Sophomore efforts

[edurban]

A number of fine French symphonies could make the list here: I nominate Saint-Saens No.2 in a minor, Gounod No.2 in E flat (much fun, and so expertly written,) and last but not least, Florent Schmitt's Second of 1958(!).  Does it count as a sophomore effort if the composer was 88?  Anyway, the vigor of the old man is amazing, even if the sound world is not very different from that of his 'La tragedie de Salome', written more than 50 years earlier.

David

[jimmosk]

I'm glad someone mentioned the Saint-Saëns, although it's easy to understand why it gets so little attention given the one that was to come next.  Let me also "second" Stenhammar, and of course Mahler.  But I have a different pair of turn-of-the-20th-century composers to nominate.

Alexander Zemlinsky's Symphony #2 in B-flat Major is full of very memorable, dramatic music, far better than his merely competent 1st. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=43:134949~T2

And the young Richard Strauss composed two symphonies, the second of which (Symphony in F minor) deserves a revival now and then, because it's quite a strong effort in the Goldmark/Raff vein -- far more traditional than his famous tone poems: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=43:120761~T2
-J

--
Jim Moskowitz
The Unknown Composers Page:  http://kith.org/jimmosk/TOC.html
My latest list of unusual classical CDs for auction:  http://tinyurl.com/jimmosk

[Amphissa]

Another second that I consider the equal of his first is Martinu. In fact, his first two symphonies make a wonderful coupling.

Actually, I'm rather surprised that Martinu is mentioned so rarely here. His music is melodically engaging, rhythmically enticing and beautifully orchestrated. His later work incorporated more modern harmonies, but he never became astringent, abrasive or ugly.

[TerraEpon]

Another composer who 'failed' IMO was Dvorak -- I absolutely love his music, but his symphony #2 is just a bit too overlong and....I guess flat would be a good word. 

[Hofrat]

I, too, think that Dvorak's 2nd is "over-long," but I would not change a single note on its scherzo which I think is absolutely amazing!

[Mark Thomas]

Yes, Dvorak' SEcond is overlong, and I love every self-indulgent second of it.

[JimL]

Ditto, Mark!  A shamefully neglected early near-masterwork!