Favorite Symphonies by a 2-Symphony Composer

[The new erato]

Are we going to have threads of this type up to numerical infinity?

At least up to 104.

[Luke]

Can't wait till we get to favourite 9 symphony composer...

Edit - thinking about it, even making the list will cause some controversy!

Schubert (the numbering is all so messy - how do we count them?)
Mahler (do we count the 10th? Das Lied?)
Bruckner (what about the 0 and the 00th?)
Schnittke (similarly)
Beethoven (there are sketches for a tenth, if anyone is going to push the point)

Only Dvorak and Vaughan Williams are completely unambiguous here!

[Florestan]

Stenhammar composed three symphonies --- time to start the three-piece-poll, maybe? 

My choices: Balakirev, Bizet, Borodin, Kalinnikov, Weber.

[Luke]

I voted Walton, Liszt, Elgar, Suk, Schoenberg, because they really do stand out from the crowd for me here. And it's nice to see Elgar winning a poll, too. Poju will be pleased. But it's an odd group of composers!

And yes I do rate the two Liszt pieces higher than many do. Unapologetic about that! Neither are unproblematic - they are pioneering works, both. That adventurous spirit is one of the things I love about them. They have a bravery and (particularly in the case of the Dante!) an unashamed vulgarity that moves me and impresses me, and both have the fundamental freshness and innocence, the true fire and the conviction and the delight in new and fabulous sonorities and harmonies that I only really find in the early romantics - in Berlioz and Liszt especially.

[eyeresist]

Can't wait till we get to favourite 9 symphony composer...

Edit - thinking about it, even making the list will cause some controversy!

Schubert (the numbering is all so messy - how do we count them?)
Mahler (do we count the 10th? Das Lied?)
Bruckner (what about the 0 and the 00th?)

The Schubert 7 is so rarely performed, you can see why some people number the 'Great' as number 8. I have the Newbould arrangement of 7 as conducted by Marriner, and like it a lot. It should have greater exposure. (Marriner's set also includes a 10th, not so good.)

Mahler: I count the 10th but not Das Lied.

Bruckner: we can also muddy the waters by remembering that 9 is incomplete. (Or is it? )

[Sergeant Rock]

Walton, Stenhammar, Barber, Elgar and Arnie.


Sarge

[Luke]

The Schubert 7 is so rarely performed, you can see why some people number the 'Great' as number 8. I have the Newbould arrangement of 7 as conducted by Marriner, and like it a lot. It should have greater exposure. (Marriner's set also includes a 10th, not so good.)

Yes, I have that box set. Mighty confusing, with all of those little fragments!

Mahler: I count the 10th but not Das Lied.

But Mahler counted it!    But then we might have a discussion about why he might have counted it (Curse of the Ninth and all that...)

Bruckner: we can also muddy the waters by remembering that 9 is incomplete. (Or is it? )

Exactly.

[Sergeant Rock]

Can't wait till we get to favourite 9 symphony composer...
Bruckner (what about the 0 and the 00th?)

Bruckner: we can also muddy the waters by remembering that 9 is incomplete. (Or is it? )

Bruckner will easily win this poll: Favorite Symphonies by a 10 and 3/4-Symphony Composer.


Sarge

[Maciek]

By request, sort of "Two" means "two completed by the composer," no reconstructions, half-finished works, etc. Chamber symphonies included. I tried to go with choices that are, iirc, available on disc. Please let me know of any corrections/omissions. I actually try to keep track of these minutiae regarding symphonies.

Up to 5 choices.

Ah, at last! (Come to think of it, it was no wait at all, actually. ) Thank you very much.

[Florestan]

Stenhammar,

Your favorite of the two being the Third --- am I right?   

[Grazioso]

Stenhammar composed three symphonies --- time to start the three-piece-poll, maybe? 

I thought he only completed two? And to answer an earlier question re: Wagner, he only finished one, hence his exclusion. Plus, he was a bad, bad man 

The Alice Mary Smith works are not bad, btw. Unlike some smartasses, I'm a smartass who's actually listened to her music (Iirc, the notes for that disc don't mention or imply any third symphony, though I see wiki says three.)

Bruckner will easily win this poll: Favorite Symphonies by a 10 and 3/4-Symphony Composer.

Ah, but how do you count the revisions? "Favorite symphonies revised badly by Schalk. A poll."

[Grazioso]

Ah, at last! (Come to think of it, it was no wait at all, actually. ) Thank you very much.

And people thought I was joking when I said "by request"

[(poco) Sforzando]

The Alice Mary Smith works are not bad, btw. Unlike some smartasses, I'm a smartass who's actually listened to her music

How do you expect me to consider her underrated if I actually listen to her music?

[wilhelm]

My favourite is Josef Suk (1874-1935)

I've never heard  Symphony No. 1 in E major, Op. 14, but his  Symphony No. 2 in C minor, "Asrael", Op. 27 is one of the greatest.

[Wanderer]

And yes I do rate the two Liszt pieces higher than many do. Unapologetic about that! Neither are unproblematic - they are pioneering works, both. That adventurous spirit is one of the things I love about them. They have a bravery and (particularly in the case of the Dante!) an unashamed vulgarity that moves me and impresses me, and both have the fundamental freshness and innocence, the true fire and the conviction and the delight in new and fabulous sonorities and harmonies that I only really find in the early romantics - in Berlioz and Liszt especially.

My feelings exactly.

[Daverz]

I've never heard  Symphony No. 1 in E major, Op. 14, but his  Symphony No. 2 in C minor, "Asrael", Op. 27 is one of the greatest.

I've always thought of Asrael as part of a cycle that included Ripening, Epilogue, and A Summer's Tale. 

The Symphony in E major is a nice work.  I have it coupled with Belohlavek's recent Ripening.

[Jared]

Stenhammar composed three symphonies --- time to start the three-piece-poll, maybe? 

My choices: Balakirev, Bizet, Borodin, Kalinnikov, Weber.

Borodin also wrote three symphonies... 

[Scarpia]

Borodin also wrote three symphonies... 

Only self-completed ones count, according to the OP.   0:)

[Jared]

Only self-completed ones count, according to the OP.   0:)

oh of course... he only wrote the first 2 movements to No 3, didn't he?

so then... would Schubert's Unfinished count as a finished symphony, though?

[Scarpia]

oh of course... he only wrote the first 2 movements to No 3, didn't he?

so then... would Schubert's Unfinished count as a finished symphony, though?

He was finished with it, although he did not finish it.  Interesting question.  Depends on what  your definition of "is" is, I guess.