The best Sixth symphony

Please don't bringing in outside pieces, if u r not familiar with some of these pieces, go to Naxos, and have a listen before you condemn works that you never heard of.

Edit by CaltechViolist: added Dvorak, as per thread starter's comment.

oops! I forgot Dvorak's six!

I cannot believe you forgot Vaughan-Williams's Sixth. ;-)

I could never decide!!! ohhhh what a world.

It's odd that the number 6 produced so much great symphonies.

Add 3 and it gets even weirder...

The best in what?

Well I'm going to have to stay with my roots and go Tchaikovsky's Sixth. Just got the full score of all his sixth symphonies yesterday and they're great! :)

Chad dream eyes: yeah, I know what you mean - the famous curse of the ninth. Loads of people have died: Beethoven, Dvorak, Bruckner, Schubert, Mahler...

If you're confused, go to this link here. for the full story!

I'll definitely go with the Tragic. Over time it's become my favorite symphony by my favorite composer.

I heard the piece live, and that was the first time of me hearing it, nothing can replace that:(

(Mahler 6th)

I really wanted to vote Beethoven's "Pastoral," since it's probably my favourite of his nine, but Tchaikovsky's is the greater piece. I regret I have never heard Mahler's 6th, or perhaps I'd have voted that in.

I think (now I have heard Schubert's sixth), Schubert's sixth symphony is a very delightful piece, not nearly as serious as Mahler's tragic or Tchaikovesky's pathetique, a very "fun" symphony to listen to

I really wanted to vote Beethoven's "Pastoral," since it's probably my favourite of his nine, but Tchaikovsky's is the greater piece. I regret I have never heard Mahler's 6th, or perhaps I'd have voted that in.

Alban Berg, of Mahler's 6th, once said, "There is only one sixth, notwithstanding the Pastoral."

I have the score to Mahler's sixth. My old music theory instructor once made the claim that the adagio movement from Mahler's sixth was the greatest work of late romanticism to ever have been written. I tempted to agree.

I love Mahler's sixth...

I love Tchaikovsky's 6th...

Comparing them is silly, they are very different music.

However, if I had to pick one to survive the apocalypse, it would be Tchaikovsky's 6th, which I consider one of the highest achievements of the human race. Call me crazy if you like. But before you do, go out and try to equal the development section of the first movement. Try to compose music with even a tiny fraction of that blood-boiling intensity. That is the music of a master at his absolute peak, flaming with explosive emotions, yet (for once) in complete control of his craft. The sad truth is that Tchaikovsky's many detractors are merely jealous.

Tchaikovsky steadily improved over his career. He always had the inspiration, but with the sixth, he finally mastered form and motivic development. The result is a piece that belongs with a select few at the top.

Tchaikovsky's "Pathetique" in B minor, followed closely by Beethoven's 6th "Pastorale" of course...

The poll shows them tied, so at least we can agree they are both beastly!

Sadly Von richter, Tchaikovsky died about a week later... Strange huh? I'd have to say his as well. I haven't heard a few of these, but the Tchaikovsky just blew me away when I heard an orchestra play it. Quite amazing.

Tchaikovsky's 6th is by far the greatest 6th symphony, let alone any symphony. You can tell he poured his soul into it from the creepy beginning to the unbearably sad ending. It is a piece of music matched by very few others.

You left out Sibelius!!! Shame on you!!!

i really cant pick between Tchaikovsky's 6th and Beethoven's 6th......:(

Alban Berg, of Mahler's 6th, once said, "There is only one sixth, notwithstanding the Pastoral."

I think what Berg said was that Mahler's was "the only sixth, despite the Pastoral," instead of "notwithstanding the Pastoral," meaning it was even better than Beethoven's.

Kind of interesting that so many sixth symphonies are considered underrated in the context of that composer (Beethoven, Mahler, and Bruckner all come to mind). This seems to be a three way race between Beethoven, Mahler and Tchaikovsky, but Bruckner and Vaughan Williams are strong dark horses in my opinion.

This is a pretty cool theme by the way. Which number do you want to do next?

9th :P?

How is this a fair question? Furthermore, these pieces are so diverse- each one has something individual to offer.

I agree..this thread is so very unfair..

I voted for tchaikovsky anyway..even thought I love mahler

I loved Shostakovich's Sixth. It was the first piece by him I every heard. I love the tension that builds up in the cello part in the first minute, the piccolo solo, and the entire second movement. I suppose I could've expected that few would vote for it, though.