Your 5 favorite symphonic slow movements, post-1950

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Inspired by a similar thread, let's prove that the symphonic (or at least orchestral) slow movement is alive and well! My Top 5 as of now:

Carter, "Adagio tenebroso" from Symphonia
Adams, "The Anfortas Wound" from Harmonielehre
Arnold, Andante con moto from Symphony #7
Penderecki, Adagio from Symphony #3
Schnittke, Lento from Symphony #8

[not edward]

Keeping it to works which are either called symphonies or are symphonies (no Lontano, for example), two of yours are no-brainers to repeat:

Carter: Adagio tenebroso (Symphonia)
Schnittke: Lento (Symphony #8)
DSCH: Adagio (Symphony #15)
Henze: Ruhig bewegt (Symphony #7)
Gerhard: Adagio (Symphony #1)

What's striking to me is how many of my favourite post-1950 symphonies focus their weight in movements that cannot easily be categorized as either slow or fast (Lutoslawski 3/4, Martinu 6, Tippett 3/4, the later Hartmann symphonies, Norgard 3, even Ustvolskaya--though her symphonies are no more symphonies than Symphonies of Wind Instruments is).

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

DSCH: Adagio (Symphony #15)

I think this would have been no. 6 on my list.

What's striking to me is how many of my favourite post-1950 symphonies focus their weight in movements that cannot easily be categorized as either slow or fast

That's a very pertinent point: overcoming the tyranny of the tempo designation! It certainly does make things more interesting.

[springrite]

Maybe not really slow, but that somewhat slow movement from City of Light Symphony Hovhaness

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Arnold, Andante con moto from Symphony #7

DSCH: Adagio (Symphony #15)

Interesting that these were composed about the same time (early 1970s) and both contain a big trombone solo and share a general mood.

[bwv 1080]

Dutilleux: Metaboles II
Carter: Violin Cto:II
Schnittke: Symphony no. 9: I
Lutoslawski: Chain 3 (the slow parts)
Ligeti: Lontano

[Sergeant Rock]

Rautavaara Symphony No. 3 Langsam, breit, ruhig
Havergal Brian Symphony No.9 A minor Adagio
Vaughan Williams Symphony No.8 D minor Cavatina
Shostakovich Symphony No.15 A major Adagio
Prokofiev Symphony No.7 C sharp Minor Andante espressivo

Sarge

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Rautavaara Symphony No. 3 Langsam, breit, ruhig

That's a nice one,

Vaughan Williams Symphony No.8 D minor Cavatina

and so is that, but if I were to choose a VW from this period, it would be the slow mvt. from Sinfonia antartica.

[vandermolen]

Definitely agree with slow movement of Symphony No 8 by Vaughan Williams.

[amw]

Even broadening it to orchestral music in general, I can't think of a lot.

Tippett Triple Concerto
Poulenc Piano Concerto? That's post-1950 right?
Rubbra 7 (Passacaglia)
Lachenmann Klangschatten - mein Saitenspiel
Does Feldman count? Something by Feldman, maybe Violin and Orchestra
The middle one of Kagel's 3 Etudes for Orchestra possibly. Though he never stays slow for very long

Most of the post-1950 music I like can't really have tempo designations applied to it... and/or isn't for orchestra.

[vandermolen]

Even broadening it to orchestral music in general, I can't think of a lot.

Tippett Triple Concerto
Poulenc Piano Concerto? That's post-1950 right?
Rubbra 7 (Passacaglia)
Lachenmann Klangschatten - mein Saitenspiel
Does Feldman count? Something by Feldman, maybe Violin and Orchestra
The middle one of Kagel's 3 Etudes for Orchestra possibly. Though he never stays slow for very long

Most of the post-1950 music I like can't really have tempo designations applied to it... and/or isn't for orchestra.

Agree with Rubbra Symphony 7, wonderful work.

[kyjo]

Arnold 5 (II)
Arnold 9 (IV)
Korngold (III)
Shostakovich 15 (II)
Rubbra 7 (III)

Honorable mentions:
RVW 9 (II)
Adams Harmonielehre (a symphony in all but name) (II)
Arnold 7 (II)
Holmboe 8 (III)

[Sergeant Rock]

Korngold (III)

I should have thought of that! Great movement.

Sarge

[vandermolen]

I should have thought of that! Great movement.

Sarge

+1 definitely.

[Brian]

Oddly I feel that contemporary composers are on the whole much better at writing slow music than they are at writing fast music...especially with those still alive, they have a lot easier time compelling me with slow music than with fast for whatever reason.

* = top five overall

Symphonic (Not Symphonies)
*Kernis - musica celestis (free-standing work, arranged from string quartet)
*Rouse - Flute Concerto
*Shostakovich - Piano Concerto No. 2
Leshnoff - Cello Concerto

Definitely Symphonies
*Glass - Symphony No. 3
Rouse - Symphonies Nos. 1 and 4
*Rautavaara - Symphony No. 7
Holmboe - Symphonies Nos. 5 and 8

[Maestro267]

Very interesting thread idea! I'll have a think about this.

[Mirror Image]

Let's see...(in no particular order):

Pettersson: Symphony No. 7 (the main slow section towards the end of the work carried only by the strings --- this work is in one movement)
Rouse: Symphony No. 3 (After Prokofiev) (fourth movement - Variation 2)
Tabakova: Cello Concerto (second movement - Longing)
Schnittke: Symphony No. 8 (third movement - Lento)
Silvestrov: Symphony No. 5 (the whole symphony is slow, but the Andante section is what makes my list)

*We all must remember that symphonic doesn't mean 'symphony' but 'relating to or written for a symphony orchestra'. So we don't have to limit our choices to just symphonies, but mine just happened to turn out to be symphony-heavy.

[kyjo]

*Kernis - musica celestis (free-standing work, arranged from string quartet)

Love this piece! Kernis' Air for violin or cello and orchestra is also deeply felt and moving.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Arnold 5 (II)
Arnold 9 (IV)
Korngold (III)
Shostakovich 15 (II)
Rubbra 7 (III)

Honorable mentions:
RVW 9 (II)
Adams Harmonielehre (a symphony in all but name) (II)
Arnold 7 (II)
Holmboe 8 (III)

This list wins a rare 100% Endorsement from me!

[aesthetic]

5 not mentioned already:

Pärt: Symphony No. 4  (I. Con sublimata)
Rautavaara: Symphony No. 1  (I. Andante)
Gorecki: Symphony No. 3  (II.  Lento e largo—Tranquillissimo)
Glass: Symphony No. 8   (III.)
Martinů: Symphony No. 4  (III. Largo) ... misses the cut by 5 years, but oh well. 

Deserves to be mentioned again:

Rautavaara: Symphony No. 7  (III. Come un sogno)