Apologies if this thread has been done before as I did a search and nothing came up, but anyway who are your three choices?
Mine are (in no particular order):
Mahler
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/06/Photo_of_Gustav_Mahler_by_Moritz_N%C3%A4hr_01.jpg)
Bruckner
(https://www.gramophone.co.uk/media/196130/t4018_anton_brucknercroppedctully_potter_0.jpg)
Sibelius
(https://i.pinimg.com/736x/bb/c9/25/bbc92532642e54fe31b4ae205b048a40.jpg)
Mine, in chronological order:
Mahler
Nielsen
Brian
My avatar composer, Holmboe, composed 13 symphonies and is certainly right up there in my pantheon, but I consider his symphonic output somewhat uneven, with several of the early ones not even up to the level of his best work. While Brian's symphonic output is also uneven (and a couple of his 32 I don't even consider symphonies), Brian explored the form so exhaustively and so consistently throughout his career that I have to rank him, overall, slightly higher as a symphonist (though not as a composer).
As my avatar is the great Dane, he's probably my favorite symphonist ever.
The other two are Dvorak and Shostakovich.
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ9uTMJ4ZThJ6H5WlVB8DnyXUNlHGHLFgTE3A&usqp=CAU)(https://www.tierraadentro.cultura.gob.mx/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Dvorak1.jpg)(https://img.discogs.com/zY7HIboHfFGP-h2P1kCSTJ0z_04=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/A-115461-1587155935-2709.jpeg.jpg)
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on July 27, 2021, 08:13:09 PM
As my avatar is the great Dane, he's probably my favorite symphonist ever.
The other two are Dvorak and Shostakovich.
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ9uTMJ4ZThJ6H5WlVB8DnyXUNlHGHLFgTE3A&usqp=CAU)(https://caminodemusica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Canciones-gitanas-de-dvorak-300x191.jpg)(https://img.discogs.com/zY7HIboHfFGP-h2P1kCSTJ0z_04=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/A-115461-1587155935-2709.jpeg.jpg)
These very well could've been my own choices, Cesar. 8)
Quote from: Mirror Image on July 27, 2021, 08:14:46 PM
These very well could've been my own choices, Cesar. 8)
I could change Dvorak for Sibelius. Even though his [Sibelius] symphonies 3 and 4 are not so close to me, he's definitely an indispensable composer.
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on July 27, 2021, 08:20:19 PM
I could change Dvorak for Sibelius. Even though his [Sibelius] symphonies 3 and 4 are not so close to me, he's definitely an indispensable composer.
Sibelius' 4th is the symphony that made me finally understand this composer, so I'll always have a sentimental attachment to it, but, also, the slow movement is absolutely gut-wrenchingly honest, brutal even, and it hit me like a ton of bricks when it finally clicked for me. For me, and this is just
my opinion, but if you don't understand the 4th, then you don't really understand the composer. It's kind of like Nielsen's 5th. If you don't like this symphony, then there's a good chance you're not as big of a fan of the composer as you think you are.
Quote from: Mirror Image on July 27, 2021, 08:26:20 PM
Sibelius' 4th is the symphony that made me finally understand this composer, so I'll always have a sentimental attachment to it, but, also, the slow movement is absolutely gut-wrenchingly honest, brutal even, and it hit me like a ton of bricks when it finally clicked for me. For me, and this is just my opinion, but if you don't understand the 4th, then you don't really understand the composer. It's kind of like Nielsen's 5th. If you don't like this symphony, then there's a good chance you're not as big of a fan of the composer as you think you are.
I've come to grips with Sibelius's 4th over the last months. It's not as impenetrable as I initially perceived. For me it's his most psychological and personal. In the case of Nielsen's 5th, I DO love it, and I understand it pretty well. In fact, I really love all of his 6 symphonies, which doesn't happen with Sibelius, whose symphonies 1, 2, 5 and 7 are truly special to me.
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on July 27, 2021, 08:41:50 PM
I've come to grips with Sibelius's 4th over the last months. It's not as impenetrable as I initially perceived. For me it's his most psychological and personal. In the case of Nielsen's 5th, I DO love it, and I understand it pretty well. In fact, I really love all of his 6 symphonies, which doesn't happen with Sibelius, whose symphonies 1, 2, 5 and 7 are truly special to me.
Well, I love all of Sibelius' and Nielsen's symphonies. ;) No love for Sibelius' 6th either? :o Yikes! I certainly understand that the 4th and 6th are the most elusive of the Sibelius symphonies, but I think this is a good thing --- it just means you have to keep trying. ;) The 4th and 6th are actually the symphonies that gave the most difficulty, but I've come to regard them as masterpieces and there's nothing like them. This kind of reminds me of how I finally came around to a work like
Night Ride & Sunrise. This work was even more elusive to me than the 4th or 6th symphonies. I remember reading something that someone wrote (maybe a critic or just a long-time listener) and they said that Sibelius' music is like the musical depiction of a remote, desolate land where there's no sign of human contact and it basically only exists because the environment has found a way to replenish itself. Bear in mind, I'm paraphrasing here, but it was a interesting thought and it made me do some thinking as well. Nielsen's music is quite the opposite I feel --- it's as if he feeds off energy and life. I often think of his music as some kind of organic life force that runs off sunlight and gains momentum the longer it's able to flourish. Does any of this make any sense? Probably not. :P
Beethoven
Haydn
Mahler
Mozart
Schubert
Tchaikovsky
Quote from: Mirror Image on July 27, 2021, 08:55:10 PM
Well, I love all of Sibelius' and Nielsen's symphonies. ;) No love for Sibelius' 6th either? :o Yikes! I certainly understand that the 4th and 6th are the most elusive of the Sibelius symphonies, but I think this is a good thing --- it just means you have to keep trying. ;) The 4th and 6th are actually the symphonies that gave the most difficulty, but I've come to regard them as masterpieces and there's nothing like them. This kind of reminds me of how I finally came around to a work like Night Ride & Sunrise. This work was even more elusive to me than the 4th or 6th symphonies. I remember reading something that someone wrote (maybe a critic or just a long-time listener) and they said that Sibelius' music is like the musical depiction of a remote, desolate land where there's no sign of human contact and it basically only exists because the environment has found a way to replenish itself. Bear in mind, I'm paraphrasing here, but it was a interesting thought and it made me do some thinking as well. Nielsen's music is quite the opposite I feel --- it's as if he feeds off energy and life. I often think of his music as some kind of organic life force that runs off sunlight and gains momentum the longer it's able to flourish. Does any of this make any sense? Probably not. :P
Quote from: Mirror Image on July 27, 2021, 04:27:06 PM
Apologies if this thread has been done before as I did a search and nothing came up, but anyway who are your three choices?
Mine are (in no particular order):
Mahler
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/06/Photo_of_Gustav_Mahler_by_Moritz_N%C3%A4hr_01.jpg)
Bruckner
(https://www.gramophone.co.uk/media/196130/t4018_anton_brucknercroppedctully_potter_0.jpg)
Sibelius
(https://i.pinimg.com/736x/bb/c9/25/bbc92532642e54fe31b4ae205b048a40.jpg)
Definitely some of my absolute top candidates too. Hard to narrow down though, besides choosing Bruckner (that always incredibly conservative- and boring-looking fellow) on the list.
Yes. I always thought that humans/humanity are absent from Sibelius. The symphonies anyway, but they even seem to take a back step in the tone poems. But he has an extraordinary gift of expressing nature, especially of course the northern regions.
Havergal Brian
Haydn
Mahler
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on July 28, 2021, 04:54:54 AM
Havergal Brian
Haydn
Mahler
I'm surprised Bruckner didn't make the list, Sarge.
Quote from: Raymond on July 28, 2021, 03:49:21 AM
Yes. I always thought that humans/humanity are absent from Sibelius. The symphonies anyway, but they even seem to take a back step in the tone poems. But he has an extraordinary gift of expressing nature, especially of course the northern regions.
Agreed. He was a remarkable painter of sound.
Well, that's easy! My top 3 symphonists also happen to be my 3 favorite composers: Sibelius, Dvorak, and Atterberg. ;) My nos. 4 and 5 would be Nielsen and Vaughan Williams, btw.
There are no three for me that stand far above the others. Making a longer list Mahler, Beethoven, Haydn, Bruckner, Shostakovich, Brahms and Sibelius.
Martinů, Dvořák, and Haydn, in some order. (Ok, Haydn is first, I guess.) Considered including Beethoven, but his symphonies are basically just Martinů's with less pianos.
I can also name a single favourite symphony (Haydn's La Passione, Hob.I:49) and maybe a second favourite ("Paris III" Hob.I:84) but not a third one (Beethoven 5? Fantaisies Symphoniques? Dvořák 7? Mozart 38?), and would have to then expand the list to ten or twenty to include all of the various possibilities.
Quote from: kyjo on July 28, 2021, 07:30:39 AM
Well, that's easy! My top 3 symphonists also happen to be my 3 favorite composers: Sibelius, Dvorak, and Atterberg. ;) My nos. 4 and 5 would be Nielsen and Vaughan Williams, btw.
Fine choices, indeed. If you didn't pick Atterberg, I would be seriously surprised. ;) Glad to know that Sibelius and Dvořák rank so high with you.
Beethoven
Bruckner
Sibelius
Vaughan Williams
Holmboe
Tubin
Quote from: Christo on July 28, 2021, 10:45:11 AM
Vaughan Williams
Holmboe
Tubin
I'm tempted to agree. Although later I might not. I probably will, though. Any of the three would be in my top three at any time, I think, despite how others may nudge their way in. .
Quote from: foxandpeng on July 29, 2021, 09:23:15 AM
I'm tempted to agree. Although later I might not. I probably will, though. Any of the three would be in my top three at any time, I think, despite how others may nudge their way in. .
Great to learn, was afraid to be laughed away because of these choices. ;)
Quote from: Christo on July 29, 2021, 09:38:44 AM
Great to learn, was afraid to be laughed away because of these choices. ;)
In which case, I will be in good company :)
Quote from: Mirror Image on July 27, 2021, 04:27:06 PM
Apologies if this thread has been done before as I did a search and nothing came up, but anyway who are your three choices?
Mine are (in no particular order):
Mahler
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/06/Photo_of_Gustav_Mahler_by_Moritz_N%C3%A4hr_01.jpg)
Bruckner
(https://www.gramophone.co.uk/media/196130/t4018_anton_brucknercroppedctully_potter_0.jpg)
Sibelius
(https://i.pinimg.com/736x/bb/c9/25/bbc92532642e54fe31b4ae205b048a40.jpg)
I'm going to have to change my vote...I'm substituting Shostakovich for Bruckner. Sorry Anton!
(https://i.pinimg.com/474x/77/ef/1f/77ef1ffe592e677d1755471c5d0d7e58.jpg)
It seems that for the past few years Bruckner has been slipping away in my ranks and Shostakovich just impresses me more and more each time I listen to one of his works. He gets under my skin much more than Bruckner.
Nielsen
Shostakovich
Beethoven
This was tough, actually, but rather fair as well.
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on September 25, 2021, 07:44:00 PM
Nielsen
Shostakovich
Beethoven
This was tough, actually, but rather fair as well.
A fine list. My own would be Mahler, Sibelius and Shostakovich.
I only have two "top" symphonists and the third one is a bit tricky, but here it goes:
Sir Edward Elgar
Carl Nielsen
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Quote from: amw on July 28, 2021, 08:01:21 AM
Considered including Beethoven, but his symphonies are basically just Martinů's with less pianos.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Tubin is high on my list as well as is David Diamond.
Different 3 to RVW, Tubin and Holmboe:
Emil Tabakov
Per Nørgård
Pēteris Vasks
Tabakov is ridiculous. Potent, turbulent, disturbing, remarkable.
Nørgård is simply outstanding.
Vasks is Vasks. 'Nuff said.
Quote from: foxandpeng on September 26, 2021, 08:58:52 AM
Different 3 to RVW, Tubin and Holmboe:
Emil Tabakov
Per Nørgård
Pēteris Vasks
Tabakov is ridiculous. Potent, turbulent, disturbing, remarkable.
Nørgård is simply outstanding.
Vasks is Vasks. 'Nuff said.
Interesting choices, fox. I didn't know you liked Nørgård. I wouldn't say I'm a huge fan, but his 3rd and 4th symphonies are the ones that impressed me. I also like his 1st, which I know Jeffrey (Vandermolen) is fan of as well.
Quote from: Mirror Image on September 26, 2021, 07:19:06 PM
Interesting choices, fox. I didn't know you liked Nørgård. I wouldn't say I'm a huge fan, but his 3rd and 4th symphonies are the ones that impressed me. I also like his 1st, which I know Jeffrey (Vandermolen) is fan of as well.
In many regards, Nørgård was an obvious branching exploration from Holmboe, but his whole world looks and feels somewhat different, obviously. Like you, I would name #1, 3, and 4 as really enjoyable works, but would include #5 as a particular favourite. That's not to say that I don't rate #2, and 6-8, because I do :).
Irrelevant to this thread, but his SQs #7-10 (no experience with the earlier ones yet), and the VCs and Cello Concertos are well worth time investment. Running at his Da Capo and Chandos recordings was a real eye opener for me some time ago. Doubtless you are well aware already.
Bruckner
Shostakovich
Dvořák or Sibelius, I am not able to decide and glad I don't have to. :D
Quote from: OrchestralNut on September 27, 2021, 04:54:07 AM
Bruckner
Shostakovich
Dvořák or Sibelius, I am not able to decide and glad I don't have to. :D
Rules are meant to be broken!
Three only?! [Augh!]
Hmmm....Are tone poems included in the original posters definition?
Sibelius
Dvorak
Vaughan Williams
might have to sneak in Shostakovich here (Sneak, sneak)....
PD
1. Mahler
2. Sibelius
3. RVW
Honorable mentions:
* Shostakovich
* Prokofiev
* Aho
Quote from: foxandpeng on September 27, 2021, 03:50:16 AM
In many regards, Nørgård was an obvious branching exploration from Holmboe, but his whole world looks and feels somewhat different, obviously. Like you, I would name #1, 3, and 4 as really enjoyable works, but would include #5 as a particular favourite. That's not to say that I don't rate #2, and 6-8, because I do :).
Irrelevant to this thread, but his SQs #7-10 (no experience with the earlier ones yet), and the VCs and Cello Concertos are well worth time investment. Running at his Da Capo and Chandos recordings was a real eye opener for me some time ago. Doubtless you are well aware already.
Yeah, I'll have to spend more time with this composer. He doesn't always "hit the spot" so to speak, but he is a rather fascinating figure. I've enjoyed the SQs I've heard from him so far. I believe I own them all (so far).
Had the list been 'Greatest' as opposed to favourite I'd have chosen:
or...
Carl Nielsen
Vagn Holmboe
Havergal Brian
GMG is this weird place where the cult of Havergal Brian lives!
Quote from: DavidW on September 29, 2021, 04:35:55 AM
GMG is this weird place where the cult of Havergal Brian lives!
+1
Quote from: DavidW on September 29, 2021, 04:35:55 AM
GMG is this weird place where the cult of Havergal Brian lives!
It's almost like GMG, in its origins, began life as a Havergal Brian Appreciation Society forum, but then morphed into GMG.
It is a stranger phenomena than UFOs or The Bermuda Triangle.
On top of this, I assumed for a long time that the thread name was listed as last name first and second name last, thus I thought the name was Brian Havergal.
Quote from: OrchestralNut on September 29, 2021, 09:27:19 AM
On top of this, I assumed for a long time that the thread name was listed as last name first and second name last, thus I thought the name was Brian Havergal.
I actually thought that as well until I heard the Gothic Symphony on the radio!
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on September 25, 2021, 07:44:00 PM
Nielsen
Shostakovich
Beethoven
This was tough, actually, but rather fair as well.
Somewhat similar to my list, which is:
Beethoven
Nielsen
Brahms
(in that order).
Carl Nielsen is doing really well in here... 0:)