Did a French Composer ever write a good symphony?
I'm prompted to ask this question for my wife and I were listening to the radio the other day when we heard a movement of D'Indy's 2nd symphony from a recently issued CD. 'Hmmph', she said when it was finished, 'that's the kind of stuff that gives classical music a bad name' I have to admit that it didn't grab me particularly, although I hated to tell her that I had recently downloaded said CD (legally and paid for). But it did set me wondering. There are few notable symphonies by French composers. I do like that by Dukas (of Sorcerer's Apprentice fame) and those by the virtually unknown 19th century French woman composer, Louise Farrenc (and most of her other music is worth a listen). I know there is a cycle of 4 by the (again, virtually unknown) Albert Magnard (who should be added to my list of composers affected by the two World Wars as he was shot in 1914 defending his estate - see previous question) and one by Chausson. The only other that I can think of is the late 18th-early 19th century Gossec. Beyond these few, and Milhaud, my mind goes blank. None of those mentioned so far are earth shattering and it is only Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique that has any real toehold in the repertoire. Is there something in the Gallic temperament that militated against symphonic thought? Is the symphony really only a creature of the German/Austrian, British and American minds?
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Opps, and Nordic, apologies to Sibelius, Nielsen, Alfven et al.
I wasn't aware that Dutilleux had written symphonies - I really know little about him. Roussel, I had remembered once I had left the keyboard (as so often happens). But how could I forget Gounod and the greatly underrated Saint-Saens. And of course the Bizet. I remember the issue of what must have been one of the first recordings, that by Beecham. It was, I recollect praised to the skies, unlike the coupling, a symphony by Lalo. That was generally panned. I have never since been tempted to seek the work out. Has anyone heard it? Was the criticism justified? That music of his I have heard, in addition to the well known Symphonie Espagnol, I have rather liked, especially the ballet Naumouna. And, since asking this question, I have been relistening to Magnard - both the 1st and 3rd symphonies. Much better than I had remembered, works that fall into the category of those that are unjustly neglected.
Alberich - no I don't mean D'Indy's Symphony on a French Mountain Air, but his Symphony No 2 in B flat major, Op 57. I know the former work quite well.