I cannot remember "selling" the Hoddinott Third to you, Jeffrey.....but, if I did, then I am delighted to have done so :)
I agree with Kyle about the atmospheric nature of Hoddinott's music. There is, as I said, plenty to choose from in our marvellous collection oh Hoddinott in the British Music Archive on this site(including all the unrecorded symphonies bar No.1).
Maybe it was Andre. Just read your opening post Colin (whilst at school hahaha!) which is excellent and I agree with everything you say it in about the outer reaches of tonality, approachability. I have to be in the right mood, but there are trimes when more 'approachable'/tuneful music will not do and I need to listen to something more complex, darker, visionary, thought provoking. Hoddinott's Third and the wonderful no 6 certainly come into this category, as does Robert Simpson's Symphony No 3, which I listened to during my long drive to work this morning. There are no obvious 'tunes' but the thematic material stays with me. There is a kind of gritty integrity about this music, which can be very appealing. Kokkonen's 4th Symphony is another in this category (for me) along with Klauss Egge's Second Symphony and Blomdahl's 'Facetter Symphony'.
