The Worst First!

[Karl Henning]

Aw, but I like it so much! It knows its own strengths and weaknesses, and it never tries to be something it's not.

I like it, too!

[JBS]

Are you people trying to shatter my nostalgic delusions about the World being better in the past by reminding me about the dark things that happened on GMG in 2007?   

You were right about Beethoven's First.

[71 dB]

I'm hoping this is a redemption arc  😇

Well, even Darth Vader had a redemption arc, but it cost his own life to save his son and die a Jedi rather than a Sith...

[Karl Henning]

Well, even Darth Vader had a redemption arc, but it cost his own life to save his son and die a Jedi rather than a Sith...

Well, we are all now in agreement upon the excellence of the Elgar First. And, I live still.

[Iota]

Well, not even the same Karl! By now every atom and molecule in your body has been replaced.

They always say that. I wish it felt more like it.  : /

TD, I can't think of a first symphony that has ever upset me. Though I'm not sure my exposure to them has been that great.

[NumberSix]

Well, not even the same Karl! By now every atom and molecule in your body has been replaced.

Karl of Theseus

[Karl Henning]

Karl of Theseus

Schrödinger's Karl.

[DaveF]

I like it, too!

It doesn't help British listeners that the second theme of the Playful Pizzicato movement bears such a close resemblance to the theme tune of the long-running radio soap The Archers:

[(poco) Sforzando]

My candidate for worst First is Beethoven's: perhaps not the worst but definitely the least interesting of his symphonies.

Then why do I find it invariably very interesting? It's a lovely little piece, full of charming and well-shaped materials.

Not a symphony per se, but a "worst first" is probably Chopin's first piano sonata.

[JBS]

Not a symphony per se, but a "worst first" is probably Chopin's first piano sonata.

No argument from me on that.
TBH I feel as that if the sonatas of both Chopin and Schumann magically vanished from human memory, nothing of value would be lost.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Wouldn't go that far, but they are not my favorite works of either composer.

[AnotherSpin]

No argument from me on that.
TBH I feel as that if the sonatas of both Chopin and Schumann magically vanished from human memory, nothing of value would be lost.

Are you referring to the first sonatas or sonatas in general? Either way, I find them attractive and enjoy listening to them.

[71 dB]

Well, we are all now in agreement upon the excellence of the Elgar First. And, I live still.

Maybe Hollywood should make a movie trilogy based on your redemption arc Karl? 

25 years ago I was delusional and a victim of Dunning-Kruger. I had naive self-confidence. I tried to get other people around me get into Elgar (even when they weren't into classical music). Those days are long over. Life has teached me a lesson or two about these things. My delusional self-confidence is gone and replaced with bitter/cynic self-doubt. I am just a moron online. Who am I to tell other people what to like? I have learned to tolerate other people disagreeing with me and have their own views. The irony here is now that we are in agreement upon the excellence of the Elgar First, I care about this agreement less than ever...

[Iota]

TBH I feel as that if the sonatas of both Chopin and Schumann magically vanished from human memory, nothing of value would be lost.

If you're talking about just first sonatas, FWIW I'd say I think the Chopin is a bit of a salon-y trinket and not much more, though the Larghetto in 5/4 is a little more interesting, but the Schumann I love and think is a great piece.
If you're referring to all the sonatas however, then we're separated by a Venus/Mars type distance.

[Brian]

Andsnes is the rare pianist to advocate for both those first sonatas. I keep wanting to like the Chopin and find it "underrated"...but so far, just can't.

[Karl Henning]

Andsnes is the rare pianist to advocate for both those first sonatas. I keep wanting to like the Chopin and find it "underrated"...but so far, just can't.

It's... the first sonata written by one who would go on to write other and great piano music.

[Baxcalibur]

Walton.

Where do I start? Let's see... the jerky violin ostinato that introduces the relentless first movement? "Presto con malizia," with its rhythmic trickery? The slow movement, surely an attempt to out-Sibelius a certain composer? Or the hectoring finale, featuring more Sibelius-isms and a shockingly anticlimactic fugue? Pick one!

When I listen to this piece, I feel like Bernard Michael O'Hanlon, in his Amazon reviews where he would describe, in excruciating detail, his ordeals with Mahler and Shostakovich. BMOH's reviews are gone now, but I can paraphrase one of his more memorable examples:

'For its duration, you could've likened me to one of those Filipinos who undergoes Crucifixion on Good Friday.'

What Mahler tells O'Hanlon is what Walton tells me. I am reminded that "das Land ohne Musik" was once said about England, and I run to the loving arms of Elgar, Vaughan Williams and even Bax for proof that it just isn't true. Walton's First is more skillfully composed than my rant here, but I have no doubt it is written in the same spirit.

[Karl Henning]

Walton.

Where do I start? Let's see... the jerky violin ostinato that introduces the relentless first movement? "Presto con malizia," with its rhythmic trickery? The slow movement, surely an attempt to out-Sibelius a certain composer? Or the hectoring finale, featuring more Sibelius-isms and a shockingly anticlimactic fugue? Pick one!

When I listen to this piece, I feel like Bernard Michael O'Hanlon, in his Amazon reviews where he would describe, in excruciating detail, his ordeals with Mahler and Shostakovich. BMOH's reviews are gone now, but I can paraphrase one of his more memorable examples:

'For its duration, you could've likened me to one of those Filipinos who undergoes Crucifixion on Good Friday.'

What Mahler tells O'Hanlon is what Walton tells me. I am reminded that "das Land ohne Musik" was once said about England, and I run to the loving arms of Elgar, Vaughan Williams and even Bax for proof that it just isn't true. Walton's First is more skillfully composed than my rant here, but I have no doubt it is written in the same spirit.

Very interesting!

[vandermolen]

Prokofiev's (much admired) 'Classical Symphony' comes to mind. I like all his other symphonies.

[DavidW]

Prokofiev's (much admired) 'Classical Symphony' comes to mind. I like all his other symphonies.

I feel like the forum software is going to randomly ban you again!