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The Music Room => General Classical Music Discussion => The Polling Station => Topic started by: vandermolen on June 07, 2015, 04:48:08 AM

Title: Five favourite French 20th Century symphonies.
Post by: vandermolen on June 07, 2015, 04:48:08 AM
Tournemire: Symphony 3 'Moscow'
Sauguet: Symphony 1 'Expiatoire'
Magnard: Symphony 4
Sauguet: Symphony 3 'I.N.R.'
Damase: Symphony

PS Honegger is Swiss by the way.  8)
Title: Re: Five favourite French 20th Century symphonies.
Post by: ZauberdrachenNr.7 on June 07, 2015, 05:42:42 AM
Isn't it interesting that France's most celebrated 20th CENTURY COMPOSERS shunned the symphony?...though not, of course, symphonic works.  Haven't heard a single Bacri or Bozza symphony, or your Damase, for that matter, and would like to.

Dutilleux #2
Françaix
Magnard #4
Messiaen Turangalîla
Roussel #3

Tentative list, this, je vais y réfléchir encore un peu.
Title: Re: Five favourite French 20th Century symphonies.
Post by: Sergeant Rock on June 07, 2015, 06:24:15 AM
Koechlin Seven Stars Symphony
Tournemire Symphony No.5 F minor
Magnard Symphony No.3 B flat
Magnard Symphony No.4 C sharp minor
Debussy La Mer (he called it three symphonic sketches, but we know better  ;) )


Sarge
Title: Re: Five favourite French 20th Century symphonies.
Post by: vandermolen on June 07, 2015, 07:55:21 AM
Quote from: ZauberdrachenNr.7 on June 07, 2015, 05:42:42 AM
Isn't it interesting that France's most celebrated 20th CENTURY COMPOSERS shunned the symphony?...though not, of course, symphonic works.  Haven't heard a single Bacri or Bozza symphony, or your Damase, for that matter, and would like to.

Dutilleux #2
Françaix
Magnard #4
Messiaen Turangalîla
Roussel #3

Tentative list, this, je vais y réfléchir encore un peu.

Yes, it is interesting. I like Francaix but didn't know he wrote a symphony. The Damase is a fine work which I'd strongly recommend, I think that you would like it in view of your other choices. I also like the last two Roussel symphonies and like the Dutilleux works which I have heard.

Title: Re: Five favourite French 20th Century symphonies.
Post by: vandermolen on June 07, 2015, 07:57:29 AM
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on June 07, 2015, 06:24:15 AM
Koechlin Seven Stars Symphony
Tournemire Symphony No.5 F minor
Magnard Symphony No.3 B flat
Magnard Symphony No.4 C sharp minor
Debussy La Mer (he called it three symphonic sketches, but we know better  ;) )


Sarge
Must listen again to the Tournemire's, which I have in my collection. I don't know the Koechlin work but think that he was a very fine composer from the works that I have heard such as 'Persian Hours' in its piano and orchestral versions. Maynard No.3 is also very fine.
Title: Re: Five favourite French 20th Century symphonies.
Post by: Sergeant Rock on June 07, 2015, 08:58:49 AM
Quote from: vandermolen on June 07, 2015, 07:57:29 AM
Must listen again to the Tournemire's, which I have in my collection.

And I have to re-listen to No. 3 (and the others...it's been awhile).

SArge
Title: Re: Five favourite French 20th Century symphonies.
Post by: vandermolen on June 07, 2015, 10:06:44 AM
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on June 07, 2015, 08:58:49 AM
And I have to re-listen to No. 3 (and the others...it's been awhile).

SArge

It's terrific Sarge - currently my most listened to symphony.

Jeffrey
Title: Re: Five favourite French 20th Century symphonies.
Post by: springrite on June 07, 2015, 10:11:40 AM
Dutilleux 2
Sauguet 1
Sauguet 2
Roussel 3
Magnard 4
Title: Re: Five favourite French 20th Century symphonies.
Post by: Christo on June 07, 2015, 10:43:13 AM
Don't know that many modern French symphonies, for reasons already suggested (Debussy, Ravel, Pierné, Poulenc didn't write any, to mention a few favourite composers). And don't know Sauguet's four symphonies yet (though I guess I should). My handful:

Magnard 4
Tournemire 7 'Les Danses de la Vie'
Roussel 3
Schmitt 2
Dutilleux 2 'Double'

Title: Re: Five favourite French 20th Century symphonies.
Post by: Mr Bloom on June 07, 2015, 11:13:37 PM
Schmitt : Symphonie concertante
Ferroud : Symphonie en la
Koechlin : Symphonie n°2
Roussel : Symphonie n°3
Gaubert : Symphonie en fa
Title: Re: Five favourite French 20th Century symphonies.
Post by: EigenUser on June 08, 2015, 01:55:52 AM
Messiaen Turangasaurus
Debussy La Mer
?
?
?

I still need to hear the Franck! I also remember really liking Dutilleux 1, but it has been over a year since I heard it.
Title: Re: Five favourite French 20th Century symphonies.
Post by: Drasko on June 08, 2015, 02:49:45 AM
Dutilleux 1 & 2
Roussel 3 & 4
Ropartz 2
Title: Re: Five favourite French 20th Century symphonies.
Post by: Mr Bloom on June 08, 2015, 04:50:27 AM
Quote from: EigenUser on June 08, 2015, 01:55:52 AM
I still need to hear the Franck! I also remember really liking Dutilleux 1, but it has been over a year since I heard it.
Franck's symphony is from 1888.
Title: Re: Five favourite French 20th Century symphonies.
Post by: Dax on June 08, 2015, 04:58:57 AM
And he's Belgian, isn't he?

Milhaud - Chamber Symphony no 3
Ibert - Symphonie Marine
Henry/Schaeffer - Symphonie pour un homme seul
?
?
Title: Re: Five favourite French 20th Century symphonies.
Post by: vandermolen on June 08, 2015, 08:01:35 AM
Quote from: springrite on June 07, 2015, 10:11:40 AM
Dutilleux 2
Sauguet 1
Sauguet 2
Roussel 3
Magnard 4

Great list. The Sauguet Symphony 2 has some lovely moments. The 'Expiatoire' remains my favourite but I have really been getting into No. 3 recently, especially the opening two movements.
Title: Re: Five favourite French 20th Century symphonies.
Post by: vandermolen on June 08, 2015, 08:03:05 AM
Quote from: Christo on June 07, 2015, 10:43:13 AM
Don't know that many modern French symphonies, for reasons already suggested (Debussy, Ravel, Pierné, Poulenc didn't write any, to mention a few favourite composers). And don't know Sauguet's four symphonies yet (though I guess I should). My handful:

Magnard 4
Tournemire 7 'Les Danses de la Vie'
Roussel 3
Schmitt 2
Dutilleux 2 'Double'

The Tournemire is on my new CD with Symphony 3, so really looking forward to hearing that.
Title: Re: Five favourite French 20th Century symphonies.
Post by: Ken B on June 08, 2015, 08:15:39 AM
Quote from: EigenUser on June 08, 2015, 01:55:52 AM
Messiaen Turangasaurus
Debussy La Mer
?
?
?

I still need to hear the Franck! I also remember really liking Dutilleux 1, but it has been over a year since I heard it.
:o ???
Title: Re: Five favourite French 20th Century symphonies.
Post by: EigenUser on June 08, 2015, 10:53:45 AM
Quote from: Mr Bloom on June 08, 2015, 04:50:27 AM
Franck's symphony is from 1888.
Oops, I forgot about the 20C requirement when I typed that!
Title: Re: Five favourite French 20th Century symphonies.
Post by: Ken B on June 08, 2015, 06:54:17 PM
Does Honegger count?
Title: Re: Five favourite French 20th Century symphonies.
Post by: ZauberdrachenNr.7 on June 08, 2015, 07:57:18 PM
Quote from: Ken B on June 08, 2015, 06:54:17 PM
Does Honegger count?

Nope, per the Geneva Convention.
Title: Re: Five favourite French 20th Century symphonies.
Post by: Ken B on June 08, 2015, 08:11:37 PM
Quote from: ZauberdrachenNr.7 on June 08, 2015, 07:57:18 PM
Nope, per the Geneva Convention.

:laugh:
Title: Re: Five favourite French 20th Century symphonies.
Post by: vandermolen on June 09, 2015, 01:26:47 PM
Quote from: Ken B on June 08, 2015, 06:54:17 PM
Does Honegger count?

Look at my opening message.   ::)
Title: Re: Five favourite French 20th Century symphonies.
Post by: vandermolen on June 15, 2015, 12:51:06 PM
Following recommendations on this thread I've been listening to Dutilleux's First Symphony. I didn't realise how good it is so thanks for alerting me to it:
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