William,

Mozart's 41 has to go in there in the top ten (if not the top three.) It's a stunning a work and contains the innovation of a thematic whole. It also has the gravitas of Beethoven's work.

Now say two Hail Mary's and all is forgiven [:D]

William, thank you for the opportunity to have a break, and a cup of tea!

Now, where are we? Let me see....Hmmmm........

1. Beethoven 3rd (The epitome of the definition of music. Gets played at my place at least 3 times a week.)
2. Beethoven 5th (Bill's right. A natural progression from the 3rd. Take 4 notes, and make a symphony out of them. Easy [[:|]] Beethoven's a genius.)
3. Shostakovich 7 (How to use Repetition, Harmony, Rhythm, syncopation, counterpoint in totally new and interesting ways. This is fresh and new every time i listen to it. twice a week)
4. Borodin 2 (Good choice Bill, this a great work, and a truer reflection on the soul of Russia than most other stuff.)
5. Tchaikovsky 6th (The master of string writing hits his peak with this.)
7. Beethoven 9th (Beethoven wanted the whole picture, creating a vision in the audience's heads. This sounds more complete than a lot of music written today, and he didn't have the tools or wonderfully precise instruments we use in modern orchestras. This a manual on how to write for choir, soloists and orchestra)
8. Shostakovich 11 (hypnotic in it's scope. You can almost imagine shostakovich staring at you mumbling 'Lokk into my eyyyyesssss. You're getting exxccciittteeddd)
9. Mahler 2nd (This is a lifetime study. There's more in this for advanced composers than most of the rest put together.)
10. Saint-saens Organ Symphony (Played loudly. It's compulsory. For orchestration study, and the use of theme and harmony, this a must for anyone wanting to expand their skills. 3 times a week)
11. Sibelius 6 (Wonderful piece of music. For all those who are learning about orchestration for film, have a listen to this)
12. Mozart 41 (Dave Connor reminded me of this in another thread some time ago. Great piece of music.)
13. Now let me see, is it Dvorak or Phillip Glass? God i can't make up my mind. Help please. [H]

Regards to you all,

Alex!
p.s. By nominating Symphonies you're leaving out some other great music.
How about favourite top ten (or 13) anything?

This is a hugely unfair thread.

I know virtually nothing about symphonies!!!!!

Spartacus,

Symphonies are something you're supposed to have when the wife's not feeling well.

Regards,

Alex.
[H]

I should add that William's first three are exactly right only that for me the number one spot would shift back and forth between the 5th and 9th with the 3rd in third. But I must listen to the third again because William plums the depths of these things and has an unerring way of considering ALL the elements. I will now listen to the 5th (the perfect symphony) in light of it's intellectual elements in comparison to the 3rd. I will add that the 9th is this incomparable thing in the literature.

Mahlers 6th is my favorite of his, than the 9th then the 2nd. Again I haven't listened the 2nd lately which is the first Mahler I ever owned and love to this day - so I will do so.

Shostakovich! That was who I was leaving out, my god! It was off the top of my head on only one cup of coffee so that is my excuse. I must say also, the Saint Saens Organ Symphony - excellent suggestion and it may well be part of such a listing for its unfaltering excellence and awe-inspiring ending. Which brings up another great french symphony, the Franck d minor, another 3 movement masterpiece. Though that's about a dozen now...

Who the hell is Beethoven and what films has he done?

Leon, you heretic, it's a good thing we know you're joking!

On a more serious side, i think much of today's film music is at least partially influenced by Beethoven, so you could say, he's done a lot of film music!

Regards,

Alex.

@Leon Willett said:

Who the hell is Beethoven and what films has he done?

I think he scored a film called Immortal Beloved. The music was just great. But I haven't seen his name on any credits since. Hollywood must not be very receptive to that kind of talent these days or maybe he has a bad agent.

There's another film starring Ed Harris as some composer-dude that this Beethoven guy's doing the score for. I heard this Beethoven is kinda intense, slams things around when he doesn't get his way, so I won't be a bit surprised if they take him off the project and replace him with Zimmer.

Bill, Dave,

I'm going to covers my ears and pretend i haven't read any of this!

Regards,

Alex.

'On tour' in Tallinn Estonia.

@William said:

There's another film starring Ed Harris as some composer-dude that this Beethoven guy's doing the score for. I heard this Beethoven is kinda intense, slams things around when he doesn't get his way, so I won't be a bit surprised if they take him off the project and replace him with Zimmer.

Laughed out Loud at this as it would prove to be true no doubt.

@hermitage59 said:

Bill, Dave, I'm going to covers my ears and pretend i haven't read any of this!

Alex, you don't have to cover just yet, wait till the Zimmer replacement score comes out than make a very tight seal around the ears.

No, No, I can't stand it!
What a thought, and i feel ashamed for even reading such heretical teachings.
Come away my brothers, step away from the 'Zimmer frame' into the symphonic light.....? Save yourselves!
I'm going for an extra strong cup of tea, just to steady the nerves......

Regards,


Alex.
[[:|]]

At one of Scott Smalley's seminers, someone asked whether the idea of using woodwinds (which he acknowledges have their place, yet still affectionately terms, the "barnyard animals" of the orchestra) to reinforce upper partials as Beethoven did was helpful, or just too time consuming.

He replied, "Beethoven wouldn't be able to get work in Hollywood."

Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique!

(The scene is set in Beethoven's music room, and i 've appeared to find him writing the ninth.)

'Er, Hello Mister Beethoven. This a great privilege for me. Yes i'll pass the ink.'
.....................
'Yes, i'm sorry to interrupt, i won't stay long.'
....................
'I'm shouting already, aahh, now i remember, ok, read my lips.'
....................
'What's the future like? Well, it's a little hard to explain, but keeping it simple, you're considered by the most intelligent musicians to be the greatest composer ever.'
...................
'Where did i get my jacket? Well, it's a little embarrassing really. I bought in a shop called Tesco's. A supermarket.'
..................
'What's a supermarket? Like a big shop.'
.................
'What's a checkout, erm, well never mind. I'm here to shake the hand of the master of classical music. Yes this is a copy of your third symphony.
I carry it everywhere. I know it's in English. Transalation is not too expensive in the future, no. Printing press? It would take too long. Electricity? Erm. Anyway, may i shake your hand?
Oh is say, this is a privilege.'
..........................
'Who? Sorry, don't know him very well.'
.........................
'Is he famous in the future? Well, sort of, not as much as you though.'
.........................
'Who gets played more? Erm, it depends. Some people seem to like his little ditties, but it's the most intelligent of people who appreciate your grand visions in music.'
........................
'Sorry?'
.......................
'Well, we know him as someone who hung around music halls and theatres, and wrote light music. Oh yes, he was drunk a lot.'
......................
'Yes, i knew you'd agree. Entertainment, hey? I agree, audiences can be fickle. Listen, Ludwig, about this 8th bar...Excuse me? Does he get played in big halls? Well, erm sometimes, but only to ordinary people, not nobility as your music deserves.'
.....................
'I have to go now Ludwig, and don't worry about the future, you're the boss.
Just one more question if i may?'
.....................
'Thank you, Ludwig, and i appreciate the time you've given me.

Just who is this Wolfgang Mozart you keep talking about?'

[[:|]]

Didn't Mozart hear the young Beethoven and say something about a
bright future ahead of him?

I absolutely agree on Berlioz, and it is another one that changed the history of the symphony.

1. Bruckner 8th

2. Bruckner 9th

3. Beethoven 3rd

4. Mahler 9th

5. Tchaikovsky 6th

6. Brahms 4th

7. Shostakovich 7th

8. Shostakovich 8th

9. Schumann 4th

10. Schubert 8th

Bruckner's 3rd, 5th, and 6th are also quite dear to me. The rest of Beethoven's and Brahms' symphonies are also clear contenders really. If Mahler had completed his 10th, some reordering would have been necessary (though that first movement counts for more than many complete works by others).

1. Beethoven 5

2. Beethoven 3

3. Mozart 41

4. Beethoven 9

5. Mozart 40

6. Brahms 4

7. Haydn 104

8. Prokofief 5

9. Mahler 6

10. Bruckner 7

Confess to much hesitation for almost all of these! Easier would be a top 50 unordered. And I'm very fond of all 4 Schumann symphonies, wonderful music in each one. Vaughn Williams, Sibelius, Dvorak. Mozart 39, more Haydn, more Bruckner, more Mahler, more Brahms.