Six great 8th symphonies.

[vandermolen]

I am in a weird list mood - don't worry it will evaporate soon. I have probably asked the same question in four previous threads  . Never mind her goes:

Bruckner

Shostakovich

Vagn Holmboe

Allan Pettersson

Havergal Brian (my favourite of his much as I love No. 1)

Rautavaara

Feel bad about leaving out Glazunov - possibly his best and Schubert. So, you are allowed two extra choices.

[AdamFromWashington]

Bruckner

Dvořák

Mahler

Sibelius *mutters deranged words of denial*    -- "He didn't burn it, he couldn't have! We'll find it in a cupboard soon, I'm sure..."

Shostakovich

Schnittke

Aho...


And I would pick Pettersson's and Schubert's, but I've already listed Bruckner's and Shostakovich's. Don't want too much repetition. I'll leave Beethoven for someone else.

[vandermolen]

Bruckner

Dvořák

Mahler

Sibelius *mutters deranged words of denial*    -- "He didn't burn it, he couldn't have! We'll find it in a cupboard soon, I'm sure..."

Shostakovich

Schnittke

Aho...


And I would pick Pettersson's and Schubert's, but I've already listed Bruckner's and Shostakovich's. Don't want too much repetition. I'll leave Beethoven for someone else.

Thank you Adam and like your Sibelius comment 

I forgot Rubbra's which is very fine too.

Ivanovs too. 

[AdamFromWashington]

I should listen to those tomorrow. I've been neglecting classical music for a few months in the interest of expanding my musical horizons. They are suitably expanded, and I want to go back to classical! 

I've started with Bruckner and I might try Wagner soon... I've been putting that off for years.

A few more symphonies between me and Wagner is just what I need.

[North Star]

Shostakovich
Schubert 'Great'
Schubert 'Unfinished'
Bruckner
Dvořák
Beethoven

[Wanderer]

Schubert
Beethoven
Bruckner
Dvořák
Mahler
Vaughan Williams

Sibelius *mutters deranged words of denial*    -- "He didn't burn it, he couldn't have! We'll find it in a cupboard soon, I'm sure..."

Amen to that.

[vandermolen]

Schubert
Beethoven
Bruckner
Dvořák
Mahler
Vaughan Williams


Amen to that.

I am liking the VW more and more and like Jurowski's new performance of it.

[amw]

Schubert
Beethoven
Bruckner
Dvořák

Holmboe

And... let's go with Ries today. Maybe Nørgård next time.

Fortuitously (assuming Schubert '8' is the Great C Major) this is a pretty good list in preference order. Still not a huge fan of the first two movements of Bruckner 8, but it's proved shockingly addictive as a whole. (Latest recording: bootleg of François-Xavier Roth conducting Baden-Baden in Berlin, 2014. People still haven't figured out how to play the last three notes of this symphony, wtf.)

[The new erato]

And... let's go with Ries today. Maybe Nørgård next time.

Fortuitously (assuming Schubert '8' is the Great C Major) this is a pretty good list in preference order. Still not a huge fan of the first two movements of Bruckner 8, but it's proved shockingly addictive as a whole. (Latest recording: bootleg of François-Xavier Roth conducting Baden-Baden in Berlin, 2014. People still haven't figured out how to play the last three notes of this symphony, wtf.)

I was giving Nørgård's 8th a serious think but felt i didn't know it well enough to suggest it, at least not without a relisten which I cannot do now in this marvellous spring weather we are having.

Otherwise the 8ths of Pettersson and Shostakovich are among the very best of their work and favorites of mine, Dvorak's 8th is probably his best symphony, and Beethoven's 8th a seriously underrated gem.

[Christo]

First thoughts, though I prefer 'likes' over 'greatness' (what animal is that?) here:

Anton Bruckner
Havergal Brian
Vagn Holmboe
Eduard Tubin
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Dmitri Shostakovich

Honorary mentions:

Malcolm Arnold (heard live, last year; it helps)
Lodewijk van Beethoven
Antonin Dvořák
Allan Petterson
Einojuhani Rautavaara
Julius Röntgen
Edmund Rubbra
Franz Schubert

[Sergeant Rock]

Favorite Eighths:

Brian
Bruckner
Beethoven
Vaughan Williams
Dvorak
Arnold

[vandermolen]

First thoughts, though I prefer 'likes' over 'greatness' (what animal is that?) here:

Anton Bruckner
Havergal Brian
Vagn Holmboe
Eduard Tubin
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Dmitri Shostakovich

Honorary mentions:

Malcolm Arnold (heard live, last year; it helps)
Lodewijk van Beethoven
Antonin Dvořák
Allan Petterson
Einojuhani Rautavaara
Julius Röntgen
Edmund Rubbra
Franz Schubert

We have similar tastes  . Robert Layton considers Tubun's 8th to be his greatest but I'm not so sure as I prefer nos 1 to 5. Vagn Holmboe's 8th was my discovery of this great composer on a Turnabout LP; I have never looked back. The Norgard is a new discovery which I like very much indeed and maybe should have included it on my original list. Many thanks for all the replies. Must listen to the Rontgen.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Havergal Brian (my favourite of his much as I love No. 1)

Hmm. Then I'd hate to know your least favorite (I'm American and spell like one). To me it sounds like a moderately clever child playing with fingerpaints, and using every color in the box to make a mess of the paper, the house, his clothes, and himself.

[vandermolen]

Hmm. Then I'd hate to know your least favorite (I'm American and spell like one). To me it sounds like a moderately clever child playing with fingerpaints, and using every color in the box to make a mess of the paper, the house, his clothes, and himself.

Fair enough. I guess that HB is a bit of an acquired taste, but seeing the Gothic Symphony live twice were two,of the great musical experiences of my life and I think that in the best symphonies (1,3,6,7,8,9,10,16) there is a kind of gritty, craggy poetry which I find very appealing. The end of No. 8 I find eloquent and moving.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Fair enough. I guess that HB is a bit of an acquired taste, but seeing the Gothic Symphony live twice were two,of the great musical experiences of my life and I think that in the best symphonies (1,3,6,7,8,9,10,16) there is a kind of gritty, craggy poetry which I find very appealing. The end of No. 8 I find eloquent and moving.

Mr. Vandermolen, that is a far more gracious reply to my satirical metaphor than I had any reason to expect. I have some of the symphonies you mention on CD (1, 7-9 for sure), but I suspect I am no more likely to acquire a taste for Havergal Brian at this point than I am a taste for anchovies.

[Daverz]

I'd add KA Hartmann's 8th.

[Todd]

Beethoven
Schubert
Bruckner
Haydn
Dvorak
Shostakovich

[Wanderer]

I am liking the VW more and more and like Jurowski's new performance of it.

Vaughan Williams' Eighth sure is a stunning work; I haven't listened to the new Jurowski yet.

(assuming Schubert '8' is the Great C Major)

I meant the Unvollendete, but it works either way; I love the C major "Ninth" with equal ardor.

[vandermolen]

Mr. Vandermolen, that is a far more gracious reply to my satirical metaphor than I had any reason to expect. I have some of the symphonies you mention on CD (1, 7-9 for sure), but I suspect I am no more likely to acquire a taste for Havergal Brian at this point than I am a taste for anchovies.

Thank you. One of the things I like about the GMG Forum is that we all have different tastes. I don't see anything wrong with someone disliking the music which I enjoy. It does give me pleasure, however, if I introduce anyone to a hitherto unknown composer or piece of music which gives them pleasure. I accept that this will not be the case with you and Havergal Brian!

[vandermolen]

I'd add KA Hartmann's 8th.

+1 and thanks for mentioning it.