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.
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.
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.
I am now going through a box with the 8 symphonies of Swiss composer Hans Huber (1852-1921). Another late romantic that has been neglected unfairly. I especially like his 4th with prominent roles for piano and organ.
Arthur Honegger's 5th Symphony has long been a personal favorite of mine that seems to not get programmed very often. His 3rd is well worth a listen too.
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.
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.
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.
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
I recommend first 4 symphony of Glazunov. They're very 'adorable'. I have to listen to other 5 more.
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