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The most beautiful orchestral work of the twentieth century

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Author Topic: The most beautiful orchestral work of the twentieth century  (Read 6068 times)
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kyjo
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« Reply #15 on: April 05, 2013, 07:57:32 pm »

Depends on how you define beautiful, but I've got a hankering for Miaskovsky's 5th Symphony.

I would also count Myaskovsky's elegiac and haunting Symphony no. 27, as well as his beautiful Cello Concerto, among the most beautiful works of the last century. Written in the final years of his life (the concerto in 1944 and the symphony in 1949) these two works poignantly represent the "final breaths" of the romantic tradition which Myaskovsky so dearly loved.
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guest145
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« Reply #16 on: April 08, 2013, 02:10:38 pm »

So many works to choose from, with some excellent nominations in this thread already. If forced to select one item, I think my choice would be:

Wilhelm Stenhammar: incidental music to Chitra
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Jolly Roger
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« Reply #17 on: April 13, 2013, 01:42:33 am »

Depends on how you define beautiful, but I've got a hankering for Miaskovsky's 5th Symphony.

I would also count Myaskovsky's elegiac and haunting Symphony no. 27, as well as his beautiful Cello Concerto, among the most beautiful works of the last century. Written in the final years of his life (the concerto in 1944 and the symphony in 1949) these two works poignantly represent the "final breaths" of the romantic tradition which Myaskovsky so dearly loved.

The 27th is unforgettable..
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Jolly Roger
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« Reply #18 on: April 13, 2013, 01:45:29 am »

Hmmm....tough to pick just one. Despite its short duration, I would probably nominate Ravel's Pavane pour une infante défunte (the piano version was written in 1899, but the orchestral version comes from 1910, so...). Such a beautiful piece! VW's Tallis Fantasia and Symphony no. 5, Barber's Adagio for Strings (overused though it be), Sibelius' Symphony no. 5, Larsson's Symphony no. 1, Atterberg's Symphony no. 3 and (more recently) Aaron Jay Kernis' Musica celestis for strings would also be prime candidates. Oh, and then there's Joep Franssens' orchestral works!

Larsson no 3 gets my vote..
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kyjo
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« Reply #19 on: April 13, 2013, 02:58:14 am »

Larsson no 3 gets my vote..

In fact, I can't think of any of Larsson's works off the top of my head that couldn't qualify as beautiful, which is quite remarkable for a 20th century composer :)
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« Reply #20 on: April 13, 2013, 07:47:08 am »

Why his volin concerto is not standard repertoire beats me.
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Jolly Roger
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« Reply #21 on: April 13, 2013, 06:57:28 pm »

Larsson no 3 gets my vote..

In fact, I can't think of any of Larsson's works off the top of my head that couldn't qualify as beautiful, which is quite remarkable for a 20th century composer :)
I would agree completely..
I just listened again to the 3rd symphony (has echoes of Saint Saens 3rd) and it is quite addictive...
The Prelude to "God In Disguise" is heavenly and  The Winters Tale lingers in the mind long after the music is gone....
Unfortunately, I have not heard the violin concerto..
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Jolly Roger
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« Reply #22 on: July 20, 2013, 03:19:48 am »

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

or in the ear..
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Jolly Roger
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« Reply #23 on: July 20, 2013, 03:28:03 am »

Depends on how you define beautiful, but I've got a hankering for Miaskovsky's 5th Symphony.
I agree with the composer choice, but the symphony should be number 25. The melody is simple and forever haunting.
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Christo
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« Reply #24 on: July 20, 2013, 09:19:29 am »

Larsson no 3 gets my vote..

If I remember correctly, Larsson withdrew his Third Symphony (1945) after its first performance. Does anyone know why?
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… music is not only an `entertainment’, nor a mere luxury, but a necessity of the spiritual if not of the physical life, an opening of those magic casements through which we can catch a glimpse of that country where ultimate reality will be found.  RVW, 1948
Jolly Roger
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« Reply #25 on: July 20, 2013, 09:53:19 am »

Larsson no 3 gets my vote..

If I remember correctly, Larsson withdrew his Third Symphony (1945) after its first performance. Does anyone know why?
A reviewer at Amazon.com claims he disowned all 3 symphonies..but the why is a mystery..these are very fine pieces.
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« Reply #26 on: July 20, 2013, 01:12:17 pm »

Since we started this thread, I tried very hard to come up with my favourite here, but it is IMPOSSIBLE to choose one, because tomorrow I find another one the most beautiful. It very depends on my mood. Sometimes I would I didn't collect so much music.
Maybe I choose a couple of opera aria's and Smetana's Vltava comes close. Kyjo mentions Joep Franssens (also a winner for me)
And how about the 'Concierto de Aranjuez'

I better stop: undecided.
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shamus
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« Reply #27 on: July 20, 2013, 06:31:37 pm »

I love so much music of the 20th Century orchestral music that at first I decided I wouldn't even try to respond, but I think I have narrowed it down to Karol Szymanowski's Symphony No. 4 with piano concertante.  To me it is so melodic, cogent and spiced with enough dissonance to make it linger in my mind for hours after I listen to it.
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kyjo
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« Reply #28 on: July 21, 2013, 04:36:19 am »

I love so much music of the 20th Century orchestral music that at first I decided I wouldn't even try to respond, but I think I have narrowed it down to Karol Szymanowski's Symphony No. 4 with piano concertante.  To me it is so melodic, cogent and spiced with enough dissonance to make it linger in my mind for hours after I listen to it.

Szymanowski's Symphony no. 3 and Stabat Mater would also qualify IMO; so luscious and with ear-catching use of harmony. It seems as if Szymanowski's music is, quite deservedly, finally starting to enter the repertoire, thanks in no small part to Simon Rattle's superb advocacy of his music :)
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« Reply #29 on: July 21, 2013, 09:50:46 pm »

I think Sulek's 2nd and esp the 8th should be on the short list.
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