Post by Carlton the Barbarian on May 3, 2008 20:44:31 GMT -8
Tom already started a thread about the 1st and the 6th symphony. The first symphony can be a little unpolished and not many composers have made it to the sixth one, so I thought I would start a thread about the third symphony. There's so much to choose from. So, what's you favorite 3rd symphony? Yeah, this question is difficult, so why not make it a "Top Three" List. Wow, this is a really hard thing to do. Here's my list:
1. Gorecki: "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs" (1976)
The subtitle says it all. This is a very moving lamentable work but it's also very comforting and relaxing, though I see how some (like Tj) would find it to be slow and boring. The meditative strings repeating, rising, falling, and giving way to comforting lamenting vocals - songs about the loss of life.
2. Atterberg: "West Coast Pictures" (1916)
I was close to putting this one first. The themes, those wonderful themes... The first movement starts out with this addictive 5 note theme, which envelops and takes over. The music joyfully builds and settles down, but the opening theme is still there. The last movement, Summer Night, contains one of the most estatic and glorious passages of music that I've heard. It's utter joy... maybe, I should have put this one first.
3. Mahler (1896)
A long one, but it doesn't seem long because this symphony is filled with great moments. It contains, yet, another great finale by Mahler ("What love tells me"). I also love the ""What the Angels Tell Me" movement.
I'm tempted to go on. There's Mendelssohn's delightful "Scottish" symphony, Anthiel's rousing "American" symphony, Honneger's 'Liturgical' symphony. Bruckner's third is pretty good too, and so is Copland's, though I think Hanson's is even better. Oh, and the last movement from Saint-Saëns "Organ" symphony is wonderful. Who else am I forgetting?
Shostakovich (First of May), Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky (Polish), Glazunov, Beethoven (Eroica), Mendelssohn (Scottish), Schumann (Rhenish), Schubert, Bruckner, Norðgren, Sibelius, Neilsen ('Espansiva'), Atterberg, Nordgren, Hanson, Copland, Harris, Ives (The Camp Meeting), Mennin, Vaughan-Williams (Pastoral), Elgar (Sketches), Bax, Alwyn, Tippett, Saint-Saëns (Organ symphony), Honegger (Liturgique), Szymanowski (Song of the night) , Gorecki (sorrowful songs), Raff (In the Forest), Egon Wellesz, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Gade, Enescu, Bruch... So many third symphonies. Anyone have any favorites?
-Carlton
1. Gorecki: "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs" (1976)
The subtitle says it all. This is a very moving lamentable work but it's also very comforting and relaxing, though I see how some (like Tj) would find it to be slow and boring. The meditative strings repeating, rising, falling, and giving way to comforting lamenting vocals - songs about the loss of life.
2. Atterberg: "West Coast Pictures" (1916)
I was close to putting this one first. The themes, those wonderful themes... The first movement starts out with this addictive 5 note theme, which envelops and takes over. The music joyfully builds and settles down, but the opening theme is still there. The last movement, Summer Night, contains one of the most estatic and glorious passages of music that I've heard. It's utter joy... maybe, I should have put this one first.
3. Mahler (1896)
A long one, but it doesn't seem long because this symphony is filled with great moments. It contains, yet, another great finale by Mahler ("What love tells me"). I also love the ""What the Angels Tell Me" movement.
I'm tempted to go on. There's Mendelssohn's delightful "Scottish" symphony, Anthiel's rousing "American" symphony, Honneger's 'Liturgical' symphony. Bruckner's third is pretty good too, and so is Copland's, though I think Hanson's is even better. Oh, and the last movement from Saint-Saëns "Organ" symphony is wonderful. Who else am I forgetting?
Shostakovich (First of May), Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky (Polish), Glazunov, Beethoven (Eroica), Mendelssohn (Scottish), Schumann (Rhenish), Schubert, Bruckner, Norðgren, Sibelius, Neilsen ('Espansiva'), Atterberg, Nordgren, Hanson, Copland, Harris, Ives (The Camp Meeting), Mennin, Vaughan-Williams (Pastoral), Elgar (Sketches), Bax, Alwyn, Tippett, Saint-Saëns (Organ symphony), Honegger (Liturgique), Szymanowski (Song of the night) , Gorecki (sorrowful songs), Raff (In the Forest), Egon Wellesz, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Gade, Enescu, Bruch... So many third symphonies. Anyone have any favorites?
-Carlton