Cycles of works that span a good chunk of the composer's life

[JBS]

Vaughan Williams:
Born 1872

Sea Symphony 1903-09
Symphony No. 9 1956-57

Died 1958

[Maestro267]

Paul le Flem:
Symphony no 1 - 1908
Symphony no 4 - 1974
 

Wow! We may have surpassed Havergal Brian here in terms of oldest known composer to complete a Symphony. Brian was 92 in 1968 when he wrote his 32nd. Obviously we don't know *when* le Flem wrote No. 4 but given he was born in March 1881 there's a good chance he could've been 93 when he finished it.

[Luke]

He was one of those - Carter, Ornstein - who surpassed 100. 103 in his case I think.

[Spotted Horses]

Cycles that span a composers entire creative live seem to be the rule. "Cycles" which span a short period of a composers life are more uncommon, such as Martinu's symphony cycle, which spans the years 1941 to 1953, 12 years out of a composing career that spanned about 40 years.

[JBS]

Cycles that span a composers entire creative live seem to be the rule. "Cycles" which span a short period of a composers life are more uncommon, such as Martinu's symphony cycle, which spans the years 1941 to 1953, 12 years out of a composing career that spanned about 40 years.

Is there anything shorter than the period of time in which Mozart wrote his violin concertos or, later, his horn concertos?

[Maestro267]

George Lloyd is another one. His twelve symphonies span 1932-1989. Just think of that! The 1930s were a golden age for the British symphony; his contemporaries the likes of Walton, Bax, Vaughan Williams and so on.

[vandermolen]

Vaughan Williams:
Born 1872

Sea Symphony 1903-09
Symphony No. 9 1956-57

Died 1958

Yes, I'd have chosen him. His first composition 'The Robin's Nest' was written when he was about 6 and he was still composing in his 86th year.

[Florestan]

Paul le Flem:
Symphony no 1 - 1908
Symphony no 4 - 1974
 

Le Flem is perhaps the best example on terms of history. When he was born, Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary was still ruling; when he died, Francois Mitterand had been just elected as President of France.

[Luke]

Le Flem is perhaps the best example on terms of history. When he was born, Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary was still ruling; when he died, Francois Mitterand had been just elected as President of France.

Ornstein' s life, 1895-2002, seen by historical landmarks in a similar way: born in the year of the Drefuss affair; died half a year after 9/11

[Spotted Horses]

Is there anything shorter than the period of time in which Mozart wrote his violin concertos or, later, his horn concertos?

The Horn Concerti were composed in 1783, 1786, 1787 and 1791. A substantial period in Mozart's compositional career. The five undisputed violin concerti were all composed in 1775.

Once may compare with Brahms' "cycle" of Overtures, both written in the summer of 1880.

[relm1]

Prokofiev.  His earliest attempted symphony was drafted when he was 9 years old though his real Symphony No. 1 of maturity was from 1917 when he was 24 years old and his last was Symphony No. 7 written one year before his death.  That's a pretty good cycle spanning a life.

[relm1]

George Lloyd is another one. His twelve symphonies span 1932-1989. Just think of that! The 1930s were a golden age for the British symphony; his contemporaries the likes of Walton, Bax, Vaughan Williams and so on.

George Lloyd is a bit of interesting case though because he did have a mid-career break due to health reasons.  So what if that mid career break happened at the start or the end of the career? 

[Lisztianwagner]

Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen.

[Florestan]

Ornstein' s life, 1895-2002, seen by historical landmarks in a similar way: born in the year of the Drefuss affair; died half a year after 9/11

Indeed, another striking instance.

[San Antone]

Elliott Carter, string quartets (1951-1995)
Mieczyslaw Weinberg, string quartets (1937-1987); symphonies (1942-1994)

[Maestro267]

Great call on Weinberg!