What are the greatest twentieth century symphonies?

and how about a few works that don't quite fit the mold of "symphony" yet fulfil its expectations?

Debussy "La Mer"

Rachmaninov "Symphonic Dances"

sibelius is my hero. I love his symphonies very much for the incomparable sense of form . . . . . I also like nielsen a great deal (especially the 4th). Tippett the British composer: his second is really worth a listen. and Shostakovich of course.

Obviously.

Mine are the best.

Oh how could I forget? They are truly great symphonies, not just of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, but of all periods of art music. lol. Jk

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?

Shostakovich 7th, the "Leningrad symphony".

It's a must...he he!

Shostakovich quote; "Real music is always revolutionary..."

Fredrik

Sibelius' No. 4 and No. 6

Sibelius is another second-rate composer whose music had already become terribly conservative during his own lifetime. I'm convinced that composers like Sibelius and Shostakovich (arguably the most overrated 20th century composer) will eventually come to be seen as "lesser" composers, as the Salieris and Joachim Raffs of their time.

Sibelius is another second-rate composer whose music had already become terribly conservative during his own lifetime. I'm convinced that composers like Sibelius and Shostakovich (arguably the most overrated 20th century composer) will eventually come to be seen as "lesser" composers, as the Salieris and Joachim Raffs of their time.

Sibelius and Schostakowitch will only be seen as "second rate" by people who do not understand them.

I am not the only one to believe that Sibelius' 7th symphony is among the greatest symphonies of the 20th century.

Likewise many of Schostakowitch's symphonis, chief among them the 5th, 10th, 13th, 14th.

Many of the 20th century symphonies seem to go in for bombast, and feature large orchestras etc., and I of course enjoy many of these pieces, but one of the smaller beauties is Schoenberg's First Chamber Symphony.

I also have to put forward the symphonies of Nielsen, as being, in my opinion, some of the greatest of the 20th century.

Sibelius and Schostakowitch will only be seen as "second rate" by people who do not understand them.

I am not the only one to believe that Sibelius' 7th symphony is among the greatest symphonies of the 20th century.

Likewise many of Schostakowitch's symphonis, chief among them the 5th, 10th, 13th, 14th.

Well, I'm not alone either when I say that Sibelius and Shostakovich will eventually come to be seen as second rate composers. The critical consensus, as well as my own opinion, seems to be that these composers were not very important in the development of 20th century music. A famous critic (forgot his name) once described Shostakovich' music as derivative, empty and second-hand. Bartok didn't think highly of Shostakovich. Similarly, Boulez said something like "it's like olive oil, you have a second and a third pressing - I think of Shostakovich as the second, or even third pressing of Mahler." Do you really think that such great musical minds as Bartok and Boulez didn't "understand" Shostakovich' music, whatever that means.

I can see why the music of these composers (Sibelius and Shos) appeals to so many people, but I suspect these composers are only attractive to those who are not yet ready to appreciate the more difficult and more important 20th century music.

Sad to see Hindemith missing, so I would add:

Symphony in B-flat.

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

I love the Elgar symphony. So few people have actually heard it...

My favorite 20th Century Symphonies are DeMeij Symphony No. 2, and Howard Hanson's Symphony No. 2 "Romantic", and Gorecki Symphony No. 2 "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs."

...and Gorecki Symphony No. 2 "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs."

Just for the record, it's his third symphony! :)

Of course, to actually like Hindemith, you have to be a compulsive masturbator...

Ahah, I make joke...

I'd add the Glass 5, too. Simply for its premise, and its occasional inventive use of text painting.

Why the concern with a symphony?

Schoenberg's Chamber Symphony!... Kammersymphonie, a great wonderful mesh of ideas.

Lets see... Are we are excluding the Glass and Barber symphonies?

I'd add the Glass 5, too.

See?

Reading's a wonderful thing; most people don't bother with it.

Lets see... Are we are excluding the Glass and Barber symphonies?

Glass' symphonies don't belong on the list of greatest 20th century symphonies. Philip Glass is the most overrated composer of our times. I'd give his entire output for any small chamber piece by Elliott Carter. Eventually, Philip Glass will be remembered as merely a footnote in the history of Western art music. True modern music affectionados and critics have long given up taking his formulaic approach to composing seriously, as Glass - blinded by the commercial success of his mindnumbing doodely-doodely style - keeps on producing the same predictable, trivial, simpleminded, boring earcandy he has been churning out for decades now.

Glass' symphonies don't belong on the list of greatest 20th century symphonies. Philip Glass is the most overrated composer of our times. I'd give his entire output for any small chamber piece by Elliott Carter. Eventually, Philip Glass will be remembered as merely a footnote in the history of Western art music. True modern music affectionados and critics have long given up taking his formulaic approach to composing seriously, as Glass - blinded by the commercial success of his mindnumbing doodely-doodely style - keeps on producing the same predictable, trivial, simpleminded, boring earcandy he has been churning out for decades now.

Just a small observation reading this thread: There are so many wonderful IDEAS and great pieces to check out. Why does it have to be a contest for the best pieces in which we rank the efforts of all these fine composers. Any work that moves the human spirit is a work truly worthy of getting to know!

Glass' symphonies don't belong on the list of greatest 20th century symphonies. Philip Glass is the most overrated composer of our times. I'd give his entire output for any small chamber piece by Elliott Carter. Eventually, Philip Glass will be remembered as merely a footnote in the history of Western art music. True modern music affectionados and critics have long given up taking his formulaic approach to composing seriously, as Glass - blinded by the commercial success of his mindnumbing doodely-doodely style - keeps on producing the same predictable, trivial, simpleminded, boring earcandy he has been churning out for decades now.

But are they actually formulaic? Or do they simply point to something beyond the music?

His picture operas work to make the music a background or tapestry, rather than a part of the drama.

His fifth symphony uses the repetitive rhythms and melodic cells to allow the text to be the focus.

I agree that his chamber music and purely orchestral works are ridiculous.

But his vocal/opera works are certainly noteworthy.

This is worth bumping

and Corigliano 1 is pretty great

I also find Shostakovich kind of derivative and overrated, but I can't say that to anyone at the music school for fear of being shanked :(

Mahler's 9th Symphony, maybe my favourite piece of all time.

The Symphonies by Takashi Yoshimatsu are also very good, you should give him a listen.

RISE FROM YOUR GRAAAAAAAAAVE~

Sibelius 7 and Turangalila, in my opinion.

I'd definitely also second Schoenberg's Kammersymphonie and Symphony of Psalms. Mahler 10 is an honorable mention.

Surprisingly, despite my obsession with Hindemith, I've never heard any of his symphonies, and in general, I prefer his chamber music to his orchestral music.

I listened recently to Kurt Weil's Symphony No. 2.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.