Is the Symphony as an Art Form Dead?

[Petrushka]

Following on from the thread about the symphonic form in the mid-19th century I am left wondering if the symphony is alive and kicking in the 21st?

I can only think of Peter Maxwell Davies who recently reached his 10th this century with the likes of Henze, Tippett and Lutoslawski before him.

Anyone writing symphonies in 2015 or is the symphony dead?

[Lat-Literal]

Following on from the thread about the symphonic form in the mid-19th century I am left wondering if the symphony is alive and kicking in the 21st?

I can only think of Peter Maxwell Davies who recently reached his 10th this century with the likes of Henze, Tippett and Lutoslawski before him.

Anyone writing symphonies in 2015 or is the symphony dead?

Other than Mason Bates with electric guitar, Wolters's 17 second effort and the Internet Symphony No. 1 - "Eroica" - by Tan Dun (4 minutes, 3 seconds)?

I could, actually, cope with the first but I haven't even bothered to check out the second and third on the grounds that they represent the soundbite age.

Here's a reminder of the Bates which I posted in autumn. I believe it is described as a Symphonic Scherzo and it has a certain something in its 9 minutes:

Mason Bates - Mothership - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFh7LAFel4w

[ahinton]

Following on from the thread about the symphonic form in the mid-19th century I am left wondering if the symphony is alive and kicking in the 21st?

I can only think of Peter Maxwell Davies who recently reached his 10th this century with the likes of Henze, Tippett and Lutoslawski before him.

Anyone writing symphonies in 2015 or is the symphony dead?

When I was offered a place to study at RAM many years ago (which for circumstances into which I will not go I was unable to take up at the time), I recall one of the issues under discussion was "is the symphony dead?". You mention PMD and with good reason, but he's not the only symphonist alive and well (OK, he may not be too well right now and I fondly hope that he's recovering from his second tussle with leukæmia) - there's David Matthews, for starters and he's not alone either. No, the symphony is far from dead, even though it has to take its place among many other persuasions today.

[teamsaint]

Maybe the industry is to blame for lack of intererest, and for persuading composers to find alternative ways of presenting their music.

a prominent american composer is still producing them, but no sign of UK performances ( of works that would likely grace the Proms), no CD of the two most recent symphonies, from 2011 and 2104 respectively, and some indifference, as a result perhaps, from the public. not many Youtube views here:

[Petrushka]

When I was offered a place to study at RAM many years ago (which for circumstances into which I will not go I was unable to take up at the time), I recall one of the issues under discussion was "is the symphony dead?". You mention PMD and with good reason, but he's not the only symphonist alive and well (OK, he may not be too well right now and I fondly hope that he's recovering from his second tussle with leukæmia) - there's David Matthews, for starters and he's not alone either. No, the symphony is far from dead, even though it has to take its place among many other persuasions today.

Thank you, ahinton, I'd forgotten about David Matthews and Christopher Rouse too, ts.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Not to forget Leif Sagerstam with 286 Symphonies to date.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

287.

[Petrushka]

Not to forget Leif Sagerstam with 286 Symphonies to date.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

288.

[Suffolkcoastal]

Still some composers interested in the symphony, below are the ones I reviewed up to 2012 that I reviewed during my symphonic journey. Ib Norholm & Per Norgard are among the more significant, John Harbison has composed a 4th & 5th, Aho completed his 16th last year. I expect David Matthews will probably add a couple more.

2000
Corigliano: Symphony No 2
Maxwell Davies: Symphony No 7
Henze: Symphony No 10
Holloway: Symphony
Sumera: Symphony No 6
Yosimatsu: Symphony No 4
2001
Maxwell Davies: Symphony No 8 ‘Antarctic Symphony’
P Glass: Symphony No 6 ‘Plutonium Ode’
Hersch: Symphony No 2
H Kox: Symphony No 4 ‘Tasmanian Symphony’
Sallinen: Symphony No 8 ‘Autumnal Fragments’
Yosimatsu: Symphony No 5
2002
G Coates : Symphony No 14 ‘Symphony in Microtones’
D Ellis: Symphony No 2
Segerstam: Symphony No 81 ‘after eighty’
2003
Aho: Symphony No 12 ‘Luosto’
Aho: Symphony No 13’ Symphonic Characterisations’
J Anderson: Symphony
A Butterworth: Symphony No 5
Harbison: Symphony No 4
J Krenz: Symphony No 3
MacMillan: Symphony No 3 ’Silence’
Silvestrov: Symphony No 7
Veale: Symphony No 3
2004
Casken: Symphony ‘Broken Consort’
Corigliano: Symphony No 3 ‘Circus Maximus’
P Glass: Symphony No 7 ‘Toltec’
2005
Arnell: Symphony No 7 ‘Mandela’ (realised Yates 2010)
G Coates: Symphony No 15 ‘Homage to Mozart’
A Eliasson: Symphony No 4
P Glass: Symphony No 8
Penderecki: Symphony No 8 ‘Songs of Transience’
Vasks: Symphony No 3
2006
Norgard: Symphony No 7
Segerstam: Symphony No 151 ‘Challenging the risks.....’
Segerstam: Symphony No 162 ‘Doubling the number for Bergen’
2007
J Adams: Dr Atomic Symphony (revised version)
Aho: Symphony No 14 ‘Rituals’
McCabe: Symphony No 7 ‘Labyrinth’
D Matthews: Symphony No 6
Rueda: Symphony No 3 ‘Luz’
Segerstam: Symphony No 181 ‘Names itself when played’
2008
J Gallagher: Sinfonietta (revised version)
T Marco: Symphony No 8 ‘Gaia’s Dance’
Part: Symphony No 4
Ruders: Symphony No 4
Segerstam: Symphony No 212
2009
Broadstock: Symphony No 6 ‘Tyranny of Distance’
C Gunning: Symphony No 5
T Marco: Symphony No 9 ‘Thalassa’
2010
Aho: Symphony No 15
D Matthews: Symphony No 7
2011
P Glass: Symphony No 9
Norgard: Symphony No 8
Rouse: Symphony No 3
2012
Maxwell Davies: Symphony No 9
P Glass: Symphony No 10
Mustonen: Symphony No 1 ‘Tuuri’
A Schultz: Symphony No 3 ‘Century’
Stucky: Symphony

[gradus]

Blimey, are Segerstam's symphonies as short as Scarlatti sonatas? How on earth does he find the time?

[Beef Oven!]

Anyone writing symphonies in 2015 or is the symphony dead?

Sir James MacMillan - Symphony #4 - 2015

[teamsaint]

288.

a very Bourgeouis joke that, Ferney.

http://www.derekbourgeois.com/catalogu.htm

[EdgeleyRob]

I've got some ideas for a symphony in my head.
Just not capable of getting them written down......yet.

[teamsaint]

https://atuneadayblogdotcom.wordpress.com/british-symphonies-2000/

British Symphonies, Chronologically, right up to date.