Greatest 20th Century Symphonies

[Tapio Dmitriyevich]

No love for Nielsen?

I don't know, never tried Nielsen, always wanted to, but time is limited... Well I still haven't listened to all Mahler, RVW or Shostakovich Symphonies...

[cliftwood]

Wm. Schuman Symphony # 3

Hindemith Symphony in E Flat

Shostakovich Symphony # 5

Shostakovich Symphony # 8

Mahler Symphonies # 3, 5, 7 & 9

[DavidRoss]

I don't know, never tried Nielsen, always wanted to, but time is limited... Well I still haven't listened to all Mahler, RVW or Shostakovich Symphonies...

Time is short...better get with it!  Man does not live by Sibelius alone.   

[Grazioso]

  I'd have to put in a vote for Erich Wolfgang Korngold's symphony as a 20th century masterpiece.  SS

As would I. It really amazes me that that symphony doesn't get more attention/recordings.

[jowcol]

First things first-- I'm not going to pretend to know what the "greatest" means for everyone-- this is a purely subjective listing. In some cases I'll latch onto a symphony where, even if I don't like the whole thing as much, there are parts that are worth the price of admission.

I'm also going to limit to one per composer.  Some of these are likely to change-- 

Orthel # 3
Mennin #3
Barber #1
Moeran in G Minor  (LOVE THIS)
RVW #6
Prokofiev #3
Shostakovitch # 10
Miaskovsky-- # 16-- for now.
Hanson # 4
Alwyn #3
Diamond #2
Copeland- Organ Symphony
Atterburg #5
Holmboe #4 (for now...)
Walton #1
Bax #2
Arnold #5
Rubbra #4
Sibelius #4
Braga Santos #4
Koechlin 7 Stars
Malipiero 3 (for now...)
Nielsen 6
Bernstein # 2 (second half-- I can skip the first half)
Creston #2 (The second movement for sure)
Rorem #3
Simpson #9
Katchaturian #2


Naturally, your mileage may vary.

[eyeresist]

This thread has reminded me that I need to rip some of RVW's symphonies to put on my new cell phone/mp3 player.  Let's see: how about #2 by Previn, 3 by Handley, 4 by Slatkin, 5 by Thomson?  These four I treasure--the rest I know less well.  Any suggestions as to which of the others I ought have with me at all times?

7 by Previn is most epic, but I'd edit out the speaking parts. Thomson is my controversial pick for 8 - I find him grandest.

[Tapio Dmitriyevich]

[RVW Antarctica/7]

7 by Previn is most epic, but I'd edit out the speaking parts.

I like it with the speaking parts. I love the whole Previn 7. Really slow, mighty, unforgiving and hopeless. Hey, is Antarctica a Tone Poem ?

I once uploaded the beginning for you, here it is again:
[mp3=200,20,0,left]http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/9/21/1446950/rvw7-1.mp3[/mp3]

Did we forget Bruckner? I'll add:

- Bruckner Symphonies Nos. 5, 7 and 8.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

As would I. It really amazes me that that symphony doesn't get more attention/recordings.

I know of 5 recordings - Previn, Kempe, Albert, Downes and Welser-Möst. The last one I still have to hear. Kempe and Downes are very good. I love this work, too.

[Tomo]

[RVW Antarctica/7]


Did we forget Bruckner? I'll add:

- Bruckner Symphonies Nos. 5, 7 and 8.

Unfortunately, he doesn't qualify due to the criteria of the thread.  But, he sure does sound like his music could easily fit the 20th century and I'm absolutely certain that many of his works would be cited if not for when composed.

[Tapio Dmitriyevich]

Time is short...better get with it!  Man does not live by Sibelius alone.  

Nielsen is on my radar... One day... No, not "Sibelius alone" just because of my Avatar. Currently I'm listening to RVW a lot. Symphony No. 7 unfortunately covers my current situation pretty well. The difference is, I failed, but can stand up again.

Unfortunately, he doesn't qualify due to the criteria of the thread.  But, he sure does sound like his music could easily fit the 20th century

Gna. 20th century I was so surprised nobody mentioned Bruckner...

Any love for RVW Symphony No. 2 "London Symphony" here? It's my favourite RVW one. Don't know 1,2,8 though...

[The new erato]

Any love for RVW Symphony No. 2 "London Symphony" here? It's my favourite RVW one. Don't know 1,2,8 though...

Que?

[Tapio Dmitriyevich]

Drunk in the morning isn't good . Dont't know RVW 1,8,9. I think I should disappear from this thread.

[71 dB]

Nielsen is on my radar... One day...

Great 20th century symphonists cannot be talked about without Carl Nielsen imo.  0:) At least check out his fourth symphony sooner rather than later. 

[DavidRoss]

Any love for RVW Symphony No. 2 "London Symphony" here? It's my favourite RVW one. Don't know 1,2,8 though...

Yep, I like #2 very much.

[vandermolen]

Nielsen is on my radar... One day... No, not "Sibelius alone" just because of my Avatar. Currently I'm listening to RVW a lot. Symphony No. 7 unfortunately covers my current situation pretty well. The difference is, I failed, but can stand up again.
Gna. 20th century I was so surprised nobody mentioned Bruckner...

Any love for RVW Symphony No. 2 "London Symphony" here? It's my favourite RVW one. Don't know 1,2,8 though...

Yes (re VW Symphony No 2), especially in the 1913 original version. VW later cut out the best bit of the symphony - just before the end - big mistake IMHO.

[karlhenning]

Any love for RVW Symphony No. 2 "London Symphony" here? It's my favourite RVW one. Don't know 1,2,8 though...

Typo?  This reads as though one of the symphonies you don't know, is your favorite . . . .

[The new erato]

Typo?  This reads as though one of the symphonies you don't know, is your favorite . . . .

I think he already answered my intelligent question about this:

Que?

by this:

Drunk in the morning isn't good . Dont't know RVW 1,8,9. I think I should disappear from this thread.

[karlhenning]

I think he already answered my intelligent question about this

Got it.

FWIW, I thought your post:

Que?

. . . was an appeal to the moderator  0:)

[The new erato]

Got it.

FWIW, I thought your post:

. . . was an appeal to the moderator  0:)

No, it was a take on Manuel in Fawlty Towers, his standard response when something was beyond him.

[Brian]

No, it was a take on Manuel in Fawlty Towers, his standard response when something was beyond him.