Your Desert Island Symphony

[Luke]

I think I'm going to ignore the "symphony" part just because I put some thought into what should make a desert island recording.

And that is not necessarily your favorite work.  Because if you have only one work to listen to, chances our you will actually become bored of your favorite.

It needs to be long, complex, with shifting moods, that can't be easily memorized or become tired of.  Every part has to be exceptional... and the more I thought of it, the more I became convinced that there was only one work...

Bach.  The Art of Fugue.😇

I 'liked' that because I agree with your first premise completely. But I think I'd prefer both volumes of the WTC in that case   

[Karl Henning]

And that is not necessarily your favorite work.  Because if you have only one work to listen to, chances our you will actually become bored of your favorite.

Yes.

[Karl Henning]

This one is surprisingly easy for me. I don't think there is a more beautiful symphony than Sibelius 6.

The most satisfying version is this one:

Roughly half the time, the Sixth is my favorite Sibelius symphony.

[Skogwald]

Roughly half the time, the Sixth is my favorite Sibelius symphony.

What about the other half?

[AnotherSpin]

Partly answering to the previous poster. I've spent quite a bit of time travelling around in various lands. In my years in India alone, I spent a total of several years. So, I almost never once felt like listening to symphonies. Life there is full to the brim.

[Karl Henning]

What about the other half?

The Seventh. Though I do like all seven (seldom though I revisit the First.)

[Spotted Horses]

I think I'm going to ignore the "symphony" part just because I put some thought into what should make a desert island recording.

And that is not necessarily your favorite work.  Because if you have only one work to listen to, chances are you will actually become bored of your favorite.

It needs to be long, complex, with shifting moods, that can't be easily memorized or become tired of.  Every part has to be exceptional... and the more I thought of it, the more I became convinced that there was only one work...

Bach.  The Art of Fugue.😇

I agree with your criteria (not a favorite piece, but one piece which encompasses many styles). I think I'd pick Mahler Symphony No 9. Joyful, angst ridden, melancholy, with lovely counterpoint, especially in the middle movements, and the splendors of a large orchestra skillfully employed.

[DavidW]

I agree with your criteria (not a favorite piece, but one piece which encompasses many styles). I think I'd pick Mahler Symphony No 9. Joyful, angst ridden, melancholy, with lovely counterpoint, especially in the middle movements, and the splendors of a large orchestra skillfully employed.

I would go with that, but I've already listened to that symphony so many times that I just know every part of it.  I would require something truly dense like perhaps Carter for a desert island orchestral work.

[kyjo]

This one is surprisingly easy for me. I don't think there is a more beautiful symphony than Sibelius 6.

The most satisfying version is this one:

I couldn't argue with you - it's a singularly beautiful work which has a magical, "wintry" aura all its own. If you asked me a few years ago what my favorite Sibelius symphony was, I would've said No. 2, but now that work has lost a bit of its luster to me due to over-exposure. Its place has now been taken by No. 6.

P.S. That N. Jarvi/Gothenburg SO recording is indeed superb!

[vandermolen]

Sibelius is about the only composer whose music I can listen to regardless as to how I'm feeling. If it was coupled with 'Tapiola' that would be the icing on the cake. As I mentioned before Vaughan Williams's 'A London Symphony' is very dear to me. I grew up with Boult's EMI/Sony recording. Now I would choose the 1920 version (Brabbins or Goossens).

[Kalevala]

I couldn't argue with you - it's a singularly beautiful work which has a magical, "wintry" aura all its own. If you asked me a few years ago what my favorite Sibelius symphony was, I would've said No. 2, but now that work has lost a bit of its luster to me due to over-exposure. Its place has now been taken by No. 6.

P.S. That N. Jarvi/Gothenburg SO recording is indeed superb!

I don't know that one.  I'll have to check it out.

Sibelius is about the only composer whose music I can listen to regardless as to how I'm feeling. If it was coupled with 'Tapiola' that would be the icing on the cake. As I mentioned before Vaughan Williams's 'A London Symphony' is very dear to me. I grew up with Boult's EMI/Sony recording. Now I would choose the 1920 version (Brabbins or Goossens).

Love your comments here....though I would probably stick with VW's revised version.

A big fan of Sibelius' tone poems in general.  Swan of Tuonela is a favorite.  I have an old and lovely recording with Beecham which I find to be enchanting.

K

[vandermolen]

I don't know that one.  I'll have to check it out.
Love your comments here....though I would probably stick with VW's revised version.

A big fan of Sibelius' tone poems in general.  Swan of Tuonela is a favorite.  I have an old and lovely recording with Beecham which I find to be enchanting.

K

Those Beecham recordings are great (his Sibelius 4th Symphony is unrivalled IMO).
I caught the end of 'Night-ride and Sunrise' on the car radio earlier today - another wonderful work.
Do you know the Complete Karelia music? The Ondine CD is best - a lovely work.

[Karl Henning]

Half the time, the Sixth is my favorite Sibelius Symphony!

[Kalevala]

Those Beecham recordings are great (his Sibelius 4th Symphony is unrivalled IMO).
I caught the end of 'Night-ride and Sunrise' on the car radio earlier today - another wonderful work.
Do you know the Complete Karelia music? The Ondine CD is best - a lovely work.

I've heard the suite.  Haven't heard the complete work before.

K

[vandermolen]

I've heard the suite.  Haven't heard the complete work before.

K

Oh, you have to hear the Complete Karelia K. One section even sounds like a pop song (especially in the Ondine recording). Not to be missed and quite different to the Suite (which I like very much).

[hopefullytrusting]

This one: Beethoven's 9th modified by Bernstein

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn0IS-vlwCI

[LKB]

After hemming and hawing, and a concentrated period devoted to an earnest wringing of hands, I've arrived at the ( probably ) inevitable choice of Mahler's Resurrection, or Symphony no. 2.

The piece has powerful and personal associations dating back to 1980, the time of my initial involvement as a chorister. At the time I was also quite infatuated with Mahler's Symphonies no.'s  1 and 3, as well as his Kindertotenlieder and Des Knaben Wunderhorn.

But the Resurrection is unique in Mahler's corpus. It expresses - for the first and final time - unbridled and unalloyed hope and sympathy for Homo Sapiens.

The key for our perception resides in those most crucial words which Mahler penned:

Mit Flügeln, die ich mir errungen... " With wings, that I have won for myself... "

Here was the final point: Man's redemption not by God or any supernatural agency, but by his own overcoming, his self-redemption through the discovery of grace. By forgiving himself, Man earns the right to forgive all who come afterward.

And so I've attained my desert island symphony. It probably should have been obvious years ago, but so much has come down the pipe that making any such choice was probably going to be more complicated than expected.

in any event, be well.