The Greatest Unsung American Symphony?

[Delicious Manager]

I would have to agree with chill319 about William Schuman, although I'd be hard pressed to pick-out just one for special attention.

However, one of the finest symphonies by an American composer - and one of the best symphonies of the late 20th century - is the Symphony No 1 by John Corigliano; it is simply outstanding. Composed as a reaction to the death of one of his close friends from AIDS, the symphony is fraught with pain intense emotions (it might qualify for an earlier topic's 'great tragic symphonies by unsung composers').

Although John Corigliano is not exactly 'unsung', especially in his homeland, I don't believe his First Symphony has gained the currency it deserves.

Tarantella from Symphony No 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHqHleU0l90.

[eschiss1]

Tarantella from Symphony No 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHqHleU0l90.

Whatever a work from 1990 is doing up on YouTube we shouldn't be linking to it unless it has permission to be there - does it? All I see is no infringement intended- not permission actually granted.

[Delicious Manager]

Whatever a work from 1990 is doing up on YouTube we shouldn't be linking to it unless it has permission to be there - does it? All I see is no infringement intended- not permission actually granted.

I agree in principal, Eric, but think of it as 'educational purposes' (which is allowed).

[eschiss1]

Whatever a work from 1990 is doing up on YouTube we shouldn't be linking to it unless it has permission to be there - does it? All I see is no infringement intended- not permission actually granted.

I agree in principal, Eric, but think of it as 'educational purposes' (which is allowed).

*nod* Knowing the details of the fair use laws has served well sites like Wikipedia no end (and then there's IMSLP  which was down for a year after a cease and desist letter was received from Universal Edition) but anyway - I am curious - have heard the first symphony but haven't heard his other (two, to date?) - what are they like?

[Delicious Manager]

The Second Symphony is basically a version for small string orchestra of his very fine String Quartet.
First movement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVBkCV6gAQY
Second movement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuTCVmVz11k
Third movement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO_gU2829VE
Fourth movement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BafAdjXCFnk (I love the fugue in different tempos!)
Fifth movement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dbL6JLiljM

The Third Symphony Circus maximus is for a large, American-style wind orchestra.
First part http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqcvL5S5hTI
Second part http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlunYKwI7KQ
Third part http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43UIigaZ0Fs
Fourth part http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBNIIQ6WnDM

[vandermolen]

I would nominate David Diamond's Third Symphony (now on Naxos) - a lovely, inspiriting and warm-hearted work, which should appeal to admirers of Copland, Harris and William Schuman.

[albion]

I would nominate David Diamond's Third Symphony (now on Naxos) - a lovely, inspiriting and warm-hearted work, which should appeal to admirers of Copland, Harris and William Schuman.

Hi vandermolen - it's very nice to see you over here from GMG! 

[vandermolen]

I would nominate David Diamond's Third Symphony (now on Naxos) - a lovely, inspiriting and warm-hearted work, which should appeal to admirers of Copland, Harris and William Schuman.

Hi vandermolen - it's very nice to see you over here from GMG! 

Thanks very much Albion! I only discovered this group when looking for new releases in the Russian Northern Flowers CD series.  It looks like a very interesting group - but possibly not good for my bank balance! Best wishes, Jeffrey

[albion]

It looks like a very interesting group - but possibly not good for my bank balance! Best wishes, Jeffrey

Well, as my dear old Granny used to say "There's no pockets in shrouds"! 

[Balapoel]

Tough to pick a single piece, but my short list would include:
Bristow - Symphony No. 3 in f# minor (1858)
Strong - Symphony No. 2 in g minor (1888)
Hadley - I only have his 2nd and 4th symphonies, but both are very well crafted and enjoyable.

Balapoel

[Pengelli]

Peter Mennin's Fifth packs quite a punch. A steely,muscular work with a gravely sombre slow movement. The finale is tremendous,but the exterior is,initially,a little grey and forbidding. Yet there is a poetic lyricism to his best music.
  The 3rd,6th and 7th are a little tougher to crack. The eighth and ninth even MORE so. I prefer his earlier efforts. I downloaded the 4th & the Piano Concerto recently. I haven't had time to absorb the 4th,yet,but the Piano Concerto is fantastic & quite an exciting find. In fact,to anyone who doesn't know Mennin's work & wants to try him,I would say go for the 5th symphony and the Piano Concerto first. Incidentally,I was suprised to discover that The Piano Concerto is played by,no less than, the great John ogdon!
 

[Pengelli]

I mean Ogdon,(calling him 'great',and then using a small 'o'!).
I like Piston too & only this week received the Albany cd of his 5th,7th & 8th symphony. I need to listen to it a bit more,but my initial response was very positive,and I shall listen to it again later. The 8th,like later Mennin or Schuman,is tougher. David Hurwitz,who can be interesting when he's not being annoying,gives a very positive review of the disc.The 3rd has annoyingly been deleted,but is available at a fairly reasonable price s/h,or even less as a download.
  Ok,not a symphony,but the deleted RCA Slatkin of the 'Incredible Flautist',(and 6th,etc), is a 'cracker',and should be played much more.( And the dog has a 'proper' bark!)
  There's so much more to American music than just Copland,Bernstein,(overated?),Barber or Gershwin!
  Regarding Don Gillis. If his chirpy music sets your teeth on edge,his 5th & 6th are suprisingly serious,thoughtful works,allot different from his usual stuff. If you like Hanson but HATE chirpy,cheep,cheep Gillis,try these! They really are a bit of a suprise,coming from such an,at times,infuriatingly upbeat,even dare I say,manic,composer! Quite good actually!

[eschiss1]

I'm fond of Paul Creston (ok, not his birth name, but neither was Walter Piston, etc. etc. So?...)'s 2nd and 3rd symphonies... not quite unsung though, with a recording history stretching back 60 years. (Even his first symphony had a recording in the 1950s apparently before its CD premiere 50 years or so later, but I've only heard the latter.)
(It's moments like this that I remember Stirling Newberry's admonition that Romantic Music does not mean music that expresses feelings- which means about 99.44% of all music in the tradition most of us are in, much 20th century "modernist" music included - but music associated with the "Romantic" movement in literature, art, drama, etc. - noting the greater commonalities rather than differences here between Schumann and Mendelssohn on the one hand, and Liszt, Raff and Draeseke on the other, in their approaches to Romantic music.  Schumann and Liszt, e.g. (Mozart too, but to a much lesser extent- Das Veilchen only comes to mind) took inspiration from Goethe, and associated works with the other arts of their time much moreso... this is why "neo-Romantic" makes so little sense to me. Anyway. Tangent. - Eric)

[Pengelli]

Re: Creston. Strangely enough,his 1st seemed to make the most impression on me.
  Going back to my former post. With respect to Don Gillis. I feel I should have mentioned another 'populist',namely,Morton Gould,who has been described before as a sort of American answer to Malcolm Arnold. Yet,apart from a spectacularly recorded Varese Sarabande Lp,which included a very exciting rendition of his 'Latin American Symphonette',conducted by the composer himself,his music always seems to disappoint.
Some recent cd's have,however,led me to re-evaluate this composer. Maybe the disappointment is in the performances & the choice of works that have been recorded?
Gould's Symphony No 3,a key example. A truly exciting assimilation of popular music & the american symphonic tradition,which really works. Also,the recently released cd from Albany,entitled, 'Interplay',which includes Gould's 'Concerto for Orchestra'.

[vandermolen]

It looks like a very interesting group - but possibly not good for my bank balance! Best wishes, Jeffrey

Well, as my dear old Granny used to say "There's no pockets in shrouds"! 

Your Granny made a good point.