Great unknown symphonies?

Question

I'm looking for unknown or "under-heard" symphonies. I know there are always unknown or overlooked symphonies composed by the most famous composers. Do you have any suggestion?
May be symphonies that are not usually recorded or programed in concerts.

Answer 1

Some suggestions of (undeservedly) under-heard/overlooked/forgotten symphonies...



- Anton Rubinstein: Symphony No. 2 in C major, Op. 42 ''Ocean'' (1851, revised 1863, 1880)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJCtf9-ywcI

*The most often performed symphony during the second half of the 19th century...

- Michael Haydn: Symphony No. 29, P. 20

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0V6XZMnyqc

*About 'eveything' from this most competent composer is undeservedly forgotten...

- Tchaikovski: Manfred Symphony in B minor, Op. 58

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZXsuBPlQ0E

*The 4.5 Symphony. The overall 'neglect' this work has suffered for the past 125 years or so is something of an enigma...

- Gounod: Symphony No. 1 in D major (1855)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ5MNkdYoPE

*The inspiration for Bizet's youthful but charming Symphony in C major. Bizet's work comes on top but there's no reason to shun this one...

- Milhaud: Symphony No. 4 "Composée á l'occasion du Centenaire de la Révolution de 1848", Op.281

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skyrMynIwgc&feature=fvst

*Masterful work from 20th century's most prolific composer.

- Stenhammar: Symphony No. 2 in G minor, Opus 34

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXdLZcZdgHE

*Tuneful, well-crafted work... yet rarely encountered in concert halls.

- Poulenc: Sinfonietta (1947)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zALC0jO698w

*Ought to be as popular as Britten's work..



Best,



Raymond

Answer 2

Havergal Brian....all 32 symphonies... #1 (the Gothic) only received its 6th performance in London earlier this month. Go to BBC Proms and find the performance which you can listen to for free.



Tchaikovsky.....Manfred Symphony



Schumann Symphony in g minor



William Walton Symphony #1 and #2



John Marsh Symphonies....all nine of them



Chavez all six symphonies



Dukas Symphony in c minor



Grieg Symphony in c minor



Bruch all three symphonies



Copland Symphonies #1 and #2



Bernstein Symphonies #1-3



Macolm Arnold All 9 symphonies



Meuleman All 7 symphonies



Richard Strauss 2 symphonies



Malipiero 11 symphonies



Allan Pettersson all 16 symphonies

Answer 3

Symphony No. 6 in E flat minor by Nikolai Myaskovsky

Symphony No. 4 "Requiem" by Howard Hanson

Symphony No. 2 by Robert Simpson



Three great symphonies by a Ruskie, Yank and a Brit.

Answer 4

Mendelssohn wrote about ten youthful symphonies during his early teens, they were performed at home by a small orchestra group. One doesn't hear much of them anymore if at all.



Borodin has a symphony or two that is seldom heard.



There is also Arthur Sullivan, of Gilbert & Sullivan fame in operettas, who wrote a symphony, as per this quote about him:



"By this time Sullivan had also written some major orchestral works. In 1866, an important year for him, he wrote his only symphony, the Symphony in E (The Irish), which was performed at the Crystal Palace. In the same year he composed his only concerto, a Cello Concerto."



Just my two cents' worth! ;- )

Answer 5

Check this out: http://www.matthijsvermeulen.nl/



He is one of those - great but forgotten composer. My favorite is the 7th symphonies, but that's a matter of the taste.

Answer 6

My compatriots, Berwald, Stenhammar, and Atterberg are rarely heard in concert halls anywhere. Even in Sweden their works are virtually ignored and that's a great pity - although they are quite well represented on CD.

Answer 7

I cannot name the unknown.