Gaps in the recorded symphonic repertoire of the 20th century

[Dundonnell]

First of a series

These lists are selective.
If I have missed a recording of a particular work I would be overjoyed to hear of such a recording. If anyone wishes to know the label and issue number for a particular work which has been recorded I would be delighted to supply these

Brazil:

Camargo Guarnieri:    Symphony No.7 (?) If this symphony does exist BIS might add it to its series.

Heitor Villa-Lobos Symphony No.5 is apparently lost.

Italy:

Alfredo Casella:         Symphonies No. 1(1905-06), No.2(1908-09)

Norway:

Klaus Egge:              Symphonies No. 3 'Louisville'(1957), No.5 'Sinfonia dolce'(1968-69)
Ragnar Soderlind:      Symphonies No. 1(1975-79), No.4 'Kvitsunn'(1995-2001), No.6 'Todesahnung'(1988-89), No.7 'La Campane
                                 dell'Atlantico' for voice, chorus and orchestra(2002), No.8 'Jean Sibelius in memoriam'(2004-05)

I believe that Harald Saeverud withdrew his Symphony No.1.

Poland:

Grazyna Bacewicz:    Symphonies No. 1((1945), No.2(1951), No.4(1953)
Andrzej Panufnik:      Symphony No.7 'Metasinfonia' for organ, strings and timpani(1978)
Alexander Tansman:  Symphony No.1(1916). Will presumably be issued by Chandos in its ongoing Tansman series.

Sweden:

Hilding Rosenberg:     Symphonies No. 1(1917-32), No.7(1968), No.8 'Sinfonia serena'(1974-80)

Allan Pettersson's Symphony No.1 is incomplete. Dag Wiren withdrew his Symphony No.1

U.S.A.:

George Antheil:         Symphony in F(1925-26), Symphony No.2(1931-36), Tragic Symphony(1945-46)
Paul Creston:            Symphony No.6 for organ and orchestra(1982)
David Diamond:         Symphonies No. 6(1951), No. 7(1957), No. 9(1985), No.10(198?), No.11(1989-91)
Philip Glass:              Symphony No.7 'A Toltec Symphony'(2005).
                                 Glass's own label, Orange Mountain, will presumably get round to recording this symphony.
Morton Gould:           Symphony No.1(1943)
Roy Harris:               Symphonies No. 10 'Abraham Lincoln' for speaker, chorus, brass, 2 pianos and percussion(1965), No.12 'Pere
                                  Marquette' for tenor, speaker and orchestra(1969), No.13 'Bicentennial Symphony' for chorus and orchestra,
                                  solo voices and speakers(1976). Naxos has begun a project to record all the Harris symphonies.
Alan Hovhaness:        Symphonies Nos. 5(1953), No.7 'Nanga Parvat'(1959), No.8 'Arjuna'(1947), No.12(1960), No.13 'Ardent Song'(1953),
                                  No.14 'Ararat'(1960), No.16 'Kayagum'(1962), No.17 'Symphony for Metal Orchestra(1963), No.18 'Circe'(1963),
                                  No.23 'Ani'(1972), No.26(1975), No.27(1976), No.28(1976), No.29(1976), No.30(1976), No.32 'The Broken Wings'
                                  (1977), No.33(1977), No.34(1977), No.35(1978), No.36(1978), No.37(1978),No.38(1978), No.40(1979),
                                  No.41(1979), No.42(1979),No.43(1979), No.44(1980), No.45(1954), No.46 'To the Green Mountains'(1980),
                                  No.47 'Walla walla, Land of Many Waters'(1980), No.48 'Vision of Andromeda'(1981), No.51(1982), No.52
                                  'Journey to Vega'(1983), No.54(1983), No.55(1983), No.56(1983), No.57'Cold Mountain'(1983), No.58
                                  'Symphonia Sacra'(1985), No.59(1985), No.61(1986), No.62'Oh Let Man Not Forget These Words Divine'(1987-88),
                                  No.64 'Agiochook'(1989-90), No.65 'Artstakh'(1991), , No.66'Hymn to Glacier Peak'(1992), No.67 'Hymn to
                                  the Mountains'(1992).
                                  Naxos has recorded Symphonies Nos. 7 'Nanga Parvat', 14 'Ararat' and 23' Ani for future release.
George Rochberg:      Symphonies No. 3 for double chorus, chamber chorus and orchestra(1966-69), No.4(1976), No.6(1986-87)
Ellen Taaffe Zwilich:   Symphony No.5(Concerto for Orchestra) (2008)

As far as I am aware the following symphonies were withdrawn by their composers-
Benjamin Lees:          Symphony No.1
Peter Mennin:           Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2
Vincent Persichetti:   Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2
Wallingford Riegger:   Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2
William Schuman:      Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2

In addition to the other symphonies by Mennin, Persichetti, Riegger and Schuman, the complete symphonies of Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, John Corigliano, Don Gillis, Howard Hanson, John Harbison, Charles Ives, Walter Piston, Ned Rorem, Christopher Rouse, Roger Sessions, Randall Thompson and Virgil Thomson can be found on cd.

More to follow when I recover

[karlhenning]

As far as I am aware the following symphonies were withdrawn by their composers-
Peter Mennin:           Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2
Vincent Persichetti:   Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2
William Schuman:      Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2

Charles Wuorinen . . . from notes to the premiere of the Eighth Symphony: Of the eight works designated by the composer as symphonies, the first two are juvenilia and are unavailable for performance;  the published Third Symphony (1959) the composer considers a "pubescent" work.

[Grazioso]

Bohemia:

Vitezslav Novak: many of his works, including, afaik, three of his four operas and his two symphonies, Autumn and May. Considering he's one of the major Czech composers, this is a real shame.

[Superhorn]

   The  sheer  variety  of  classical  music  on CD,  whether  orchestral, operatic, chamber  or  whatever , never  ceases  to  amaze  me. 
   The  gaps  are  constantly  shrinking.  We  CD  collectors  are  unbelievably  lucky !   There's  an embarassment of  riches  out  there.

[karlhenning]

It's an incredible time.

And Kwoon must have 300 recordings of the Rakhmaninov Third Concerto by now 

[Dundonnell]

   The  sheer  variety  of  classical  music  on CD,  whether  orchestral, operatic, chamber  or  whatever , never  ceases  to  amaze  me. 
   The  gaps  are  constantly  shrinking.  We  CD  collectors  are  unbelievably  lucky !   There's  an embarassment of  riches  out  there.

You are absolutely correct

[pjme]

For rare French repertoire go to : http://www.ina.fr/. Institut National de l'Audiovisuel. One can buy complete performances - listen (for free) to fragments.

Go to Archives télé et radio and...type in a name - composer,conductor,singer... (top left).
I have no idea how much there is ....I'll see if I can find a few tasty morsels...Many gaps are waiting to be filled!

Peter

ps : After a few minutes of browsing ,I discovered that downloads are quite cheap ( ca 5 - 8 €). That would get you a complete "La Samaritaine" ,opera-oratorio ( actually an "Evangile -Mystère" by Edmond Rostand) by Max d'Ollone in a vintage 1955 performance with Berthe Monmart as the Samaritaine and André Vessières as Jesus....Conducted by Tony Aubin.
I found an organconcerto by Roger Calmel with Pierre Cochereau as soloist and several symphonies by Henri Martelli, Jacques Charpentier,Pierre Wissmer etc......Many performances by the former ORTF Chamber Orchestra, works by Nicolas Nabokov,Henri Tomasi, Pierre Capdevielle...
I'm listening now to Jean Rivier's "Christus rex" for mezzo soprano, choir and orchestra. Jean Fournet conducts the French National Orch. & chorus. Mary Luce Bellary is the soloist.1970 performance.

[Dundonnell]

Part 2   (I should stress again that I am listing symphonies which are not available on CD. The symphonies of many, many 20th Century composers are now available in complete recorded editions.)

Australia:

Malcolm Williamson:           Symphonies No. 2 'Pilgrim pa havet'(1968), No.3 'The Icy Mirror' for soprano, mezzo-soprano, two
                                            baritones, chorus and orchestra(1972), No.4 'Jubilee'(1977), No. 6(1982)

Austria:

Ernst Krenek:                   Symphony No.4(1947), Symphony for Winds and Percussion(1924-25), Little Symphony(1928),
                                          Symphony 'Pallas Athene'(1954). CPO has recorded Symphony No.4 for future release.
Emil von Reznicek:            Symphony No.3 'Im alten Stil'(1918). CPO is recording the complete Reznicek symphonies.

Czech Republic:

Josef Foerster:                Symphony No.5(1929).
                                                MDG is recording the complete Foerster symphonies.
Viktor Kalabis:                 Symphonies No.1, No.4(1972)
Vitezslav Novak:              Autumn Symphony for chorus and orchestra(1934), May Symphony for soloists, chorus and orchestra(1943)

France:

Andre Jolivet:                  Symphonies No. 1(1954), No.2(1959)
Charles Koechlin:              Symphonies No.1(1926), No.2(1943-44), Symphony in A major(1893-1900), Symphonie d' Hymnes(1936)
Paul Le Flem:                   Symphonies No. 2(1956), No.3(1970)

Latvia:

Janis Ivanovs:                 Symphonies No. 6 'Latvian'(1949), No.7(1953), No.9(1960), No.11(1965), No.13 'Symphonia Humana'(1969),
                                         No.15 'Sinfonia Ipsa'(1972), No.16(1974), No.17(1976), No.18(1977), No.19(1979), No.21(1983)

Russia:

Gavril Popov:                  Symphonies No.3 'The Spanish'(1946) for strings, No.4'Honour to the Motherland' for soloists, chorus and
                                             orchestra(1949)
Maximilian Steinberg:       Symphonies No.3(1928), No.4 'Turksib'(1933), No.5 'Symphonic Rhapsody on Uzbek Themes"(1942)
Boris Tishchenko:           Symphonies No.2 'Marina' for chrus and orchestra(1964), No.4 for orchestra with narrator(1974)
Moisei Weinberg:            Symphonies No.1(1942), No.3(1949), No.8 'Flowers of Poland' for tenor, chorus and orchestra(1964), No.9
                                      'Everlasting Times' for narrator, chorus and orchestra(1940-67), No.11 'Festive Symphony' for chorus and
                                      orchestra(1969), No.13(1976), No.15 'I Believe in This Earth' for soprano, baritone, women's chorus and
                                      orchestra, Symphony 'Kaddish'(1992).
                                      Chandos MAY be planning to record these but that must be regarded as doubtful.

Ukraine:

Valentin Silvestrov:           Symphonies No. 1(1963), No.3 'Eschatophony'(1966), No.7(2002-03).
                                              BIS is planning a Silvestrov series.

[Lethevich]

Tüür's first symphony has yet to be recorded and there is perhaps a fifth one to be written in the next few years. 21st century, sorry!

[Superhorn]

   The only work of Novak which I have heard is the marvelous cantata "The Storm", which I have on Supraphon coupled with Dvorak's"The Spectre's Bride", bothconducted by Krombholc.
  On the basis of this, I would definitely like to hear more by this composer, who was a pupil of Dvorak. The cantata deals with the daily lives of sailors on a ship and an Ethiopian king who has been taken prisoner and enslaved on it, and a storm and shipwreck. 
  The Spectre's Bride is also wonderful, and is an oratorio about a young woman who has lost her betrothed in battle, and who conjures up his ghost and narrowly avoids disaster.
  I don't know if this Supraphon 2 disk set is still available, but I recommend it highly.

[vandermolen]

I have an LP recording of Janis Ivanovs Symphony 11 (one of his best) but it has never made it to CD due to a dispute with the 90+ year old conductor.

[Dundonnell]

Part 3

Denmark:

Niels Viggo Bentzon:   Symphonies No.1, No.2(1945), No.6(1950), No.9(1960), No.10(1963), No.11(1964), No.12(1964), No.13(1965),
                                   No.14, No.15(1980), No.16(1987), No.17(1988), No.18(1988), No.19(1989), No.20(1988), No.21, No.22,
                                   No.23, No.24
Paul von Klenau:        Symphonies No.2, No.3 for solo, choir and orchestra, No.4 'Dante Symphony', No.6 'Nordische Symphonie'(1940),
                                   No.8(194?), No.9 for choir and orchestra(194?)

Finland:

Kalevi Aho:               Symphonies No. 6(1979-80), No.13 'Sinfonisia luonnekuvia"(2003)
                                            BIS is committed to continuing their Aho cycle.
Aare Merikanto:         Symphonies No. 1(1914-16), No.2 'Sotasinfonia'(1918), No.3(1952-53)
Ernest Pingoud:         Symphonies No.1(1920), No.2(1921), No.3(1923-27)

Netherlands:

Henk Badings:           Symphonies No. 1(1932), No.3(1934), No.4(1943), No.6 'Psalmensymphonie' for choir and orchestra(1953), No.8(1956),
                                   No.10(1961), No.11 'Sinfonia giocosa'(1964), No.13 for wind instruments(1966), No.14 'Symphonische Triptiek'(1968).
                                   CPO is recording a complete cycle of the Badings symphonies.
Cornelis Dopper:        Symphonies No.1 'Diana: a Dance Symphony'(1895-1921), No.4 'Sinfonietta'(1905), No.5 'Symphonia epica'(1908)
Jan van Gilse:           Symphonies No.3 'Ehrebung' for soprano and orchestra(1903), No.4(1910-15).
                                       CPO will be recording these works.
Leon Orthel:             Symphonies No.1(1936), No.5 'Musica iniziale'(1960), No.6(1961)
Willem Pijper:            Symphony No.1(1917). CPO will apparently be recording a Pijper cycle.

(Finding dates of composition for some of these symphonies has been incredibly difficult!)

Part 4 will be devoted to British symphonies.

[Dundonnell]

Oh....by the way...I hope that someone finds all this of some interest It has taken me a long time to compile(he says snarling! )

[Renfield]

Finland:

Kalevi Aho:               Symphonies No. 6(1979-80), No.13 'Sinfonisia luonnekuvia"(2003), No.14 'Rituaaleja'(2007).
                                            BIS is committed to continuing their Aho cycle.

Do we have an Aho thread? I've been interested in his work since hearing the Fröst-commissioned clarinet concerto, and it never occurred to me until now to investigate his symphonic output... I know he's written a tuba concerto, but maybe that's not the best second step.

[Dundonnell]

Yes we do I started it

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,7786.0.html

[vandermolen]

Colin,

Do you mean stuff that has never been recorded or that has never made it to CD?

For example Ovchinnikov's great score for the Russian  film 'War and Peace' (Bondurchak) was on LP but I have been waiting for decades for a CD.

Jeffrey

[Dundonnell]

I have restricted the lists to music that is available on CD only.

That does not mean-of course-that all of these CDs are easily obtainable

[vandermolen]

I would like to see the old Supraphon Sinfonia Pacis by Kalabis on CD (there was a not-so-good alternative version on CD).

Music by Goossens and Novack come to mind.

[Cato]

Colin,

Do you mean stuff that has never been recorded or that has never made it to CD?

For example Ovchinnikov's great score for the Russian  film 'War and Peace' (Bondurchak) was on LP but I have been waiting for decades for a CD.

Jeffrey

Dude!  That score RAWKS!   

Here are some Vyacheslav Ovchinnikov links:

http://hcl.harvard.edu/hfa/films/2006spring/ovchinnikov.html

YouTube Interview with Ovchinnikov:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaVsl6Pg1Zw&feature=related

And you will see he really IS OvCHINnikov!   

[Dundonnell]

Part 4(and last)

United Kingdom:

Edgar Bainton:                   Symphony No.1 'Before Sunrise' for contralto, chorus and orchestra(1907)
Sir Richard Rodney Bennett: Symphonies No.1(1965), No.2(1968)
York Bowen:                      Symphonies No.1(1902), No.3(1951)
Havergal Brian:                  Symphonies No. 5 'Wine of Summer' for baritone and orchestra((1937), No.13(1959), No.14(1960), No.19(1961), No.22
                                                (1965), No.23(1965), No.24(1965), No.26(1966),No.27(1967), No.28(1967), No.29(1967), No.30(1967)
Alan Bush:                        Symphonies No.3 'Byron' for baritone, chorus and orchestra(1960), No.4 'Lascaux'(1973)
Arthur Butterworth:            Symphonies No.2(1964), No.3 'Sinfonia Borealis'(1979), No.5(2003), No.6(2006), 'A Moorland Symphony' for
                                           bass, chorus and orchestra(1967)
Arnold Cooke:                    Symphonies No.2(1963), No.4(1974), No.5(1978-79), No.6(1983-84)
Peter Racine Fricker:           Symphony No.1(1948-49), No.3(1960), No.4(1966), No.5 for organ and orchestra(1975-76)
John Linton Gardner:           Symphony No.2(1985)
Iain Hamilton:                    Symphonies No.1(1948), No.2(1951), No.3 'Spring'(1981), No.4(1981)
Alun Hoddinott:                  Symphonies No.1(1955), No.4(1969), No.7 for organ and orchestra(1989), No.8 for brass and
                                          percussion(1992), No. 9 'A Vision of Eternity' for brass and orchestra(1993), No.10(1999)
Joseph Holbrooke:              Symphonies No.1 'Homage to Edgar Allan Poe" for chorus and orchestra(1907), No.2 'Apollo and the
                                          Seaman' for chorus and orchestra(1907), No.3 'Ships'(1925), No.5 'Wild Wales' for brass band(1930s),
                                          No.6 'Old England' for military band(1928), No.7 for strings(1929), No.8 'Dance Symphony' for piano and
                                          orchestra(1930)
                                              Cameo Classics have apparently recorded the Symphony No.4 'The Little One:
                                                                  Homage to Schubert"(1928)
Daniel Jones:                     Symphonies No.1(1945), No.2(1950), No.3(1951), No.5(1958), No.10(1981), No.11(1983), Symphony 'In
                                          Memory of John Fussell'(1992)
Kenneth Leighton:              Symphony No.1(1964)
David Matthews:                Symphonies No.2(1976-79), No.6(2007)
                                           Dutton intend to record Nos. 2 and 6.
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies:     Symphonies No.7(2000), No.8 'Antarctic'(2000)
John McCabe:                    Symphonies No.1' Elegy'(1965), No.3 'Hommages'(1973), Symphony 'Edward II'(1998)
Anthony Milner:                 Symphonies No.2 for soloists, chorus and orchestra(1978), No.3(1987)
Robin Orr:                         Symphonies N.2(1970), No.3(1978)
Cyril Rootham:                   Symphony No.2 for chorus and orchestra(1936-38)
Robert Still:                       Symphonies No.1(1954), No.2(1956)
William Wordsworth:           Symphonies No.1(1944), No.4(1951), No.5(1960), No.6 'Elegiaca' for soloists, chorus and orchestra(1977),
                                             No.7 'Cosmos'(1980), No.8 'Pax Hominibus'(1986)