Favourite symphonies in two movements

[Maestro267]

Idk...does what it says in the thread title.

I will specify the following: Some symphonies are listed as being in two "Parts". Not all of these necessarily count here. For instance, Mahler 8 and Tippett 3 would count as the two parts constitute continuous music despite often being subdivided further. Suk's Asrael Symphony or Mahler 3 don't count, as the two parts comprise multiple separate movements within each part. (Split 3-2 in Asrael and 1-5 in Mahler 3).

Some of my favourites:

Hartmann 6
Alwyn 2
Myaskovsky 7
Lajtha 5
Prokofiev 2
Lutoslawski 2

[Jo498]

Schubert b minor (but this is a fragment certainly planned for 4 movements)

[Brian]

Hartmann 6
Rouse 3
Rouse 4
Saint-Saëns 3

And of course Jo claimed the most famous one of all.

[relm1]

Prokofiev 2
Saint-Saëns 3
Christopher Rouse 4
Sumera 1

[VonStupp]

Idk...does what it says in the thread title.

I will specify the following: Some symphonies are listed as being in two "Parts". Not all of these necessarily count here. For instance, Mahler 8 and Tippett 3 would count as the two parts constitute continuous music despite often being subdivided further. Suk's Asrael Symphony or Mahler 3 don't count, as the two parts comprise multiple separate movements within each part. (Split 3-2 in Asrael and 1-5 in Mahler 3).

Even the famous Saint-Saëns 3rd seems to be a standard four contrasting movements, rather than the marked overall two.

[vandermolen]

Alwyn: Symphony No.2
Pettersson: Symphony No.6 (apparently in one long movement actually)
Prokofiev: Symphony No.2
Gorecki: Symphony No.2 'Copernican'
Nielsen: Symphony No.5

Added later (following other's suggestions):
Creston: Symphony No.2
Schubert: Symphony No.8
Kinsella: Symphony No.3

[amw]

Simpson 6 is an interesting case as a continuous span of music that the composer nevertheless conceptualised as two separate movements. Nielsen 5 is also an obvious choice, one that resists any further division into movements despite the frequent attempts by record companies to insist otherwise.

Of examples not mentioned yet, Holmboe 6 is one of his best, I think.

[Biffo]

Nielsen 5 is the one that springs to mind first, sure there are others

[Jo498]

I was not sure about Nielsen 5 because I think I have also seen subdivision on CD. And for the Saint-Saens I definitely took it as more than two de facto movements.

Another good one (a bit in the shadow of the one-movement first one) is Schoenberg's 2nd chamber symphony.

[Biffo]

I was not sure about Nielsen 5 because I think I have also seen subdivision on CD. And for the Saint-Saens I definitely took it as more than two de facto movements.

Another good one (a bit in the shadow of the one-movement first one) is Schoenberg's 2nd chamber symphony.

Nielsen really is just two movements. Some CDs have more than one track for the Finale but it is only one movement

[Symphonic Addict]

Nielsen 5
Holmboe 6
Alwyn 2
Prokofiev 2
Schubert 8
Lutoslawski 2

[Sergeant Rock]

Mahler 8
Havergal Brian 30
Schubert 8
Nielsen 5

[MusicTurner]

Well, already mentioned:

- Pettersson 8
- Nielsen 5
- Gorecki 2

also:
- Pärt 1

I don't think Pettersson 6th is in two movements

[Symphonic Addict]

Other two-movement symphonies worth mentioning:

Bentzon 4
Chávez 5
Creston 2
Eshpai 2
Kinsella 3
Lundquist 1
Norgard 3
Nystroem Sinfonia seria
Szymanowski 2
Toch 5
Tournemire 6

[Symphonic Addict]

I don't think Pettersson 6th is in two movements

Me either. It's actually a massive single movement.

[MusicTurner]

Other two-movement symphonies worth mentioning:

Bentzon 4
Chávez 5
Creston 2
Eshpai 2
Kinsella 3
Lundquist 1
Norgard 3
Nystroem Sinfonia seria
Szymanowski 2
Toch 5
Tournemire 6

Good call, some nice stuff there.

[DaveF]

Webern's is in 2 movements.  Somebody's favourite, surely?

[Maestro267]

I decided to swap out Pettersson 8 for Myaskovsky's 7th Symphony (in B minor)

[Symphonic Addict]

Idk...does what it says in the thread title.

I will specify the following: Some symphonies are listed as being in two "Parts". Not all of these necessarily count here. For instance, Mahler 8 and Tippett 3 would count as the two parts constitute continuous music despite often being subdivided further. Suk's Asrael Symphony or Mahler 3 don't count, as the two parts comprise multiple separate movements within each part. (Split 3-2 in Asrael and 1-5 in Mahler 3).

Some of my favourites:

Hartmann 6
Alwyn 2
Myaskovsky 7
Lajtha 6
Prokofiev 2
Lutoslawski 2

The Lajtha is in 4 movements. Perhaps you meant the 5th.

[vers la flamme]

Webern
Schubert 8th (the B minor)
Mahler 8th