Topic: Egon Wellesz(1885-1974)

[Maestro267]

Very impressed with all of these works. There is something of interest in all of them. I went into the early symphonies expecting them to sound like Bruckner, a composer who is a bit hit-and-miss with me. But there is enough 20th-century harmonic exploration and colour to make them interesting to me.

[vandermolen]

I have the entire set. My personal favorites are 2, followed by 5. But it really depends on your taste and I am sure reactions from every listener will be different.

2 is my favourite as well.

[San Antone]

I seem to remember reading that around the 4th Wellesz went through a stylistic change, and the symphonies written after the 4th were more atonal than the earlier ones.  But I haven't listened to the symphonies much, even though I own the complete set, since my main interest with Wellesz has been the string quartets and other chamber music, solo piano, as well as lieder.

[Irons]

I go through each of them once before I return to them. Same way I deal with most symphony cycles.

A good plan.

[Symphonic Addict]

I was revisiting the 4th Symphony Austrian from the magnificent set above. What an extraordinary work this is. The sense of urgency in places is tremendous; there are many interesting ideas running throughout. A piece with personality that easily grips you from start to finish. The slow movement combines lyricism with a slight astringency that is quite effective. The recording can't be better. A really fascinating experience.

[Maestro267]

The above post inspired me to listen to No. 4 again. One, I was surprised to find the symphony's goal to be G. Idk why. The opening of the first and last movements implied a tonal home of D. Also I was intrigued by that unusual chorale in the slow movement that started in B minor (with ominously growing-in-volume timpani strokes) and led back to that movement's home key of E flat major.

[relm1]

I was revisiting the 4th Symphony Austrian from the magnificent set above. What an extraordinary work this is. The sense of urgency in places is tremendous; there are many interesting ideas running throughout. A piece with personality that easily grips you from start to finish. The slow movement combines lyricism with a slight astringency that is quite effective. The recording can't be better. A really fascinating experience.

Not familiar with the work.  Added to my listening list.

[Symphonic Addict]

Not familiar with the work.  Added to my listening list.

His symphonies 1-5 (or 1 to 4?) are the more approachable ones. They're quite accomplished I must say.

[Maestro267]

And the rest are approachable if you're already familiar with 20th century music.

[foxandpeng]

His symphonies 1-5 (or 1 to 4?) are the more approachable ones. They're quite accomplished I must say.

Thanks for this. I have never really spent any time with Wellesz, partly because there is so much other music out there, and partly because the style of the CPO covers have always made me erroneously believe his music belonged to an earlier period with which I have little engagement. I know now that it doesn't, so he is on my long 'to do' list. I will take your recs as a starting point.

[Symphonic Addict]

Please, do it when you can. These symphonies represent an important repertoire regarding late-Romantic and Serialist Austrian symphonies.

[calyptorhynchus]

Not enough polyphony for me.

[Symphonic Addict]

Surely Havergal Brian's symphonies do have more polyphony (and fine counterpoint) then, for instance. 

[calyptorhynchus]

Yes, they do 

[Maestro267]

Not a fan of Vaughan Williams then? He operates on a similar formula of blocks of sound.

[Symphonic Addict]

Currently diving into Wellesz's Symphony No. 3 from the splendid CPO set. Somehow I was reminded me of Tubin and Zemlinsky in the 1st movement. A quite vigorous beginning for sure.

[Spotted Horses]

Not a fan of Vaughan Williams then? He operates on a similar formula of blocks of sound.

He doesn’t.

[Maestro267]

He doesn’t.

He does.

Anyway, ignoring the apparent need to respond to something months old...Symphony No. 4 is excellent.