I'm not sure what constitutes "top", but this might be a helpful list for beginners.
WCRB's Top 30 Symphonies
99.5 WCRB's Top 30 Symphonies of all-time
Listen as we feature these complete works all weekend on WCRB!
30) Saint-Saens' "Organ" Symphony #3
29) Mozart's "Linz" Symphony #36
28) Haydn's "Clock" Symphony #101
27) Mahler's "Titan" Symphony #1
26) Haydn's "Surprise" Symphony #94
25) Tchaikovsky's Symphony #5
24) Tchaikovsky's "Pathetique" Symphony #6
23) Haydn's "Bear" Symphony #82
22) Schubert's Symphony #6
21) Bizet's Symphony in C
20) Kallinikov's Symphony #1
19) Mozart's "Prague" Symphony #38
18) Dvorak's Symphony #8
17) Brahms' Symphony #4
16) Schubert's Symphony #5
15) Beethoven's "Eroica" Symphony #3
14) Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony #8
13) Mozart's "Jupiter" Symphony #41
12) Beethoven's Symphony #7
11) Mozart's "Paris" Symphony #31
10) Mendelssohn's "Scottish" Symphony #3
9) Beethoven's Symphony #1
8 ) Brahms' Symphony #3
7) Mozart's Symphony #40
6) Beethoven's "Pastoral" Symphony #6
5) Mendelssohn's "Italian" Symphony #4
4) Mozart's Symphony #25
3) Dvorak's "New World" Symphony #9
2) Beethoven's Symphony #5
1) Beethoven's Symphony #9
http://wcrb.com/page.php?page_id=40898 (http://wcrb.com/page.php?page_id=40898)
My heart congratulations to Vasily Kalinnikov! :o :o :o (A pity they spelled his name wrong, but that's impressive!)
My list would be somewhat different however...especially given that Borodin > Kalinnikov and Borodin's Second wasn't placed.
Here is my own terrible, no good, completely arbitrary, utterly silly, crassly populist but considerably different Top 30 Symphonies List. ;D
30) Atterberg's "West Coast Pictures" Symphony #3
29) Shostakovich's Symphony #5
28) Brahms' Symphony #3
27) Mahler's "Titan" Symphony #1
26) Kalliwoda's Symphony #5
25) Sibelius' Symphony #6
24) Dvorak's "New World" Symphony #9
23) Rachmaninov's Symphony #2
22) Beethoven's Symphony #4
21) Tchaikovsky's Symphony #5
20) Borodin's Symphony #2
19) Mozart's "Prague" Symphony #38
18) Shostakovich's Symphony #9
17) Mendelssohn's "Italian" Symphony #4
16) Sibelius' Symphony #7
15) Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony #7 (or #8 depending on whom you ask)
14) Dvorak's Symphony #8
13) Sibelius' Symphony #5
12) Tchaikovsky's "Pathetique" Symphony #6
11) Bruckner's Symphony #7
10) Dvorak's Symphony #7
9) Beethoven's Symphony #7
8 ) Mozart's Symphony #40
7) Shostakovich's Symphony #10
6) Beethoven's "Pastoral" Symphony #6
5) Beethoven's "Eroica" Symphony #3
4) Brahms' Symphony #4
3) Mozart's Symphony #41
2) Beethoven's Symphony #9
1) Beethoven's Symphony #5
You will notice that the number of symphonies on my list which are in exactly the same spot as WCRB put them, is ... 3. ;D (Beethoven 6 at #6, Mozart Prague at #19, Mahler First just to humor our Mahlerians, frankly.)
Quote from: Brian on July 31, 2009, 07:59:43 AM
.... Mahler First just to humor our Mahlerians, frankly.)
... and to p most of them off. #1 - is that really his best? Love the Atterberg! Could spend an age on a top 30 so I won't bother. I'll just enjoy and cringe at everyone elses.
Not bad Brian! Let's see my top 30
Mozart's 38th, 39th, 40th, 41st
Haydn's 100th, 101st, 102nd, 103rd, 104th
Beethoven's 3rd, 4th, 8th
Schubert's 9th
Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique
Brahms 3rd, 4th
Mahler's 4th, 9th
Bruckner's 4th, 7th, 9th
Nielsen's 4th, 5th, 6th
Prokofiev's 5th
Shostakovich's 8th, 10th
Stravinsky's Symphony in C, Symphony for Wind Instruments, Symphony in Three Movements
8)
Quote from: Sef on July 31, 2009, 08:06:02 AM
... and to p most of them off. #1 - is that really his best? Love the Atterberg! Could spend an age on a top 30 so I won't bother. I'll just enjoy and cringe at everyone elses.
Enjoy the cringe
Quote from: DavidW on July 31, 2009, 08:07:51 AM
Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique
Oh my god, I can't believe I forgot that.
Totally embarrassed now :(
Quote from: Brian on July 31, 2009, 08:36:09 AM
Oh my god, I can't believe I forgot that.
Totally embarrassed now :(
I didn't have the heart to tell you but even you, a Janacek fan, doesn't have his Sinfonietta in a top 30 list. :'(
:)
Quote from: Sef on July 31, 2009, 08:18:05 AM
No, I enjoyed yours!
I only cringed at the opener:
Quote from: Szykniej on July 31, 2009, 07:38:38 AM
I'm not sure what constitutes "top", but this might be a helpful list for beginners.
WCRB's Top 30 Symphonies
99.5 WCRB's Top 30 Symphonies of all-time
"Top 30 Symphonies of all-time" = practically the only 30 symphonies WCRB plays
Yay, more lists! Love em. My rather lopsided list of 30 favorites would include:
Haydn 88, 94, 100
Mozart 36, 40, 41
Beethoven 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Schubert 9
Brahms 1 ,2, 3, 4
Dvorak 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Tchaikovsky 6
Mahler 1
Prokofiev 1
Shostakovich 5
Copland 3
Alphabetically, my faves at the moment:
Beethoven 3rd
Beethoven 5th
Beethoven 6th
Beethoven 7th
Beethoven 9th
Berlioz - Symphonie fantastique
Brahms 1st
Bruckner 5th
Bruckner 8th
Bruckner 9th
Dvorak 7th
Dvorak 8th
Haydn 103rd 'Drum Roll'
Mahler 2nd
Mahler 6th
Mahler 9th
Mendelssohn 5th
*Luchesi 40th :D
Prokofiev 4th (original)
Schubert 9th
Schumann 2nd
Schumann 4th
Shostakovich 10th
Sibelius 7th
Stravinsky - S in C
Stravinsky - S of Psalms
Stravinsky - S in 3M
Tchaikovsky - 2nd
Tchaikovsky - 5th
Tchaikovsky - 6th
*Bolded ones are my current Top 10
Quote from: ChamberNut on July 31, 2009, 08:51:00 AM
Alphabetically, my faves at the moment:
Beethoven 3rd
Beethoven 5th
Beethoven 6th
Beethoven 7th
Beethoven 9th
Berlioz - Symphonie fantastique
Brahms 1st
Bruckner 5th
Bruckner 8th
Bruckner 9th
Dvorak 7th
Dvorak 8th
Haydn 103rd 'Drum Roll'
Mahler 2nd
Mahler 6th
Mahler 9th
Mendelssohn 5th
Mozart 40th
Prokofiev 4th (original)
Schubert 9th
Schumann 2nd
Schumann 4th
Shostakovich 10th
Sibelius 7th
Stravinsky - S in C
Stravinsky - S of Psalms
Stravinsky - S in 3M
Tchaikovsky - 2nd
Tchaikovsky - 5th
Tchaikovsky - 6th
*Bolded ones are my current Top 10
Oh shit! I forgot about Vaughan Williams 6th symphony. Inevitably, this happens with these large lists, you end up forgetting one you shouldn't have. :)
Also Berlioz' Harold in Italy (if it is a symphony). 0:)
Quote from: ChamberNut on July 31, 2009, 09:04:10 AM
Also Berlioz' Harold in Italy (if it is a symphony). 0:)
Berlioz himself considered it one 0:)
Quote from: ChamberNut on July 31, 2009, 09:04:10 AM
Oh shit! I forgot about Vaughan Williams 6th symphony. Inevitably, this happens with these large lists, you end up forgetting one you shouldn't have. :)
Also Berlioz' Harold in Italy (if it is a symphony). 0:)
Yeah I like Dvorak, and he's not there. Simpson didn't make it, Mendelssohn didn't make it, so many great DSCH symphonies... nope. notta.
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on July 31, 2009, 09:05:56 AM
Berlioz himself considered it one 0:)
Ok, then indeed it should be in there! 0:)
Quote from: DavidW on July 31, 2009, 08:07:51 AM
Not bad Brian! Let's see my top 30
Mozart's 38th, 39th, 40th, 41st
Haydn's 100th, 101st, 102nd, 103rd, 104th
Beethoven's 3rd, 4th, 8th
Schubert's 9th
Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique
Brahms 3rd, 4th
Mahler's 4th, 9th
Bruckner's 4th, 7th, 9th
Nielsen's 4th, 5th, 6th
Prokofiev's 5th
Shostakovich's 8th, 10th
Stravinsky's Symphony in C, Symphony for Wind Instruments, Symphony in Three Movements
8)
No Sibelius David? :)
Ah, I love Top <n> lists :D
Quote from: Szykniej on July 31, 2009, 07:38:38 AMI'm not sure what constitutes "top", but this might be a helpful list for beginners.
WCRB's Top 30 Symphonies
99.5 WCRB's Top 30 Symphonies of all-time
Listen as we feature these complete works all weekend on WCRB!
Shostakovich is missing (1,5,8,10,15). Even the most obvious candidates are missing: Mahler 6 is missing. Mahler 2 is missing. Beethoven 9 is just No. 1 because of political correctness reasons - except maybe the Adagio. As for Choral Symphonies, Mahler 2 brings much more joy to the world.
=> The list is invalid.EDIT: Wooooot? No Sibelius? OK. The list is invalid to the power of Grahams Number (http://www-users.cs.york.ac.uk/~susan/cyc/g/graham.htm)
Quote from: Wurstwasser on July 31, 2009, 09:11:14 AM
Ah, I love Top <n> lists :D
I do too. They are totally meaningless......but so much fun to compile (for me anyway).
Quote from: ChamberNut on July 31, 2009, 09:08:53 AM
No Sibelius David? :)
<runs away crying> I didn't get my beloved 4th on the list! :'(
That's it we need to write an angry letter to that radio station explaining how absurd and stupid top 30 lists, somebody needs to listen!! ;D
Quote from: DavidW on July 31, 2009, 08:07:51 AM
Not bad Brian! Let's see my top 30
Mozart's Vandal or Luchesi 38th, 39th, 40th, 41st
Haydn's 100th, 101st, 102nd, 103rd, 104th
Beethoven's 3rd, 4th, 8th
Schubert's 9th
Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique
Brahms 3rd, 4th
Mahler's 4th, 9th
Bruckner's 4th, 7th, 9th
Nielsen's 4th, 5th, 6th
Prokofiev's 5th
Shostakovich's 8th, 10th
Stravinsky's Symphony in C, Symphony for Wind Instruments, Symphony in Three Movements
8)
David, I just corrected a minor error on your part. ;D
Quote from: Wurstwasser on July 31, 2009, 09:11:14 AM
Beethoven 9 is just No. 1 because of political correctness reasons
No, in WCRB's case I am sure it is as much laziness as 'political correctness'.
Quote from: ChamberNut on July 31, 2009, 09:16:58 AM
David, I just corrected a minor error on your part. ;D
Hah!(http://smileydesign.net/smileys/cost10.gif)
Quote from: ChamberNut on July 31, 2009, 09:16:58 AMDavid, I just corrected a minor error on your part. ;D
Hehe. Maybe we should also change Bruckner to "Bruckner and critics". But hey AFAIK this does at least not apply on Syms 7 and 9.
Ah Bruckner, the neurotic, insecure Woody Allen of symphonists... oh no wait that's Mahler... :D
Quote from: DavidW on July 31, 2009, 09:14:20 AM
somebody needs to listen!! ;D
Well, yes. That's is exactly. WCRB
is a commercial radio station. Unlike public stations funded by people and corporations who don't necessarily listen to or know anything about what they're supporting, or a college radio station program where only the DJ's girlfriend tunes in (or at least she says she does), WCRB has to have a legitimate audience to survive. If playing these 30 symphonies ensures the viability of a commercial all-classical radio format in this day and age, I have no problem with it. At any rate, it at least provides a fun opportunity to come up with individual Top-30 lists.
An impossible task! But it's impossible not to play! ;D
Today's list:
Beethoven Fourth
Beethoven Seventh
Berlioz Roméo et Juliette
Berlioz Harold en Italie
Brahms Third
Dvořák Seventh
Mozart 39th
Nielsen Sinfonia espansiva
Nielsen Det uudslukkelige
Nielsen Fifth
Prokofiev Fifth
Prokofiev Sixth
Prokofiev Seventh
Shostakovich Fourth
Shostakovich Sixth
Shostakovich Eighth
Shostakovich Tenth
Shostakovich Fourteenth
Sibelius Third
Sibelius Fourth
Sibelius Fifth
Sibelius Sixth
Sibelius Seventh
Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms
Stravinsky Symphony in Three Mvts
Tchaikovsky Second
Tchaikovsky Fourth
Tchaikovsky Fifth
Vaughan Williams Fifth
Vaughan Williams Sixth
Quote from: Szykniej on July 31, 2009, 09:39:46 AM
Well, yes. That's is exactly. WCRB is a commercial radio station. Unlike public stations funded by people and corporations who don't necessarily listen to or know anything about what they're supporting, or a college radio station program where only the DJ's girlfriend tunes in (or at least she says she does), WCRB has to have a legitimate audience to survive. If playing these 30 symphonies ensures the viability of a commercial all-classical radio format in this day and age, I have no problem with it. At any rate, it at least provides a fun opportunity to come up with individual Top-30 lists.
Are the symphonies at least played in their entirety? :)
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on July 31, 2009, 09:05:56 AM
Berlioz himself considered it one 0:)
Yeah, but he was wrong 0:)
Quote from: ChamberNut on July 31, 2009, 09:55:29 AM
Are the symphonies at least played in their entirety? :)
Only this weekend :-[
Quote from: Szykniej on July 31, 2009, 09:58:33 AM
Only this weekend :-[
Playing them in their entirety isn't viable, as a normal thing ;) :o 0:) 8)
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on July 31, 2009, 10:02:33 AM
Playing them in their entirety isn't viable, as a normal thing ;) :o 0:) 8)
It could be - they could put commercials between each movement.
Why wait until the movement is over?
Quote from: DavidW on July 31, 2009, 08:40:21 AM
I didn't have the heart to tell you but even you, a Janacek fan, doesn't have his Sinfonietta in a top 30 list. :'(
:)
I actually thought about it, but you know what? It's a
sinfonietta ;D
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on July 31, 2009, 10:11:12 AM
Why wait until the movement is over?
That could be an interesting thread - Ideal places in a symphony for a radio station to insert a commercial. :)
Quote from: DavidW on July 31, 2009, 09:28:25 AM
Ah Bruckner, the neurotic, insecure Woody Allen of symphonists... oh no wait that's Mahler... :D
Yeah, Bruckner was more like the Wilford Brimley of symphonists. :D
Quote from: Brian on July 31, 2009, 10:12:28 AM
I actually thought about it, but you know what? It's a sinfonietta ;D
We'll wait a while before WCRB has a
Top Ten Sinfoniettas list!
Quote from: Sef on July 31, 2009, 10:13:44 AM
That could be an interesting thread - Ideal places in a symphony for a radio station to insert a commercial. :)
Well, we can hear that the composer has written a rest there before taking up the secondary theme of the exposiition, so let's go to this announcement from The Gables at Winchester.
Quote from: Sef on July 31, 2009, 10:13:44 AM
That could be an interesting thread - Ideal places in a symphony for a radio station to insert a commercial. :)
At any pianissimo.
Quote from: Szykniej on July 31, 2009, 10:47:23 AM
At any pianissimo.
:o Oh, you're awful, Szykniej!! ;D
But I'm surprised no one has asked what "top" really means by the station's definition...
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on July 31, 2009, 10:15:03 AM
Well, we can hear that the composer has written a rest there before taking up the secondary theme of the exposiition, so let's go to this announcement from The Gables at Winchester.
Lol - Well we've quite clearly arrived at the recapitulation, so you get the idea. We'll rejoin the program after a short commercial break.....
What a bizarre and useless list...but what else would one expect from a radio station whose listeners (likely) think that Beethoven's 5th is a pretty song.
The lack of Sibelius immediately invalidates the list for me, as I believe him to be the greatest symphonists of the 20th century. Yet Saint-Saens's Organ Symphony is included, albeit at number 30? Please...Sibelius's weakest tone poems (if there is such a thing!) are probably greater than ANYTHING in Saint-Saens, that Organ Symphony included.
Quote from: Sef on July 31, 2009, 12:04:54 PM
Lol - Well we've quite clearly arrived at the recapitulation, so you get the idea. We'll rejoin the program after a short commercial break.....
The DJ wouldn't be that knowledgeable. It would be like, "Well, we're sort of in the middle, at the quiet bit, so we'll take the opportunity to pause for station identification!"
Quote from: Szykniej on July 31, 2009, 07:38:38 AM
WCRB's Top 30 Symphonies
99.5 WCRB's Top 30 Symphonies of all-time
Listen as we feature these complete works all weekend on WCRB!
Why on Earth is Mahler's 1st there and not his 6th, or 2nd, or 5th, or etc.? Why Dvořák's 8th and 9th and not the 7th? WTF this is messed up! :P
Quote from: tanuki on July 31, 2009, 06:15:31 PM
Why on Earth is Mahler's 1st there and not his 6th, or 2nd, or 5th, or etc.? Why Dvořák's 8th and 9th and not the 7th? WTF this is messed up! :P
"This is messed up!" Yes, indeed.
Mahler and Sibelius get the shaft, while a lesser genius like Mendelssohn gets to stand among the best? This list is moronic.
Quote from: Josquin des Prez on August 19, 2009, 06:57:42 PM
Mahler and Sibelius get the shaft, while a lesser genius like Mendelssohn gets to stand among the best? This list is moronic.
Agreed, agreed, agreed.
Haydn 45, 94, 101, 102
Mozart 25
Beethoven 5,7
Schubert 4,5
Schumann 1,4
Brahms 1,4
Bruckner 4,8
Mahler 5,4,9,Das Lied von der Erde
Prokofiev 3, 6
Shostakovich 5,6,8
Borodin 2
Tchaikovsky 1
Scriabin 3
Rachmaninov 3
Sibelius 5,6,7
Stravinsky Symphony in Three Movements
Honegger 2, 3, 5
Messiaen Turangalila
Vaughan Williams 2, 5
Liszt Dante Symphony
Roussel 1
Villa-Lobos 1
Schnittke 3, 5
Lutoslawski 3
Glazunov 5
Miaskovsky 5, 16, 27
Nielsen 3,5
Dvorak 9
Kalinnikov 1
******************
Bartok Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta
Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade:)
I had to take a stab at this, to see if I actually knew 30 symphonies.
Here goes:
Beethoven - 9, 5, 6, 3, 7, 4, 8, 1
Brahms - 4, 3
Bruckner - 9, 4, 7
Dvorak - 7, 8, 5, 9
Mozart - 40, 41, 35
Prokofiev - 1
Shostakovich - 5
Sibelius - 6, 7, 4, 5, 2
Tchaikovsky - 6, 2
Vaughan Williams - 6
Whew!! Made it. 8)
Nice lists everyone - such a lot ive never heard :(
Think everybody gets cross about lists because everybody have their favourites and are furious if not there....
Heres mine in no particular preference ;D
Honegger 3
Dvorak 9
Berlioz Harold in Italy
Bruckner 7 9
Vaughan Williams 3 4 5 6
Liszt Dante Symphony
Bax 3 6
Sibelius 4 6
Mahler 4 6 7 9
Scriabin 2 Poem of ecstasy
Shostakovich 4 5 7 8 10
Schubert 9
Schumann 2 3
Haydn 100 101
Mozart 39
Prokofiev 5 6
Moeran Symphony
Suk Asrael
Messiaen Turangalia
Brahms 3 4
Rachmaninov 2 3
Elgar 1
Must be more but cant think (sorry over 30 :)
What's heartening is that there are so many great symphonies they wouldn't fit on a list of 30. I mean, you cold fill all of the slots with Haydn's best work alone.
If it weren't for decimal arithmetic, none of these lists would stand a chance.
just random order
1. Brahms 4
2. Franck
3. Schubert big C-Major
4. Schumann 2nd
5. Sibelius 2nd
6. Rachmaninov 2nd
7. Bruckner 7
8. Sibelius 1
9. Lutoslawski 1
10. Tschaokowsky 6
11. Tschaikowsky 5
12. Grieg
13. Schumann 1
14. Beethoven 7
15. Schubert 5
16. Szymanowski 1
17. Sibelius 5
18. Bruckner 6
19. Rachmaninov 1
20. Madetoja 2
22. Sibelius 3
23. Beethoven 9
24. Mozart 40
25. Wagner C-major
27. Mendelssohn italian
28. Szymanowski 2nd
29. Sibelius 7
30. Mahler 9
Bruckner Symphony 9
Bruckner Symphony 8
Schubert Unfinished Symphony
Beethoven Symphony 7
Mahler Symphony 9
Vaughan Williams Symphony 6
Moeran Symphony
Elgar Symphony 1
Bax Symphony 3
Lilburn Symphony 1
Sibelius Symphony 4
Honegger Liturgique Symphony
Walton Symphony 1
Rosenberg Symphony 3
Bate Symphony 3
Braga Santos Symphony 4
Martinu Symphony 4
Holmboe Symphony 8
Havergal Brian Symphony 8
Rubbra Symphony 5
Copland Symphony 3
Suk Asrael
Bernstein Jeremiah
Arnell Symphony 3
Shostakovich Symphony 4
Prokofiev Symphony 6
Miaskovsky Symphony 6
Hurum Symphony
Popov Symphony 1
Alwyn Symphony 2
the delivery of great rewards, they give me many emotions
Thanks everyone ;D
I just couldn't limit myself to 30. I came up with 67, which is my age, and therefore seems appropriate. Here they are, not in order of preference but in approximate chronological order--
Haydn 6, 7, 8 (the times of day symphonies), 45, 72, 88, 92, 93, 94, 100, 101, 102.
Mozart 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41.
Beethoven 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
Schubert 4, 5, 6, 8, 9.
Mendelssohn 3, 4, 5.
Schumann 3.
Brahms 1, 4.
Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique.
Franck D Minor Symphony.
Dvorak 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
Sibelius 1, 2, 5.
Mahler 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9.
Bruckner 4.
Tchaikovsky 4, 5, 6.
Prokofiev 1, 5.
Shostakovich 5, 7, 9, 15.
Ives 4.
Should I read it all again?
no one mentioned Bruckner's 5?
how come nobody noticed it's an immense masterpiece?
A year on from my own personal "list" of the top 30 symphonies, my views have changed somewhat. Here would be my new attempt at a list, with revisions as indicated.
Quote from: Brian on July 31, 2009, 07:59:43 AM
Here is my own terrible, no good, completely arbitrary, utterly silly, crassly populist but considerably different Top 30 Symphonies List. ;D
30) Atterberg's "West Coast Pictures" Symphony #3 Shostakovich's Symphony #6 NEW
29) Shostakovich's Symphony #5 Borodin's Symphony #2 -9
28) Brahms' Symphony #3
27) Mahler's "Titan" Symphony #1 Dvorak's Symphony #9 -3
26) Kalliwoda's Symphony #5 Atterberg's Symphony #8 NEW
25) Sibelius' Symphony #6 Schubert's Symphony #7/8 "Unfinished" -10
24) Dvorak's "New World" Symphony #9 Shostakovich's Symphony #9 -6
23) Rachmaninov's Symphony #2
22) Beethoven's Symphony #4 Mozart's Symphony #39 NEW
21) Tchaikovsky's Symphony #5 Berlioz' Symphonie fantastique NEW
20) Borodin's Symphony #2 Sibelius' Symphony #6 +5
19) Mozart's "Prague" Symphony #38 Beethoven's Symphony #4 +3
18) Shostakovich's Symphony #9 Tchaikovsky's Symphony #5 +3
17) Mendelssohn's "Italian" Symphony #4 Shostakovich's Symphony #5 +12
16) Sibelius' Symphony #7 Mozart's Symphony #38 +3
15) Schubert's "Unfinished" Symphony #7 (or #8 depending on whom you ask) Tchaikovsky's Symphony #6 -3
14) Dvorak's Symphony #8 Dvorak's Symphony #7 -4
13) Sibelius' Symphony #5
12) Tchaikovsky's "Pathetique" Symphony #6 Beethoven's Symphony #6 -6
11) Bruckner's Symphony #7
10) Dvorak's Symphony #7 Sibelius' Symphony #7 +6
9) Beethoven's Symphony #7
8 ) Mozart's Symphony #40
7) Shostakovich's Symphony #10 Dvorak's Symphony #8 +7
6) Beethoven's "Pastoral" Symphony #6 Shostakovich's Symphony #10 +1
5) Beethoven's "Eroica" Symphony #3
4) Brahms' Symphony #4
3) Mozart's Symphony #41
2) Beethoven's Symphony #9
1) Beethoven's Symphony #5
Symphonies on the old list which no longer appear on the new one: Atterberg's Third, Kalliwoda's Fifth, Mendelssohn's Fourth, Mahler's First. The Kalliwoda was the hardest to cut, actually. I cut the Mahler because I decided to stop pretending like I know anything about Mahler, which I don't (also, Haydn). One big loser I regret is Shosty's Ninth, which I love to pieces but which I realized probably doesn't slot ahead of Berlioz or Beethoven IV. The big winners in the 11 months which have passed since then are clearly Dvorak's Eighth and Shostakovich's Fifth - which is fitting, since I've spent much of the year finding newer and deeper ways to appreciate them.
With four entrants in the top 15, the number seven is still "the greatest" number for a symphony.
Quote from: quintett op.57 on June 14, 2010, 12:05:01 AM
Should I read it all again?
no one mentioned Bruckner's 5?
how come nobody noticed it's an immense masterpiece?
I was about to enter it too. There is no symphony I enjoy more, but some others I value as highly.
Mike
Quote from: quintett op.57 on June 14, 2010, 12:05:01 AM
no one mentioned Bruckner's 5?
how come nobody noticed it's an immense masterpiece?
I mentioned it in my listing of favorites on page 1. :)
Well, sorry about forgetting that. Anyway, it is so good it needs an individual mention or so.
Mike
Quote from: knight on June 29, 2010, 10:19:15 AM
Well, sorry about forgetting that. Anyway, it is so good it needs an individual mention or so.
Mike
You are correct, Mike.
I'll mention it again.
Bruckner 5 :)
Take any 9 by Beethoven, add 10 by Mahler (incl DLVDE) plus 7 by Sibelius and nos. 38-41 by Mozart and you've got 30 of the best. ;D
No Bruckner in the bunch. Extreme tragedy!!! :o
Quote from: King Karajan on August 31, 2010, 02:05:54 PM
No Bruckner in the bunch. Extreme tragedy!!! :o
It's top 30, not top 50--but arguably we could drop Beethoven 1 & 2 making room for Bruckner 7 & 9--unless Brahms or Dvořák or Prokofiev get there first!
In no particular order except alphabetical:
Beethoven - 5, 7 and 9.
Berlioz - Sym. Fantastique.
Bruckner - 5 thru 9.
Copland - 3.
Dvorak - 9.
Franck - Sym. in D minor.
Mahler - 1 thru 9.
Prokofiev - 5.
Shostakovich - 8, 10 and 15.
Sibelius - 5 thru 7.
Vaughan Williams -4, 9.
Don! All of Mahler's — but only one of Dvořák's??
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on September 01, 2010, 09:51:44 AM
Don! All of Mahler's — but only one of Dvořák's??
His taste parallels mine in that regard, except that I would add Dvořák 7. :)
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on September 01, 2010, 09:51:44 AM
Don! All of Mahler's — but only one of Dvořák's??
Actually, I'd put Dvorak's 9th near the bottom of my top 30 symphonies. I much prefer his chamber music - he's in my top 5 for chamber compositions along with Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms and Shostakovich (hate to leave Taneyev off the list).
I do believe I could replace a few of these with Bruckner's 8th. Not having the 8th in here is just crazy! >:(
Quote from: King Karajan on September 02, 2010, 06:17:38 AM
I do believe I could replace a few of these with Bruckner's 8th. Not having the 8th in here is just crazy! >:(
I agree! Bruckner's 8th is my all time favorite symphony (today, at least). :)
Quote from: ChamberNut on September 02, 2010, 08:17:04 AM
I agree! Bruckner's 8th is my all time favorite symphony (today, at least). :)
Hmmm...guess I'd best give it another hearing.
Quote from: DavidRoss on September 02, 2010, 09:14:40 AM
Hmmm...guess I'd best give it another hearing.
I always suggest giving the 8th a good honest 90 minute listen. At the end it's extremely rewarding given the right recording. I'd suggest Giullini VPO early 80's, Wand's last with the BPO or Furtwangler (best 3rd movement hands down!).
Another advocate for the 8th here. As good as the 7th is, it is Schubertian in its balance towards the first two movements - the latter two are something of a letdown. The 8th is just freakishly wonderful throughout. Unusually for Bruckner, if anything the first movement may be the least interesting. But that is only relative, given how wonderful it is...
Edit: How could I say that about one of his most concise, yet dramatic and atmospheric movements. Grr.
Beethoven 7
Schumann 2
Berlioz Fantastique
Berwald 3
Brahms 4
Dvorak 8
Bruckner 9
Mahler 9
Schmidt 4
Saint-Saëns 3
Tchaikovsky 6
Rachmaninoff 2
Scriabin 2
Sibelius 2
Atterberg 3
Nielsen 5
Elgar 2
RVW 6
Arnold 5
Prokofiev 5
Shostakovich 10
Copland 3
Barber 1
Bernstein 1
Hanson 2
Korngold F-sharp
Braga Santos 4
Tubin 2
Honegger 3
Casella 3
A jumbled-together list. Other symphonies could go in on other days, but limited to 30, here goes:
Beethoven 5, 7, 9
Mahler 2, 3, 6, 8
Tchaikovsky 1, 3, 5, Manfred
Szymanowski 3
Elgar 2
Bax 4, 6
Arnold 4, 5
Brian 1, 2, 9, 10
Lloyd 12
Walton 1
Vaughan Williams 1, 2, 7
Villa-Lobos 4
Penderecki 2, 7
Corigliano
My absolute favorite musical form. It is going to be hard:
One per composer, in no particular order
Beethoven 7
Brahms 4
Nielsen 5
Dvorák 8
Tchaikovsky 5
Shostakovich 11
Prokofiev 5
Sibelius 5
Langgaard 6
Martinu 3
Glière 3
Bruckner 8
Mahler 6
Rimsky-Korsakov 2 Antar
Atterberg 8
Braga Santos 4
Tubin 2
Bantock A Celtic Symphony
Stenhammar 2
Miaskovsky 17
Vaughan Williams 2
Madetoja 2
Walton 1
Khachaturian 2
Holmboe 8
Peterson-Berger 3
Elgar 2
Raid 1
Casella 2
Hanson 2
Strangely, apart from Mahler's 9th, Webern's Symphony and possibly Messiaen's Turangalila; I can't think of any other symphonies that have any extensive personal importance to me. Which is quite the contrary to regular non-symphony orchestra works (and concerti) ???
These are the ones that are coming to mind now either as works that I like in the present moment, [or that I can remember having once liked a lot and probably will come back to again]. I know this isn't exactly 30 but it's close hopefully
Johannes Chrysostomos Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart - Symphonies 36, 38, 39, [41]
Bernd Alois Zimmermann - Sinfonie in einem Satz
[Bohuslav Martinů - Symphonies 1, 3, 6]
Charles Ives - Symphony 4
Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphonies 3, 5, 7, [8, 9]
[Arnold Schoenberg - Kammersymphonie 1]
Anton Webern - Symphony
Hans Werner Henze - Symphony 10
Hector Berlioz - Roméo et Juliette
[Henri Dutilleux - Symphony 2]
Jean Sibelius - Symphony 6
[Johannes Brahms - Symphony 3]
Karl Amadeus Hartmann - Symphonies 4, [8]
[Karol Szymanowski - Symphony 4]
Mieczysław Weinberg - Chamber Symphonies 3, 4
Joseph Haydn - Symphonies 44, 46, 49, [84, 102]
Poul Ruders - Symphony 2
Witold Lutosławski - Symphonies 2, [3]
Arthur Honegger - Symphony 5
[Antonín Dvořák - Symphonies 5, 6, 7]
In order at the moment:
1. Beethoven no.5
2. Haydn no.49
3. Ruders
4. Zimmermann
5. Hartmann no.4
6. Honegger
7. the remainder
Gee, that's tough. At least, one work per composer allows for diversity, but it's kind of walking through the House of Mirrors.
Alfven 2
Atterberg 5
Beethoven 3
Brahms 4
Bruckner 8
Dvorak 6
Elgar 1
Franck
Haydn 82
Honegger 3
Kancheli 6
Magnard 3
Mahler 9
Mozart 39
Miaskovsky 6
Popov 1
Prokofiev 5
Rachmaninoff 2
Raid 1
Sauguet 4
Schubert 9
Schumann 4
Shostakovich 15
Silvestrov 5
Sibelius 1
Stravinsky, Symphony in 3 movements
Strauss, Alpine Symphony
Suk, Asrael symphony
Szymanowski 2
Tchaikovsky 6
Tournemire 5
Vainberg 5
Vaughan-Williams 1
Roughly chronologically with a "beginner" in mind:
Haydn 31,49,104
Mozart 38,40,41
Beethoven 3,5,6,9
Schubert Great C major
Berlioz Fantastique
Schumann 4th
Brahms 3,4
Bruckner 5,7
Tchaikovsky 6
Borodin 2
Franck
Dvorak 8
Mahler 2,9
Janacek Sinfonietta
Sibelius 4
Ives 4
Schoenberg 1st Chamber
Stravinsky in Three Movements
Shostakovich 8
Quote from: amw on December 06, 2017, 01:43:03 AM
Johannes Chrysostomos Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart - Symphonies 36, 38, 39, [41]
If you go by that, then please be consistent! :laugh:
Quote
Bernd Alois Zimmermann - Sinfonie in einem Satz
[Bohuslav Jan Martinů - Symphonies 1, 3, 6]
Charles Edward Ives - Symphony 4
Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphonies 3, 5, 7, [8, 9]
[Arnold Franz Walter Schoenberg - Kammersymphonie 1]
Anton Friedrich Wilhelm von Webern - Symphony
Hans Werner Henze - Symphony 10
Louis-Hector Berlioz - Roméo et Juliette
[Henri Dutilleux - Symphony 2]
Johann Julius Christian Sibelius - Symphony 6
[Johannes Brahms - Symphony 3]
Karl Amadeus Hartmann - Symphonies 4, [8]
[Karol Maciej Szymanowski - Symphony 4]
Mieczysław Weinberg - Chamber Symphonies 3, 4
Franz Joseph Haydn - Symphonies 44, 46, 49, [84, 102]
Poul Ruders - Symphony 2
Witold Roman Lutosławski - Symphonies 2, [3]
Oscar-Arthur Honegger - Symphony 5
[Antonín Leopold Dvořák - Symphonies 5, 6, 7]
FTFY. ;D
Let me try my hand at this...(in no particular order of course):
Vaughan Williams: 3-6, 8
Shostakovich: 4-8, 10, 11
Sibelius: 4, 6, 7
Nielsen: 3-6
Mahler: 3, 6, 9
Bruckner: 6, 9
Martinů: 3, 4
Elgar: 2
Ives: Holidays, 4
Szymanowski: 4
I think I might be able to keep it to 100 if I really tried, but 30? No. Just off the top of my head:
About 3-4 Haydn Symphonies before No. 82, then all of them from 82-104 (preferably the Sigiswald Kuijken recordings) + the Sinfonia Concertante in B Flat.
The last 6 Mozart Symphonies.
The last 7 Beethoven Symphonies.
The 8 Schubert Symphonies.
Berlioz Symphonie fantastique.
Bizet Symphony n C.
The last 3 Mendelssohn Symphonies.
The 4 Schumann Symphonies.
The 4 Brahms Symphonies.
The last 5 Dvorak Symphonies.
The last 3 Tchaikovsky Symphonies.
The Franck Symphony.
the 9 Mahler Symphonies.
The 7 Sibelius Symphonies.
Prokofiev Symphonies 1 and 4-7.
All 15 Shostakovich Symphonies.