Longest symphony in the world - standard repertoire

quote: Canadian composer R. Murray Schaffer's "Ra".

Hi Qccowboy,

Why don't you post a link to the music?

Fredrik

because that would be copyright infringement.

Originally Posted by Qccowboy

because that would be copyright infringement.

So this composer has nothing on youtube? Like Mahler and Stravinskij then

Fredrik

Richard Wagner's Ring is 18 hours long

That is 4 operas however.

Symphony FAQ - What is the longest symphony? - Longest symphony

What is the shortest opera? - Impressive

Originally Posted by ArcticWind7

That is 4 operas however.

Symphony FAQ - What is the longest symphony? - Longest symphony

What is the shortest opera? - Impressive

actually, they err on that website, since Victory at Sea is not a symphony either... it's the score to a television series.

and just in case anyone doubts it:

Victory at Sea: television series IMDB page

Article on Richard Rodgers' score

The latter article actually removes a tiny bit of credit from Richard Rodgers, since much of the music was arranged and/or orchestrated by Robert Russell Bennett.
I remember this from having owned a vinyl pressing of this score. I also remember having another disk of music by Robert Russell Bennett, who was a very fine orchestrator and composer in his own right.

So, I guess R. Murray Schaffer is still the holder of the title.
Like I said, technically, however, "Ra" is not a symphony. However, it IS a single piece of music, meant to be performed in one sitting.

Originally Posted by Fredrik

Hi again Jujimufu,
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Here is the correct length of the whole Tetralogy which took Richard 27 years to compose.

The Ring should be evaluated as one long story, like Tolkien's Ring!

When I bought the big black box "Wagner's Ring", I listened to all the 15 hours 30 minutes in one session (as a teenager in the 70s).

Oh, I was pretty exhausted But I did it!

Das Rheingold: 2 hours 30 min.
Die Walkure : 4 Hours..
Siegfried : 4 Hours.
Götterdämmerung: 5 hours.

total hours: 15 hours 30 min.

Okay everybody, I'm sure there are other composers who have tried to composed a lot, but we must also take into consideration how often a work is being performed.

Der Ring des Nibelungen is played all the time constantly in most of the big opera houses of today.

One more thing, he wrote the whole libretto himself!

Now back to the root... Gustav Mahler's 3rd symphony is the longest symphony in the world! Almost 2 hours long!

Also one of the most beautiful symphonic pieces in the Viennese music history!

Don't forget to listen,
Fredrik
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I have read all the comments! So I'm now bringing back the discussion
to Mahler and long symphonies!

There is a mistery in his ninth symphony which he wrote 1909, two years before his death!

I will go into further detail when some of you listeners have become familiar with the music! Thank you for your cooperation

Here is the music performed by the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra:

MAHLER - 9TH SYMPHONY - 1ST MOVEMENT (PART 1) - Free video 'Mahler - 9th symphony - 1st movement (Part 1)' at EMULE VIDEOS

It doesn't qualify as a symphony of course, but since the Ring has been brought up, so should be Stockhausen's "Licht", lasting more than a day in total.

(Of course, like the Ring, it's not meant to be performed in one piece though.)

Originally Posted by Fredrik

Mahler 3rd Symphony - Longest symphony in the world (2 hours long)

From Bruno Walter's (famous Mahler conductor) memoir of Mahler: "I arrived by steamer on a glorious July day; Mahler was there on the jetty to meet me, and despite my protests, insisted on carrying my bag until he was relieved by a porter. As on our way to his house I looked up to the Höllengebirge, whose sheer cliffs made a grim background to the charming landscape, he said: 'You don't need to look — I have composed all this away!" The rockface became the introductory theme of the Third Symphony, the unison chant for eight horns, which he dubbed in one sketch "What the rocky mountain tells me."

Last movement - Finale : MySpaceTV Videos: Mahler 3rd Symphony - Finale by Gustav Mahler

Mahler's Symphony No. 3 is a unusual symphony not only because of it's length, but because it also has 6 movements!
The Symphony No. 3 in D minor by Gustav Mahler was written between 1893 and 1896. It is his longest piece and usually considered to be the longest symphony in the standard repertoire, with a typical performance lasting around ninety to one hundred minutes.

The work has six movements:
1. Kräftig entschieden (Strong and decisive)
2. Tempo di Menuetto (In the tempo of a minuet)
3. Comodo (Scherzando) (Comfortably, like a scherzo)
4. Sehr langsam--Misterioso (Very slowly, mysteriously)
5. Lustig im Tempo und keck im Ausdruck (Cheerful in tempo and bold in expression)
6. Langsam--Ruhevoll--Empfunden (Slowly, tranquil, deeply felt)

According to Wikipedia a typical performance of Mahler's 3rd lasts around 90 to 100 minutes.

A "typical" (it's not played very often) performance of Havergal Brian's 1st Symphony "The Gothic" lasts around 98 to 115 minutes. I'd say this is a strong contender to the title.

I bet that Cages 2 days 5 hours 4 minutes and 33 secs is the longest piece around...

I also bet that a lot of this music has to be about ambient music... hmmm...