Nielsen Symphony Showdown: the 3rd ("Sinfonia Espansiva") vs. the 5th

[Mirror Image]

Nielsen Symphony Death Match Time!!!

[springrite]

If ever a a tie should be allowed, it is here!!!









OK, I voted #3. Lenny's recording tipped the scale by a milligram

[Mirror Image]

If ever a a tie should be allowed, it is here!!!

OK, I voted #3. Lenny's recording tipped the scale by a milligram

Lenny ripped the 5th to pieces as well.

[Sergeant Rock]

First heard the Espansiva in 1967 (Lenny). It's been one of my Top 5 symphonies ever since.

Sarge

[springrite]

Lenny ripped the 5th to pieces as well.

Thus the milligram

[Mirror Image]

I love both symphonies, but the Espansiva wins every time for me.

[Mirror Image]

Thus the milligram

Thankfully, the milligram wasn't involved in my own decision-making.

[springrite]

Thankfully, the milligram wasn't involved in my own decision-making.

Let's face it. The only reason you make decisions faster and seemingly in a more decisive manner is be because you have no problem changing them.

[Mirror Image]

Let's face it. The only reason you make decisions faster and seemingly in a more decisive manner is be because you have no problem changing them.

Can't argue with that!

[CRMS]

No doubt about it for me, the 5th all the way.  It was the first Nielsen work that I heard, both recording and live.  The 3rd and 4th would tie for second place.

[vandermolen]

Much prefer No.5

My order:
654312

[Monsieur Croche]

I just cast a vote for the Fifth.

So far, the poll results, though it is by a smallish margin, demonstrate that the more accessible and popular generally takes the popular vote vs 'the greater work.'

Nothing wrong with the third; I think the fourth is better, and for a contest, imo the fifth and the sixth walk away with the prizes.

[amw]

For me the first movement of No. 5 is unequalled in Nielsen's output or early 20th century symphonic output in general, but the second movement is much less engaging.

I take No 3 (and 1) on its terms as a late romantic symphony, and compared with Brahms and Bruckner and Tchaikovsky and Sibelius and whoever it holds up very well in that "class", better than most tbh. I take No 5 (and 6) on its terms as an early 20th century symphony, and compared with Ives and Bartók and Hindemith and Prokofiev and whoever it is really solid for one movement and then a late-romantic throwback in random places throughout the second, including a decidedly late-romantic triumphant ending, and doesn't work as well—No 6 being much more unified I guess? In "affect", not style

Anyway that's why I voted for 3. (I rate the symphonies 6 3 1 5 2 4 at the moment.)

[71 dB]

I voted for the 3rd as it is my second most favorite Symphony by Nielsen after the 4th.

[432561]

[Brian]

The one with the Kick Ass Waltz

[Mirror Image]

I just cast a vote for the Fifth.

So far, the poll results, though it is by a smallish margin, demonstrate that the more accessible and popular generally takes the popular vote vs 'the greater work.'

Nothing wrong with the third; I think the fourth is better, and for a contest, imo the fifth and the sixth walk away with the prizes.

I don't think Nielsen wrote a bad symphony, but I don't agree that the Espansiva is somehow more popular, or accessible, than the 5th. To be honest, I was blown away by the 5th on first-hearing, while the Espansiva took some time for me to digest as it seemed like rather watered down Nielsen (compared to the 5th) when I first heard it. Of course, Bernstein helped me understand the beauty of the Espansiva in a way I hadn't before. I was long confused by this symphony (for whatever reasons). The 5th shook my musical world right away, but I never thought it was greater than any of his other works. I thought it was highly inventive, aggressive, and downright quirky, but, as usual with Nielsen, he made it work. But this isn't a contest, this is a poll indicating which symphony you prefer and, nowadays, I seem to prefer the Espansiva to the 5th.

Since everyone else is doing this (and to be a sheep), here is my Nielsen favorite symphony line-up: 3rd, 5th, 4th, 6th, 2nd, 1st. But, like I said, I love them all and none of them have any weak moments. This is just a matter of preference.

[Mirror Image]

The one with the Kick Ass Waltz

That waltz does kick some serious arse.

[Sergeant Rock]

The one with the Kick Ass Waltz

(and to be a sheep), here is my Nielsen favorite symphony line-up

3 6 2 1 4 5

Baa, baa 

Sarge

[Mirror Image]

3 6 2 1 4 5

Baa, baa 

Sarge

[Brian]

I don't think Nielsen wrote a bad symphony, but I don't agree that the Espansiva is somehow more popular, or accessible, than the 5th. To be honest, I was blown away by the 5th on first-hearing, while the Espansiva took some time for me to digest

I think you're conflating your personal reaction with that of the average concertgoer, from whom you are VERY different  . For the "average Joe Mozart" coming to Nielsen for the first time, both symphonies are probably pretty eyebrow-raising (my parents do not care for Nielsen) but, for reasons which amw eloquently explains above, ...well... put it this way, I'd love to drag my parents to a "Sinfonia Espansiva" concert and see if they become convert Nielsen-heads, but there's no way in hell they'd ever be able to tolerate No. 5.

There are slightly more recordings of No. 5 available on ArkivMusic, but the margin is narrow (36 vs. 31 and they are missing some).

P.S. [3412] have only heard 5 and 6 once or twice and don't feel comfortable ranking them yet.