A New Year List of favourites, symphonies 1 to 9

[Boilk]

... I only heard DSCH's 8th today (Haitink/Concertgebouw). After a single listen, I think it could easily slip into my list now. An astonishing symphony and a worthy work with which to break my January purchase hiatus

Shostakovich does make exceedingly good symphonies (sometimes)

[Demetrius]

1. Elgar
2. Vaughan Williams
3. Norman
4. Bruckner
5. Kalliwoda
6. Rubbra
7. Potter in F major
8. Schubert
9. Dvorak

interesting exercise, as many of these wouldn't actually be my top choice for best XY-th. Also had the shocking realisation that Rubbra 6 yesterday was just about the first 6th I consciously listened to - if I was ever exposed to another, I can't recall it

[scottycelt]

This is an exercise that favours Bruckner people, isn't it. In some ways,

As far as I can work out, in no more ways than it might favour all our Beethoven, Schubert, Dvorak, Mahler,Vaughan Williams and Shostakovich reprobates ...

Of course, if I, and not Saly, were responsible for the rules of engagement it almost certainly would ...

[antongould]

As far as I can work out, in no more ways than it might favour all our Beethoven, Schubert, Dvorak, Mahler,Vaughan Williams and Shostakovich reprobates ...

Of course, if I, and not Saly, were responsible for the rules of engagement it almost certainly would ...

Must admit the Lat statement puzzled me too......

[Lateralthinking1]

Must admit the Lat statement puzzled me too......

It was quite a light hearted comment on my part.

I suppose it depends on how the adding up is done. Bruckner is not the favourite for having, at the end of this exercise, the greatest number of nominations across the board. Far from it. But if 8 is the weakest in terms of decent choices, and it probably is, then he is the one most likely to have a place in the best 1-9. The others seem to be spread across the numbers more, rather like Lib Dems getting a lot of votes but not necessarily "seats". Of course, nothing is guaranteed. Things could change with new lists.

On a different point, I note that Mozart's early symphonies are not getting huge support, perhaps unsurprisingly.

[ahinton]

Shostakovich does make exceedingly good symphonies (sometimes)

Most of the time, actually (take out 2, 3 and 12 and rename 14 something other than a symphony and what's left is a quite incredibly powerful symphonic legacy) - and 4 (pictured above) is surely the finest of them all!

[Boilk]

... and 4 (pictured above) is surely the finest of them all!

I deliberately chose 4 – had to, given my nomination!

[Barbirollians]

1 Elgar
2 Mahler
3 Brahms
4 Bruckner
5 Tchaikovsky
6 Beethoven
7 Sibelius
8 Dvorak
9 Schubert

[Jonathan]

After much pondering...

1. Rachmaninov
2. Borodin
3. Brahms
4. Tchaikovsky
5. Raff
6. ? (need to give this one some more thought)
7. Beethoven
8. Dvorak
9. Schubert

and un-numbered: Liszt - Faust

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

1 Elgar
2 Mahler
3 Brahms
4 Bruckner
5 Tchaikovsky
6 Beethoven
7 Sibelius
8 Dvorak
9 Schubert

This may make you incredibly jealous, but I heard Sir John conduct most of those at live concerts during the 1960s.

[Suffolkcoastal]

1 MARTINU
2 ELGAR
3 COPLAND
4 TUBIN
5 VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
6 BAX
7 HARRIS
8 HOLMBOE
9 as I'm not allowed Vaughan Williams again it will have to be SIMPSON

[Suffolkcoastal]

1. Elgar
2. Vaughan Williams
3. Norman
4. Bruckner
5. Kalliwoda
6. Rubbra
7. Potter in F major
8. Schubert
9. Dvorak

interesting exercise, as many of these wouldn't actually be my top choice for best XY-th. Also had the shocking realisation that Rubbra 6 yesterday was just about the first 6th I consciously listened to - if I was ever exposed to another, I can't recall it

Interesting choices, the Norman is delightful. The Potter symphonies have alternate numbering, I've got 6 of them and they are thoroughly enjoyable. The Kalliwoda symphonies are as good as any from the 1st half of the 19th century. For me the 3rd and 4th are the best and should be in the standard repertoire.

[Sir Velo]

The Kalliwoda symphonies are as good as any from the 1st half of the 19th century.

If they're as good as Beethoven 3-9 and Schubert 8&9, their neglect has to be one of the great travesties of musical history.

[antongould]

I sort of half promised statistics for the President of the thread to possibly interest some and to irritate others - by numbers the "winners", within the rules, are

1 Elgar
2 Mahler
3 Brahms
4 Brahms / Shostakovich
5 Sibelius
6 Mahler / Vaughan Williams
7 Dvorak
8 Bruckner
9 Beethoven / Schubert

Most popular choice

1 Bruckner 8
2 Elgar 1
3 Dvorak 7
4= Dvorak 8
4= Beethoven 9
4= Schubert 9

Most chosen composers

1 Bruckner
2 Mahler
3 Beethoven
4= Dvorak
4= Vaughan Williams

[Lateralthinking1]

I sort of half promised statistics for the President of the thread to possibly interest some and to irritate others - by numbers the "winners", within the rules, are

1 Elgar
2 Mahler
3 Brahms
4 Brahms / Shostakovich
5 Sibelius
6 Mahler / Vaughan Williams
7 Dvorak
8 Bruckner
9 Beethoven / Schubert

Most popular choice

1 Bruckner 8
2 Elgar 1
3 Dvorak 7
4= Dvorak 8
4= Beethoven 9
4= Schubert 9

Most chosen composers

1 Bruckner
2 Mahler
3 Beethoven
4= Dvorak
4= Vaughan Williams

Many thanks for the great work antongould. I have really enjoyed this thread.