Thread: Not very well known symphonies

I'm going to nominate the 3 symphonies of Aram Khachaturian. I know everyone goes 'yah-boo' at the 3rd, but the other two have a great deal of merit and deserved to be heard much more often.
Also, the symphonies of Cornelius Dopper, especially the 7th with it's rip-roaring finale

Egon Wellesz wrote nine nice symphonies:


It's a pity they're quite bad performed. A more vivid and modernist approach would be perfect. Something like young Abbado or maybe Curly-guy would be perfect.

Originally Posted by StevenOBrien

^ To add to that, Eberl's E-flat major symphony was actually premiered in the same public concert as Beethoven's Eroica, and it was initially praised by critics much more highly than the Eroica.

They were probably the Teen Weenies from TC.

Originally Posted by elgars ghost

Re: Gliere - the recording I have of Ilya Muromets lasts for a whopping 93 minutes (and it isn't even Celibidache who's conducting it).

This is because shortened versions are often played and recorded.

Originally Posted by ComposerOfAvantGarde

(I was going to write somehting here about having superior knowledge about contemporary music)

Pease don't. Where's my Ligeti music??

Originally Posted by Romantic Geek

I feel like most people forget Roy Harris's 3rd Symphony when talking about great American symphonies. In my opinion, it is THE American symphony.

But not neglected.

Carl Stamitz symphonies are like a better version of Mozart's Early Symphonies. Definitely worth checking out. Symphony in F major Op. 24, No. 3 is one worth checking out.

Has anyone listened to Finnish composer Kalevi Aho's symphonies? I've thought about trying one. I think he's written 15 so far?

Been listening to the Schnittke symphonies on youtube lately. Very good and nice instrumentation, but nothing memorable, although i'm only on my first pass.

Gloria Coates springs to mind instantly. Though definitely not to everyone's taste, I imagine CoAG would appreciate her work. For those on not-so-friendly terms with 20th century classical, they may find the 2nd video more palatable.





By the way, TheWelleszCompany, the channel that posted this video, is probably the foremost modern and contemporary music channel on YT, along with its sibling channels TheWelleszOpus and TheWelleszTheatre. I think I've mentioned them here before, but nonetheless.

peter tchaikovsky had a incomplete E FLAT symphony there are few albums of it.I have it on LP & on CD.Also SCHUBERT had a symphony 10 & 7 which he did not completed during his lifetime-cds of the 10 & 7 symphonies are not to common like the other 8 symphonies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgy_Catoire

I recently listened to this symphony. I like this composer's piano music. I'm not sure yet about the symphony, will have to listen again.

Hans Rott's first and only symphony is of quality, and so is his life story, though tragic:
"Rott's mind snapped in October 1880, whilst on a train journey. He was reported to have threatened another passenger with a revolver, claiming that Brahms had filled the train with dynamite." (wikipidia)

Paderewski "Polonia" Symphony
Parry Symphonies 3 and 4(especialy the first movt of the former, with its joyous Boycean springiness; and the last movt of the latter, with its wonderfully moving second subject)
Bloch Symphony in C sharp minor
Bruch Symphony 2
Siegfried Wagner Symphony: brooding and full of longing;joyful themes; magnificent orchestration; available on CPO
I am not saying these are "great" symphonies; is purely a subjective choice of un(der)performed symphonies, but i would make quite a high claim for the two Parry Symphonies. Steve

Berwald - Symphony Sérieuse in G minor

As good as Schumann Symphonies.