The Top Ten, er, Nine List!

[Herr_Direktor]

I've recently come into possession of Herr Beethoven's nine symphonies as conducted by George Solti, and while I own several recordings, I've never had a cycle until now. Anyways, this got me to thinking, how do I rank these masterpieces? Well below is exactly how.

In order from best to least:

1. 3rd
2. 9th
3. 7th
4. 5th
5. 8th
6. 6th
7. 1st
8. 4th
9. 2nd

This ought to be fun....I hope.

Please let me know if this type of thread is appropriate. Don't want to commit any faux pas as a new guy

[Philidor]

Originally Posted by Herr_Direktor

Please let me know if this type of thread is appropriate. Don't want to commit any faux pas as a new guy

It's absolutely fine. Within the (minimal) forum rules people can talk about whatever the hell they want. Just wait until I ask you to rate Leclair's flute sonatas...


I don't think I've even heard all nine Beethoven symphonies.

[Héctor]

Coriolan Overture and then the 3rd Simphony (and then change the world)

[Kuhlau]

My only surprise with the ranking in the OP is that the Fifth and Sixth aren't in third and fourth position. But I'm not in the least shocked by the ranking of Symphony No. 2.

FK

[Despina41]

I actually just had this conversation with a friend last month. But our definition was "favorite symphonies" and there was no deferring to what conventional wisdom deems the best or worst.

I think the ranking I came up with was: 3, 7, 6, 4, 2, 9, 1, 5, 8.

That's really a "What Beethoven symphonies I could stand to listen to again" list.

[Herzeleide]

Glad to see other people think the third is the best!

[Despina41]

Originally Posted by Herzeleide

Glad to see other people think the third is the best!

Yeah, I really find the ninth to be a bit... sprawling, and overbearing, and I just don't like the Ode to Joy. I'm also a bit sick of that whole 19th-century nonsense about "transcendent humanity," etc. If we're going to bust out rhetoric that heavy, we'd better be talking about a great choral-orchestral work like the B minor mass, or the German Requiem.

There, I said it.

[Herzeleide]

Originally Posted by Despina41

That's really a "What Beethoven symphonies I could stand to listen to again" list.

That reminds me of when I complained to a certain former member of this forum about Classic FM playing a movement from Beethoven's 9th, with his reply being 'OMGZ u r a Bethoven h8a!!!!1'

[Herzeleide]

Originally Posted by Despina41

Yeah, I really find the ninth to be a bit... sprawling, and overbearing, and I just don't like the Ode to Joy. I'm also a bit sick of that whole 19th-century nonsense about "transcendent humanity," etc. If we're going to bust out rhetoric that heavy, we'd better be talking about a great choral-orchestral work like the B minor mass, or the German Requiem.

There, I said it.

I agree!

[Despina41]

Originally Posted by Herzeleide

That reminds me of when I complained to a certain former member of this forum about Classic FM playing a movement from Beethoven's 9th, with his reply being 'OMGZ u r a Bethoven h8a!!!!1'

Haha! My friend and I always used to get into arguments about Beethoven vs. Brahms. We like them both; they're in our top 5 composers list, but she could never understand how I could put Brahms ahead of Beethoven. (I suppose Brahms would wonder that too.) We finally decided that it comes down to personality type, but at least we agreed that there are serious differences between the two, enough to warrant a person deciding they'd rather listen to Brahms over Beethoven. That is to say, people who argue that Brahms is merely "Beethoven II" are wrong.

But those people would label me a Beethoven h8a, I'm sure.