10 Essential 19th-Century Symphony Cycles for Non-Beginners
Krommer: 8 Symphonies
Eggert: 4 Symphonies
Ries: 8 Symphonies
Kalliwoda: 7 Symphonies
Spohr: 10 Symphonies
Gouvy: 7 Symphonies (6 numbered)
Draeseke: 4 Symphonies
Farrenc: 3 Symphonies
Raff: 11 Symphonies
Glazunov: 8 Symphonies
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It's like being in heaven: after this cycles for intermediate and then advanced.
I clump, therefore I am.
Excited about this
Eggert has only recently gotten some long overdue credit. As director of the Royal Swedish Opera (1807 – 1812) he led the only orchestra in the country, and opened it to outside influences. He introduced Beethoven's music to Stockholm and gave the Swedish premieres of Haydn's "The Seasons" and Mozart's "The Magic Flute". His own music has drama and imagination. In his Symphony No. 3 (1807) he used a trombone section a year before Beethoven did in his 5th. He also went into the field and collected folk music and instruments. Eggert was planning to go abroad for further study when he died of TB at 34. Had he been active in a nation with a more robust classical music tradition, he might not have slipped through the cracks of history.
Only have the Glazuov and they are gems.
Have been waiting for the non-beginner cycle recommendations! I already am a huge fan of Kalliwoda (thanks to your videos), Raff, and Glazunov – this gave me some new stuff to dig into, and that's the whole point! Appreciate how much "new" stuff (new to me, meaning) I have picked up from videos like the clump series, the underrated composers, etc. Happy Thanksgiving season, Dave.
Glazunov is a deeply underrated composer in my view. That symphony cycle is a tuneful and marvelous delight which everyone should listen to, I like Serebrier’s recordings myself. In his capacity as Conservatoire leader, Glazunov also told both the Czarists and the Stalinists to go screw when they attempted to persecute Jews at the academy. I suppose it wasn’t very nice of Glazunov to conduct the premiere of Rachmaninoff’s 1st Symphony whilst swizzled, but hey, nobody’s perfect.
I appreciate the way that you stand up for the underdog composer. It’s fairness first and foremost.🎉😅
A thoroughly delightful talk.
You delivered a great talk about the gernsheim symphonies too, which also reward listening.
Your typically excellent group. It's worth noting that works by all of these, as well as a great many other obscure composers, can be found on YouTube.
How would you rank Berwald? Hopefully his genius is on a level with Schumann and Mendellsohn😊
Spohr is a bore…..wrote one symphony ten times.
Thank you so much Dave. There are so many works here I don't know and a few I do. You've given me lots to listen to. I think you and I are great fans of Mendelssohn and I would say that anyone of that ilk must hear Gouvy's symphonies. What a craftsman. That's Gouvy… but you too!
Great list. Looking forward to the 20th century edition! 🥳
Franz Krommer was 100% ethnic Czech, born as František Kramář. He was not Czech German like let's say Biber. Back then people used all kind of German names. Even Smetana was known as Friedrich Smetana.
Thanks for drawing attention to these listenable composers. I wish concert programmers here in USA would include Glazunov more often. I've only heard his Fifth Symphony, conducted by Sixten Ehrling with the then-Denver Symphony Orchestra and "The Seasons" conducted by Jarvi with the Detroit S. O. Speaking of Joachim Raff, give his Symphony No. 3 "Im Walde" [in the woods] a listen. I'd rate it enjoyable Halloween music. Cheers!
Thanks for the list. I've never heard of Eggert, so that's one to check out. The rest of these I am familiar with — ranging from having their complete cycles (Gouvy, Glazounov) to simply hearing a few of their works (Farrrenc, Ries). Sounds like more good stuff to explore.
The only two names I recognize from the list are Spohr and Glazunov, so this indeed presents an exciting new frontier for exploration.
I appreciate this list greatly; I especially like the Krommer, Eggert, Farrenc, and Raff picks. Other composers whose work I listen to frequently are Wilms, Wranitzky, Reicha, and Gyrowetz.
Nice! I listened for the first time to the 3rd Symphony of Louise Farrenc in Asunción, Paraguay played by the National Orchester and loved it. I love to see her name in the list and hope will discover more too neglected female composers.