Did a French Composer ever write a good symphony?

It seems you have discounted Albéric Magnard as a symphony writer. I must say I really like his Symphony No 3 in B flat minor. A little Germanic it might be, but I think it's a fine symphony, nonetheless. I have also always had a soft spot for the Chausson symphony, although I have to admit it's not one of the greatest works in the form ever written.

Nemesis has stolen my thunder slightly by mentioning Dutilleux's two excellent symphonies (he is a vastly underplayed composer in my opinion), as well as Roussel, whose 3rd and 4th symphonies are particularly good.

I am a great fan of Jacques Ibert, whose 'Symphonie Marine' I really enjoy, as well as those rarely-played symphonies of Saint-Saëns. Everyone knows No 3, of course, but No 2 (A minor) is wonderful. Gounod wrote two very Beethovenian symphonies which are emminently listenable (the first particularly sounds a lot like Beethoven). I would also make the case for Florent Schmitt's (another unjustly neglected composer!) fine Symphony No 2, written in the last months of his life in1958 as an old man of 87. Finally, I would draw attention to the symphonies of Charles Tournemire, whose eight symphonies are well worth a listen.

And one must not forget that wonderful, glittering symphony by the 17-year-old Bizet. It's one of my favourite works and is always a complete joy to listen to.

Edit:

I'm afraid the Lalo deserves its 'panning'. A very poor work from a composer not at his best in large-scale symphonic forms.

Though a Wallon by birth, César Franck was entirely French trained beyond the age of 13 and spent his entire working life from then on within French culture, so a case for his Symphony being 'French' should be made?

Albert Roussel (1869-1937) -- 4 Symphonies of which II (op.23 1919/20) III (op.42 1922) and IV (op.53 1930) are particularly powerful.

Henri Dutilleux (b1916) -- 2 symphonies (1951 & 1959), both powerfully and meticulously crafted works.

And just for the heck of it, the big one that really did get away: Alkan's lost *orchestral* symphony, performance of which got as far as being regularly speculated about in the press of his day as 'impending' or 'imminent', but hide nor hair has ever been found of since... :-)

You mentioned d'Indy's "Symphony #-2". According to my research, that's not his "Symphony on a French Mountain Air"(or was it the one you referenced?); here's a short segment:

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

Though not a symphony in the general sense of the word - more likened unto a piano concerto with orchestra - it's certainly a worthwhile composition in my opinion.

And even if Franck's "Symphony in D-minor" isn't comparable to say any of those of Brahms or Mahler and a symphonic anomaly, still of interest for its three movement composition, if nothing else: and the second movement does contain a most beautiful melody.

All in all, one will have to admit, that the French for whatever cultural reason for it that there may be, seem not to have taken to the symphony as their favorite form of musical expression.

By the way, don't you think you should have included the Russians as well as the Nordic in your apology: a no inconsequential matter - one P.I. Tchaikovsky, and Shostakovitch, etc.? ((or did I misinterpret it, your apology?))

Alberich

If you would consider,Alkan's Symphony for Solo Piano is an excellent work of a genius and he is French.

I'm not much of an orchestral fan(I listen mainly to solo piano or piano concerto works)but Alkan's Symphony really is a good work to listen to.Orchestral or not.

Debussy: La Mer

This is a symphony, but the title makes for a lack of awareness that it is, as per definition, a symphony.

best regards, petr b.

Saint Saens 3rd Symphony ("Organ") is a treasure. It is pretty popular too!

Good Symphonies

Thank you for your question. When I listen to music, I listen to its musical content .I don't so much hear its musical ethnicity. ( although some composers do write very patriotic songs with their own musical style and signature. Smetana and Chopin i.e ( correct me if I am Wrong!, Albeniz, Rachmaninoff and Piazolla are such composers. When I listen to Russian music it feels Russian.I am able to distinguish it- most of the time. The same goes for traditional Chinese and Japanese Music, I guess a lot of it has to do with its Modal scale,and instrumentation and language and how to fit its syllable into their songs. As for French and German, Sometimes I feel it, sometimes I don't feel the country of origin. But Every composer has its own style, So when I hear Chopin or Strauss I can tell. But when I hear Dvorak's Largo( From the New World Symphony), I can feel the composers inspiration which came from the Spiritual Songs. From his Largo though, I could not tell that he came from Prague and moved to America. Sometimes I think it depends on the composer's intention to reveal the musical identity and the way he is influenced by his musical surroundings. When I hear the Austrian National anthem as composed by Haydn, I could not tell that it was Austrian music. But when I heard the Romanian National anthem I guess that it came from Russia. That reminds me, Some of Mozart's works do have the influence of Italian Opera and the Mannheim Symphonic Orchestra. And a lot of great composers were influenced by Bach and have that Bachian style, counterpoint and imitation, Mozart, Brahms , Haydn and Mendelssohn are some examples. Another composer, Scarlatti do have some Spanish influence in his keyboard work. Scarlatti was born in Portugal but moved to Spain. When I hear Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody, I don't know what is so ' Hungarian ' about it. Although some composers like Bizet, wrote Carmen with an entirely Spanish feel, even though Bizet has never been to Spain.

I particularly enjoy Chausson's.

berlioz requiem