen]

Just listened to Damase's Symphonie at Jeffrey's recommendation. My goodness, words cannot describe how wondrously uplifting and glorious this piece is (the ominous beginning is a bit of a "red herring")! Wow! This goes straight to the top of my list. Huge hat tip to Jeffrey for recommending this one!

So pleased you enjoyed it Kyle!

[bwv 1080]

Boulez Pli Selon Pli
Debussy Images
Dutilleux Metaboles
Grisey Les Espaces Acoustiques
Messiaen Chronochromie
Murail Gondwana

[Daverz]

I'm ashamed to say I still haven't listened to Dukas' Symphony

You're in for a treat.

[kyjo]

So pleased you enjoyed it Kyle!

I cannot stress enough how much I enjoyed it, Jeffrey! The latter half of the first movement, in particular, is one of the most breathtakingly gorgeous and inspiriting passages of music I've heard. It rather put me in mind of Honegger's more lyrical moments (opening of the Cello Concerto, ending of the 3rd Symphony) and the ending of Bax's 3rd Symphony, though even more glorious than either of those. It's now my second favorite French symphony, right behind the Saint-Saens Organ. 

[vandermolen]

I cannot stress enough how much I enjoyed it, Jeffrey! The latter half of the first movement, in particular, is one of the most breathtakingly gorgeous and inspiriting passages of music I've heard. It rather put me in mind of Honegger's more lyrical moments (opening of the Cello Concerto, ending of the 3rd Symphony) and the ending of Bax's 3rd Symphony, though even more glorious than either of those. It's now my second favorite French symphony, right behind the Saint-Saens Organ. 

I think that the thing about Damase's fine 'Symphonie' Kyle is that, at one level, it is a very upbeat and optimistic work, (you rightly describe it as 'inspiriting') but it is also not without depth. It has a kind of redemptive 'triumph against the odds' ending which invariably appeals to me. In fact I play the whole CD with much pleasure. Damase sounds like an endearing character (someone who knew him contributed to the Damase thread here) and I think that comes across in his music. A pity he didn't write another 'Symphonie' but we must be grateful for what we have. As I said, I'm delighted that you think highly of the work. I often listen to it and it is one of those works, in my opinion, which has the power to lift one's mood - definitely inspiriting. In that sense, it reminds me a little of Honegger's 4th Symphony 'Delights of Basel' which I enjoy for similar reasons, with its charming glockenspiel section in the opening movement. 

[kyjo]

I think that the thing about Damase's fine 'Symphonie' Kyle is that, at one level, it is a very upbeat and optimistic work, (you rightly describe it as 'inspiriting') but it is also not without depth. It has a kind of redemptive 'triumph against the odds' ending which invariably appeals to me. In fact I play the whole CD with much pleasure. Damase sounds like an endearing character (someone who knew him contributed to the Damase thread here) and I think that comes across in his music. A pity he didn't write another 'Symphonie' but we must be grateful for what we have. As I said, I'm delighted that you think highly of the work. I often listen to it and it is one of those works, in my opinion, which has the power to lift one's mood - definitely inspiriting. In that sense, it reminds me a little of Honegger's 4th Symphony 'Delights of Basel' which I enjoy for similar reasons, with its charming glockenspiel section in the opening movement. 

Very much agree with all of this!