Is there a Thread?
If not, what then of the Symphony No.1?
This idea comes, gazing over sets of Lutoslawski and Henze. I really like the youthful vigor and awkward moments in the Henze: I do especially like to hear the youthful follies in pieces like this, the chuckling moments. I had the Lutoslawski out, but haven't re-listened yet. I also find the BA Zimmermann Symphonie in einem satz to be kind of gawky.
There are Stravinsky and Prokofiev, Honegger,... oh, so many that my mind draws a blank. I want to say, however, that certain people, such as Malipiero and Milhaud, didn't start writing Symphonies until their general maturity, so, the youthful 'oops!' moments are lacking. Everyone from Brahms, to Denisov, fits in this category.
What I'm looking for are those 1sts that may be separated from the rest of the Cycle, or just youthful indiscretions, or whatever have you. Pieces that were later revised will most definitely be in the plan. Technically, Prokofiev fits in here simply for the novelty of his vision, which, in my opinion, is an audaciously youthful construct.
Indiscretions, slaps in the face, whatever have you,... I'm wondering if we should include the burned also? Many 1sts never made it out of the oven.
I'm lifting up the Henze as a charming little piece. Who do you like?
Shostakovich 1.
Mozart 1 :D
Cato will fully agree with me: The greatest 1st symphony of all time is: Dvorak's 1st. Right, Cato? ;D ;)
Quote from: ChamberNut on October 03, 2011, 12:00:03 PM
Cato will fully agree with me: The greatest 1st symphony of all time is: Dvorak's 1st. Right, Cato? ;D ;)
I like that choice! ;)
Just listened to Lutoslawski's, and, mm, it was alright,... a little too accomplished for my tastes, haha,... listening again to Henze (verrry angsty)
Beethoven, Mahler and Rachmaninov No.1 :)
Ilaria
Quote from: Lisztianwagner on October 03, 2011, 12:53:01 PM
Beethoven, Mahler and Rachmaninov No.1 :)
Ilaria
Mahler's was used in the film
The Gambler, with James Caan, no? That minor third 'ticking' sound?
Bruckner Symphony #-2
Or was it #00?
Quote from: springrite on October 03, 2011, 06:45:33 PM
Bruckner Symphony #-2
Or was it #00?
haha ;)
Either Dundonnel or Vandermolen haven't checked in, or there aren't too many of these things,... huh? ??? Whaaat?? :o
Quote from: ChamberNut on October 03, 2011, 12:00:03 PM
Cato will fully agree with me: The greatest 1st symphony of all time is: Dvorak's 1st. Right, Cato? ;D ;)
I may come close to agreeing myself, I was very impressed with my first listen of Dvorak's 1st, found it to be quite ambitious for a first symphony.
Haydn's No.1 is just lovely, with a very memorable opening.
Really agree on the Henze 1st, probablty my most-listened-to Henze work.
Holmboe´s 1st for chamber orchestra is really really delightful, some naively rustic, dancing and percussive effects. Gade´s 1st is also one of his best and most engaged works, lots of dedicated romanticism there. Sending his less attractive personality to Pluto, Khrennikov´s 1st is also quite catchy piece, and Moyzes´ 1st contains some of his more memorable melodies, to mention some ...
Would Roussel fit here? He started late, after all.
Mahler 1 - youthful, and so positive. However about half way through the first movement there's that moment with a deep bass pedal note and quiet thuds on the bass drum which hint at the gloom and doom that would be a major theme for Mahler in the symphonies to come.
Other good, youthful No.1's: Rachmaninov - I like this so much more than the popular No.2; Sibelius - inspired beauty with lovely harp writing in the last movement; Prokofiev - it's just a bit of fun really; Khachaturian - neglected, but a terrific piece which deserves to be heard.
Forgot to mention - Schnittke! ;D
My choice, Schumann's First Symphony.
Mahler 1 and Shostakovich 1 are both supremely accomplaished and don't seem to fit the thread theme at all.
I love Ives 1, which was his graduation piece, already very ambitious and boundary pushing, though obviously strongly Dvorakian and far from the mastery of his maturity. It's a beaut.
Wagner's symphony in C comes to mind.
Vermeulen first symphony - love it :)
Langguaard's first is a very interest case. It is by far his longest symphony. You may not say that his later symphonies are necessarily more mature, or that he had yet found his voice in #1. But it seems that he tried to put everything he could think of and every trick he knew into his first symphony. Such is the enthusiasm, athleticism and follies of youth! But even with all its faults, what a wonderful thing it turned out to be!
Quote from: springrite on October 05, 2011, 11:32:02 AM
Langguaard's first is a very interest case. It is by far his longest symphony. You may not say that his later symphonies are necessarily more mature, or that he had yet found his voice in #1. But it seems that he tried to put everything he could think of and every trick he knew into his first symphony. Such is the enthusiasm, athleticism and follies of youth! But even with all its faults, what a wonderful thing it turned out to be!
That sounds exactly like what I'm talking about. These things tend to be sprawling. They do put all their ideas into it, and it ends up being lovable.
Quote from: springrite on October 05, 2011, 11:32:02 AM
Langguaard's first is a very interest case. It is by far his longest symphony. You may not say that his later symphonies are necessarily more mature, or that he had yet found his voice in #1. But it seems that he tried to put everything he could think of and every trick he knew into his first symphony. Such is the enthusiasm, athleticism and follies of youth! But even with all its faults, what a wonderful thing it turned out to be!
Langgaard was 16 years old when he composed his
Symphony No. 1, which, to me, is truly remarkable. I remember when I first heard this work, I couldn't believe how mature the composition actually is. Does it have
everything but the kitchen sink in it? Absolutely, but this is apart of its appeal. For such a youthful work, it signaled that there's a brilliant mind at work here. Unfortunately, the work didn't garner all that much recognition. It was premiered by the Berlin Philharmonic, but while it had an enthusiastic response, when the symphony was played at home in Copenhagen, the Danish audience weren't thrilled at all. This began a slow decline into obscurity. Langgaard never fully recovered and his nemesis, Carl Nielsen, was hailed as Denmark's greatest composer.
Quote from: Lisztianwagner on October 03, 2011, 12:53:01 PM
Beethoven, Mahler and Rachmaninov No.1 :)
Ilaria
Both R. Strauss' No.1 and Wagner's Symphony in C major are remarkable as well.
Mahler 1, Sibelius 1, Ives 1, Prokofiev 1.
Glazunov's 1st was composed at 16. I listened to it just a couple times years ago so it's a vague memory, but I liked it. I should listen it again.
I love Tishchenko's 1st, which is a rather youthful work at 22. It's a lot of fun.
http://www.youtube.com/v/Eozz2g5emIg
Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 1 :)