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Not very well known symphonies

18K views 115 replies 56 participants last post by  Progstreaming 
#1 ·
I thought it would be nice if there was a thread devoted to not very well known symphonies, underrated symphonies or symphonies by great composers that are overshadowed by some of their more famous works.

To start off: Wagner's Symphony in C. The first of his one and a half symphonies (the other one being in E). He wrote it at 19 years old and really does make you think that he would have grown up to be a major symphonist.



OMG SOUNDS LIKE BEETHOVEN
 
#35 ·
Reinhold Gliére's Symphony No. 3 in B minor is an enormous work. It's a programme symphony based on the Russian legend of Il'ya Muromets. In four movements, the work lasts around 75 minutes. The most incredible moment for me is the climax of the fourth movement. The brass play fanfares over a constant timpani roll, woodwind and percussion add their own elements to the picture, the whole affair building up over 2 full minutes, before an absolutely earth-shattering climax with some of the loudest bass drum strikes I've ever heard.



 
#39 ·
Reinhold Gliére's Symphony No. 3 in B minor is an enormous work. It's a programme symphony based on the Russian legend of Il'ya Muromets. In four movements, the work lasts around 75 minutes. The most incredible moment for me is the climax of the fourth movement. The brass play fanfares over a constant timpani roll, woodwind and percussion add their own elements to the picture, the whole affair building up over 2 full minutes, before an absolutely earth-shattering climax with some of the loudest bass drum strikes I've ever heard.
Thanks, I just spent this afternoon listening to a whole bunch of Gliere on Classics Online.:cool:
For some reason, his music reminded me of Chausson.
 
#37 ·
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).
 
#46 ·
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 :)
 
#55 ·
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.
 
#58 ·


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)
 
#59 ·
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
 
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