What are the greatest twentieth century symphonies?

So far I've listened to Shostakovich's 5th,9th, Prokofiev's 1st, 5th, Mahler's 5th,6th, Sibelius 1st,2nd(though the 1st was written 1899-1900), and Rachmaninoff's 2nd. What are some other great twentieth century symphonies I should listen to?

Prokofiev's 1st, 3rd, and 5th.

Shostakovich 5th and 8th.

Listen to as many of Shostakovich's as you can. I haven't heard all of them yet personally but I will someday.

Shostakovich's 5th. Hey, I agree with John Galt about something!!

I've learned from

Shostaokovitch - No 10, if you can cope with the violence of the scherzo - the Karajan recording makes other conductors sound gentlemanly.

Peter Mennin (one time head of Juilliard) - Symphonies 3, 6, 8 and 9

William Walton - Symphony No 1 in Bb minor.

Vaughan Willams - symphonies 5, 6 and the Sinfonia Antartica.

also the Australian Ross Edwards, Symphony No 3

..

What, no Mahler?

Oh, ok, Mahler probably just about creeps into the 20th C. .....Though I don't think it one of the 20th centurys greats, I liked very much what he finished of his 10th - the first movement, a beautiful Adagio, and the scherzo.

Mahler was clearly moving into a deeper reflective expression, as if his spirituality was finding a different voice, at one time peaceful but rather resigned.

As for that thug Derryck Cooke who took it on himself to finish that symphony - he grabbed old rejected sketches, bits and bobs, and made stuff up, throwing it back into the realm of earlier Mahler. He hadn't had the sense to realise that Mahler was moving spiritually forward.

I couldn't bear to hear more than two movements of Cooke's travesty.

He's one of those musicologists who never wrote more than 8 bars of his own symphony so he had to crash in on Mahler's gig and others.

So okay - lets add "The fragments that Mahler wrote for his 10th." A sublime work.

Better?

:o

M

I guess I should add Elgar's 1st Symphony, since I've been listening to it the past few days.

A sadly neglected work: Jan Sibelius' 7th symphony (in one movement). In my opinion, one of the finest symphonies of the century (along with Schostakowitch's previously mentionned 10th).

Oh, I forgot to mention, while I was on the subject, Prokofiev's 4th 'Prodigal Son' symphony. Prokofiev wrote two symphonies that were adaptations of operatic work, the 3rd being 'The Fiery Angel' and the 4th being 'The Prodigal Son'. Both are great (The Fiery Angel has long been criticized as a symphony with words and not an opera), but the Prodigal Son music is among Prokofiev's best. Harsh, yet emotional, and displaying his rhythmic genius.

I also had two others to recommend, but I've since completely forgotten. I'll edit this later if I remember.

In addition to many of those listed above, I enjoy the earlier symphonies of David Diamond. Also, Corigliano's first symphony is a really great piece.

Shostakovich 5th, Shostakovich 10th, and (even against all its terrible reviews) Copland's Third... :o

Edit: Vaughan-Williams 5th, too :P

Thanks to everyone for recommending Shostakovich's 10th, I've been enjoying listening to it all week. I love how it puts me in a trance. I'll try to listen to Vaughan Willams 5th, Sibelius's 7th, and Mahler's 7th in the next few weeks.

the story goes that the Scherzo of Schostakowitch's 10th is a musical description of Stalin... so it's basically "evil incarnate set to music". Puts the music into a whole new perspective. Especially when you notice the D-S-C-H theme show up at the climax of the entire symphony (the composer triumphing over his now-dead oppressor).

(that themes pops up here and there throughout the symphony in very subtle forms, but really shows itself in the 3rd movement as a "main' theme, then at the end during the climax. D - S (Ess - E flat) - C - H (B natural) for Dmitri Schostakowitch).

I'll add another vote for the Copland 3.

I listen to a TON of 20th century Symphonies, so I'm going to be making quite a few recommendations:

Barber: Symphony No. 1 - One of the best single movement Symphonic works. You need this piece in your collection.

Copland Symphony No. 3 - True classic. The way he incorporates the 'Fanfare for the Common Man' into the Finale is truly uplifting. Part of the Holy Trinity of American 3rd Symphonies.

Corigliano: Symphony No. 1 'Of Rage and Remembrance' - This was a reaction to the AIDS epidemic, and is perhaps the greatest Symphony of the last twenty years.

Elgar: Symphony No. 2 - Not as popular as his first, but very much more personal. The Scherzo is a true romp, featuring his most poisonous theme ever.

Hanson: Symphony No. 2 'Romantic' - Perhaps the most gorgeous of all American symphonies, Hanson's second has turned up in many surprising places (the conclusion to the movie Alien being one of the most notable).

Harris: Symphony No. 3 - A single movement work that typifies the American rhythmic and melodic voice. Part of the Holy Trinity of American 3rd Symphonies.

Iver: Symphonies 1 - 4 - the first true American composer, his work is worth hearing because of all the new directions he created.

Khatchaturian: Symphony No. 2 'The Bells' - Do you want something fierce, demanding, and hold you tight and shake you repeatedly? Then this is the work for you. This piece is a bravura example of the post-Mahler era.

Korngold: Symphony in F Sharp Major - Known more as a Hollywood composer, Korngold's late Symphony is a true tour de force, reminiscent of Walton's 1st.

Krenek: Symphony No. 2 - Repressed by the Nazis, this work is a study in chromaticism and melodic paragraphs. It builds to a rage I have rarely seen in orchestral music.

Nielsen: Symphony No. 4 'The Inextinguishable' and No. 5 - It blows my mind that nobody has mentioned these two works. Nielsen was a contemporary of Sibelius, and in many ways, his work dissonant cousin. These two are his finest works, and should be more widely known.

Petterrsson: Symphony No. 10 - Written on hospital sheets because he had nothing else available, this work is nothing short of a dying man's rage against a cruel world.

Rouse: Symphony No. 1 - Written as an extended Adagio, this work conveys an unerring sense of time, and the ravages it leaves upon the world. Despite its slow tempo, it can hold you riveted to your seat.

Schoenberg: Chamber Symphony No. 1 - This works takes the Common Practice chromaticism about as far as it can go before it breaks. Also includes early use of stacked fourths for harmony.

Schuman, William: Symphony No. 3 - A work of powerful emotion, this is the final symphony in the Holy Trinity of American 3rd Symphonies.

Simpson: Symphony No. 9 - A true Cathedral in sound. Simpson's music blends the intellectual heft of Beethoven and the logic of Nielsen into a very convincing whole. The 9th is a study of harmony built on the circle of 4ths.

Vaughan-Williams: Symphony No. 4 - If you haven't heard this, his most dissonant work, one considered prophetic of the coming second world war, then you need it. Absolutely stunning. Will leave your blood cold.

Walton: Symphony No. 1 - One of the quintessential 20th century works, its rhythmic intensity and excellent craftmanship leave it as one of the greats for all time. It perhaps is the true reason that Walton's name still survives.

Other important names in 20th century Symphonies:

Myaskovsky (he wrote 27!!)

Tubin

Lyatoshinsky

Vagn Holmboe

Martinu

Nosyrev (his second is the best memorial to Shostakovich, period)

Rautavaara

Hovhaness

Kabelac

Vine

Brian

Hartmann

Lutoslawski

There are tons more too.

Matusleo

I forgot about Hanson's Symphony no.2, I love that piece.

I forgot about Hanson's Symphony no.2, I love that piece.

Last week I listened to it once every day. It's just that gorgeous. The end of the first movement, when the muted horns give that final uncertain chord, I just get goosebumps all over!!

Matusleo

Thank you Matusleo for that list. It will take me a few years to listen to all of them.

Most symphonies mentioned here are by composers who are generally considered second-rate or at least not very important composers (e.g., howard hanson, robert simpson, vaughan williams, shostakovich).

I can't believe that some of the truly greatest 20th century symphonies have not been mentioned yet:

Luciano Berio - Sinfonia

Elliott Carter - Symphonia: Sum fluxae pretium spei (arguably Carter's greatest work)

K.A. Hartmann - Symphony No. 6

Gustav Mahler - Symphony No. 9 (No. 8 is also a masterpiece and also Deryck Cooke's performing version of No. 10 is worth checking out; forget about No.7, which is generally regarded as Mahler's weakest effort)

Olivier Messiaen - Turangalila Symphony

Alexander Scriabin - Symphony No. 3 ("Divine Poem")

Igor Stravinsky - Symphony of Psalms, Symphony in three movements

Anton Webern - Symphony op. 21 (although only 10 minutes in duration, it's a 20th century classic)

The already mentioned 4th symphony by Ives also definitely belongs on the list of greatest 20th century symphonies. As for shostakovich, he's way overrated. His symphonies are lacking in originality, invention and counterpointal complexity and his rhetoric is derivative of Mahler, but without the complexity and depth of Mahler's language. I would give Shostakovich's entire output for any single Mahler movement.

If a Shostakovich Symphony is 2nd rate, what is first rate?

Mahler. Mahler is first rate. Pierre Boulez once said that he considered Shostakovich a second, or even third pressing of Mahler. I agree with that.

Further, all composers I mentioned in my previous post (Berio, Carter, Messiiaen, Stravinsky, etc.) can be considered first rate.

I can't believe that some of the truly greatest 20th century symphonies have not been mentioned yet:

Luciano Berio - Sinfonia

Elliott Carter - Symphonia: Sum fluxae pretium spei (arguably Carter's greatest work)

K.A. Hartmann - Symphony No. 6

Gustav Mahler - Symphony No. 9 (No. 8 is also a masterpiece and also Deryck Cooke's performing version of No. 10 is worth checking out; forget about No.7, which is generally regarded as Mahler's weakest effort)

Olivier Messiaen - Turangalila Symphony

Alexander Scriabin - Symphony No. 3 ("Divine Poem")

Igor Stravinsky - Symphony of Psalms, Symphony in three movements

Anton Webern - Symphony op. 21 (although only 10 minutes in duration, it's a 20th century classic)

The already mentioned 4th symphony by Ives also definitely belongs on the list of greatest 20th century symphonies. As for shostakovich, he's way overrated. His symphonies are lacking in originality, invention and counterpointal complexity and his rhetoric is derivative of Mahler, but without the complexity and depth of Mahler's language. I would give Shostakovich's entire output for any single Mahler movement.

Shostakovich is second rate to those? Ewww.

Aaron Copland's Third Symphony is the greates piece (in my opinion) ever written.

Excellent suggestions! But nobody mentioned Henryk Gorecki's 3rd symphony, 'the symphony of sorrowful songs'. Therefore, my own small contribution to the thread!:)