I love this list. At least six or seven of them are new to me. I look forward to seeking them out! For convenience, here is an index of David's thoughts on each work. 00:00 Dave's Introduction 01:08 Liszt: A Faust Symphony 03:57 Tchaikovsky: Manfred Symphony 05:32 Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Symphony 07:14 Ives: New England Holidays Symphony 09:27 Goldmark: Rustic Wedding Symphony 10:12 Berlioz: Harold in Italy 11:54 Turina: Sinfonia Sevillana 13:22 Britten: Sinfonia da Requiem 14:52 Leifs: Saga Symphony 16:08 D’Indy: Symphony on a French Mountain Air 18:05 Rota: Symphony on a Love Song 19:03 Koechlin: The Seven Stars Symphony 20:28 Stravinsky: Symphony in Three Movements 21:44 Hindemith: Symphony “Mathis der Maler” 23:17 Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie 25:54 Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde
Super list. One I would include would be Saint-Saëns "Ubs Roma". Whether it's good enough to get into your list is a different story. I maybe slightly bias as I love anything he composed regardless. I would possibly tried to squeeze in Karlowicz "Rebirth" as well. It's quite demanding but Antoni Wit's recording keeps everything interesting and moving. Keep up the good work, everyone loves a list.
Thank you very much Dave for this ongoing series, which I am enjoying immensely - I will have to listen to the works I do not know! I had never heard any of the Lemminkainen Suite until your talk on why it was actually a symphony, so double thanks for that. I'll also be looking forward to your upcoming Koechlin talk! If anyone is interested, my own personal addition to this list (or the first symphonies list) would be Emil Mlynarski's Symphony in F Major, Op. 14. I first heard it in the recording on Warner with Jacek Kaspszyk conducting the Warsaw Philharmonic - a masterpiece in my opinion, and one of the greatest first movements by any composer, with a motto theme which is actually interesting and an unforgettable first subject! There's a score-video on TH-cam and Kord recorded it as well on a Polish label, I think.
In my view, Jurowski’s recording of Manfred with LPO really is sensational. But then this conductor has such WOW! from me. I was fortunate enough to see him live with the LOP. His Tchaikovsky 4 was about as close to god as this queer is ever likely to get. Must listen to the Ives you cited. Love ya werk Save 👍
Another excellent list. The only other works I could think of to add are the Hovhaness "Mountains and Rivers Without End" (a chamber symphony but I still think it counts) and Herbert Owen Reed's masterpiece "La Fiesta Mexicana" (yes, I'm a band geek). As for Hindemith, I think of him as having done anywhere from 6 to 10 symphonies depending on how strict a definition one wants to use. 6 works with "Symphony" or "Sinfonia" in the title (Mathis der Maler, Die Harmonie der Welt, E-Flat, B-Flat (for band), Serena, and Pittsburgh), 2 Sinfoniettas (in E, and the Lustige Sinfonietta), and 2 other works that I think qualify (Symphonic Metamorphosis, and the Symphonic Dances).
Nice list. I know most of these by name and have heard probably half. But my secret favorite is the 'Sinfonia castellana' (Castilian Symphony) by Antonio José (Martínez Palacios). It's on Naxos and I play it every week. So catchy!
I’m so glad you mentioned the Messiaen. Thanks Dave. Given the literary inspired symphonies included, I wonder where you’d place Scheherazade? It’s essentially a 4 movement symphony in my estimation.
Love the Manfred Symphony with its dramatic timpani roll at the end of the first movement. And yes, the Sibelius with its 4 tone poems represents the typical 4 movements mode. Love your singing, David !
There's a lot of great music on this list! I love Sibelius' Lemminkäinen Symphony. It's a crime that no one ever plays it all live. The Swan of Tuonela, for example, is so popular but it's a special experience live when you get to see that melody work its way from the double basses up though the strings! I also think Berlioz's Harold in Italy is way underrated. I completely agree with you about how influential it is.
Hi Dave, nice balance of the familiar ("Oh yes, of course!") and less familiar. Speaking of Saint Saens 'Urbs Roma', how about Bizet's Roma Symphony? Very beautiful and very underrated.
One of Rota's students was Riccardo Muti, who has been somewhat of a champion for his cause recording two CDs (don't know why I typed 'symphonies'). I think he once headed the Rota archives, if he still doesn't. Rota also done 3 other symphonies, all number. i don't personally like the 3rd. Rota was one of the first composers I was ever into so it is difficult for me to judge only now that I am getting into Bruckner and Mahler since I have had 20+ years of listening to him, but I am burnt out with symphony #1 and Sinfonia sopra... (which also contains the Il Gattopardo symphony, something that was once my favourite music). Symphony #2 on the other hand still has its moments...
Quite spectacular! Could a case be made to add Debussy's La Mer to this list of unnumbered symphonies? Other narrative themed symphonies depicting nature (Lemminkainen, Beethoven Pastorale, Berlioz Harold) could also be classified as tone poems.
Great list with a couple of discoveries for me like the Rota. One I would add because it's so much fun, so charming, and nobody plays it is Hindemith's Symphonia Serena which you did mention but it's sadly neglected. The NY Phil played it only once since Bruno Walter did it in 1947. Everything it seems has to have angst. The
Yes, the Faust Symphony is one big Sonata form (the Faust movement is the exposition, Gretchen the development and the Mephisto the recapiltulation) . The purely instrumental version was indeed recorded by Noseda (Liszt's initial version).
So glad you included Mathis der Maler. Another symphony based on an opera is John Adams’ Doctor Atomic Symphony-like Hindemith’s is based on three scenes from the opera. I think it is terrific, but then we could also include his Harmonielehre even if it is not called a symphony. And maybe his Naive and Sentimental Music! I’m happy you didn’t include Gliere’s recondite Ilya Murometz! But maybe that will turn up in your symphonies No. 3?
Just played Turina's Sinfonia Sevillana for the first time...What an orchestrator. What performance do you recommend? (I followed the one here on TH-cam with the orchestral score posted, but it's uncredited.)
Just take your pick. There aren't a ton of them and most are very good. Lopez-Cobos on Telarc is great if you can fine it, and there's a very good, inexpensive one on Naxos too.
It was never "renamed." It was originally a symphony, and later in his life Sibelius referred to it as such--and frankly it doesn't matter what he called it. It IS a symphony by any reasonable definition of the medium.
Sibelius said: "I actually have nine symphonies, since some of the movements in Kullervo and Lemminkäinen are in pure sonata form." (To Jussi Jalas, June 1957)
The Britten cello symphony is rather ugly. There. I said it. And I love Leifs' Saga Symphony. It's good to see it get a nod or few . . . but, as a regular here, I know your general fondness for Leifs.
As a Liszt cult member I greatly appreciate you including him in 2 of these videos! So many people just write him off as a serious composer.
Great list, as always! My number 17 would be Berio's Sinfonia.
I love this list. At least six or seven of them are new to me. I look forward to seeking them out!
For convenience, here is an index of David's thoughts on each work.
00:00 Dave's Introduction
01:08 Liszt: A Faust Symphony
03:57 Tchaikovsky: Manfred Symphony
05:32 Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Symphony
07:14 Ives: New England Holidays Symphony
09:27 Goldmark: Rustic Wedding Symphony
10:12 Berlioz: Harold in Italy
11:54 Turina: Sinfonia Sevillana
13:22 Britten: Sinfonia da Requiem
14:52 Leifs: Saga Symphony
16:08 D’Indy: Symphony on a French Mountain Air
18:05 Rota: Symphony on a Love Song
19:03 Koechlin: The Seven Stars Symphony
20:28 Stravinsky: Symphony in Three Movements
21:44 Hindemith: Symphony “Mathis der Maler”
23:17 Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie
25:54 Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde
Thanks!
Thanks for doing this!
Your list videos have become my shopping lists!
That's great. It's one of the reasons I'm doing them.
@@DavesClassicalGuide Agree. You're costing me a fortune! 🙂
Super list. One I would include would be Saint-Saëns "Ubs Roma". Whether it's good enough to get into your list is a different story. I maybe slightly bias as I love anything he composed regardless. I would possibly tried to squeeze in Karlowicz "Rebirth" as well. It's quite demanding but Antoni Wit's recording keeps everything interesting and moving. Keep up the good work, everyone loves a list.
I would go for his Symphony in A., the one before nr. 1, haha.
Would like to put in a plug for Smetana’s Festive Symphony. Great fun with a scherzo to die for.
Thank you very much Dave for this ongoing series, which I am enjoying immensely - I will have to listen to the works I do not know! I had never heard any of the Lemminkainen Suite until your talk on why it was actually a symphony, so double thanks for that. I'll also be looking forward to your upcoming Koechlin talk!
If anyone is interested, my own personal addition to this list (or the first symphonies list) would be Emil Mlynarski's Symphony in F Major, Op. 14. I first heard it in the recording on Warner with Jacek Kaspszyk conducting the Warsaw Philharmonic - a masterpiece in my opinion, and one of the greatest first movements by any composer, with a motto theme which is actually interesting and an unforgettable first subject! There's a score-video on TH-cam and Kord recorded it as well on a Polish label, I think.
In my view, Jurowski’s recording of Manfred with LPO really is sensational. But then this conductor has such WOW! from me. I was fortunate enough to see him live with the LOP. His Tchaikovsky 4 was about as close to god as this queer is ever likely to get. Must listen to the Ives you cited. Love ya werk Save 👍
Absolutely first class video! I loved everyone of these suggestions. Thank you so much for your work!
Just d'Iscovered the d'Indy symphony thanks to this video!
Another excellent list. The only other works I could think of to add are the Hovhaness "Mountains and Rivers Without End" (a chamber symphony but I still think it counts) and Herbert Owen Reed's masterpiece "La Fiesta Mexicana" (yes, I'm a band geek).
As for Hindemith, I think of him as having done anywhere from 6 to 10 symphonies depending on how strict a definition one wants to use. 6 works with "Symphony" or "Sinfonia" in the title (Mathis der Maler, Die Harmonie der Welt, E-Flat, B-Flat (for band), Serena, and Pittsburgh), 2 Sinfoniettas (in E, and the Lustige Sinfonietta), and 2 other works that I think qualify (Symphonic Metamorphosis, and the Symphonic Dances).
Nice list. I know most of these by name and have heard probably half. But my secret favorite is the 'Sinfonia castellana' (Castilian Symphony) by Antonio José (Martínez Palacios). It's on Naxos and I play it every week. So catchy!
This is a great list. A modern symphony with no number of which I am quite fond is the Metropolis Symphony by Michael Daugherty.
I’m so glad you mentioned the Messiaen. Thanks Dave. Given the literary inspired symphonies included, I wonder where you’d place Scheherazade? It’s essentially a 4 movement symphony in my estimation.
I agree.
Love the Manfred Symphony with its dramatic timpani roll at the end of the first movement. And yes, the Sibelius with its 4 tone poems represents the typical 4 movements mode. Love your singing, David !
There's a lot of great music on this list! I love Sibelius' Lemminkäinen Symphony. It's a crime that no one ever plays it all live. The Swan of Tuonela, for example, is so popular but it's a special experience live when you get to see that melody work its way from the double basses up though the strings! I also think Berlioz's Harold in Italy is way underrated. I completely agree with you about how influential it is.
Much less known is Hindemith's Symphony "Harmonie der Welt." Well worth a listen.
I am shocked, SHOCKED not to see the Symphonie espagnole occupying pride of place, Dave!
That would be a concerto.
@@omegamale7880 I think you’ve missed the joke. Dave has a frequently expressed antipathy for this particular work.
Hi Dave, nice balance of the familiar ("Oh yes, of course!") and less familiar. Speaking of Saint Saens 'Urbs Roma', how about Bizet's Roma Symphony? Very beautiful and very underrated.
Holmboe's Sinfonia in Memoriam, one of his very greatest.
One of Rota's students was Riccardo Muti, who has been somewhat of a champion for his cause recording two CDs (don't know why I typed 'symphonies'). I think he once headed the Rota archives, if he still doesn't. Rota also done 3 other symphonies, all number. i don't personally like the 3rd. Rota was one of the first composers I was ever into so it is difficult for me to judge only now that I am getting into Bruckner and Mahler since I have had 20+ years of listening to him, but I am burnt out with symphony #1 and Sinfonia sopra... (which also contains the Il Gattopardo symphony, something that was once my favourite music). Symphony #2 on the other hand still has its moments...
A really good “contemporary” one that isn’t exactly a household name is Sofia Gubbaidulina’s Stimmen... Verstummen... (Symphony in 12 Movements)
Love that piece!
Lalo symphony in d and korngold symphony can be added.
Quite spectacular! Could a case be made to add Debussy's La Mer to this list of unnumbered symphonies? Other narrative themed symphonies depicting nature (Lemminkainen, Beethoven Pastorale, Berlioz Harold) could also be classified as tone poems.
Great list with a couple of discoveries for me like the Rota. One I would add because it's so much fun, so charming, and nobody plays it is Hindemith's Symphonia Serena which you did mention but it's sadly neglected. The NY Phil played it only once since Bruno Walter did it in 1947. Everything it seems has to have angst. The
The Turina is a great find - finally a French piece about Spain written by an actual Spaniard! 😉
Yes, the Faust Symphony is one big Sonata form (the Faust movement is the exposition, Gretchen the development and the Mephisto the recapiltulation) . The purely instrumental version was indeed recorded by Noseda (Liszt's initial version).
Argenta.
@@DavesClassicalGuide Ok, I misheard you, but Noseda also recorded the instrumental version.
So glad you included Mathis der Maler. Another symphony based on an opera is John Adams’ Doctor Atomic Symphony-like Hindemith’s is based on three scenes from the opera. I think it is terrific, but then we could also include his Harmonielehre even if it is not called a symphony. And maybe his Naive and Sentimental Music! I’m happy you didn’t include Gliere’s recondite Ilya Murometz! But maybe that will turn up in your symphonies No. 3?
Don't count on it.
@@DavesClassicalGuide I won’t. It’s one work I can do without!
The Bloch Symphony in C-sharp minor really needs to be here!
I wouldn't say it needs to be, but it's a terrific work all the same.
No Chausson symphony in B-flat? 😭
Nope.
I think your discovery regarding Das Lied von der Erde is fascinating.
Great list - may I also recommend the Arriaga?
I don't think so. It's nice, but not really a major work.
Would add Franck's d-minor symphony to the list as well.
Already mentioned in another list. I'm trying to avoid duplication to offer a maximum variety of repertoire in these lists.
Though only in three movements, Rautavaara’s Autumn Gardens is my nominee. Just lovely stuff…
A gorgeous work, but not a symphony.
I’ll admit to playing a bit fast and loose with the ball here…
Just played Turina's Sinfonia Sevillana for the first time...What an orchestrator.
What performance do you recommend? (I followed the one here on TH-cam with the orchestral score posted, but it's uncredited.)
Just take your pick. There aren't a ton of them and most are very good. Lopez-Cobos on Telarc is great if you can fine it, and there's a very good, inexpensive one on Naxos too.
Joseph Marx Eine Herbstsymphonie deserves to be listed IMHO.
Surely Cesar Franck should be among the first chances, also the rarely heard Dukas.
Already mentioned in an earlier list.
Can we consider La Mer a symphony?
You may.
Lemminkainen symphony? When was the work renamed? Sibelius called it no such thing did he?
It was never "renamed." It was originally a symphony, and later in his life Sibelius referred to it as such--and frankly it doesn't matter what he called it. It IS a symphony by any reasonable definition of the medium.
Sibelius said: "I actually have nine symphonies, since some of the movements in Kullervo and Lemminkäinen are in pure sonata form."
(To Jussi Jalas, June 1957)
@@DavesClassicalGuide Thanks Dave. I never knew that. Much appreciated.
Isn’t a ‘keyboard glockenspiel’ a celesta, or are they two separate things?
They are completely different.
Wagner early symphony in C
Dave, if I may suggest an “honorable mention,” what about Malipiero’s “Sinfonia del Silenzio e della Morte”?
Why not?
Also Malipiero's Sinfonia del Mare, an absolutely beautiful piece. So translucent and lyrical -- like much of his compositions.
Rachmaninoff symphonic dances surely?
Surely not. It is what it is.
These are all 19th and 20th century, right? Intentional?
No. The universe decided.
The Britten cello symphony is rather ugly. There. I said it.
And I love Leifs' Saga Symphony. It's good to see it get a nod or few . . . but, as a regular here, I know your general fondness for Leifs.