Expert: Gary Goldberg - 5/14/2011

Question
Hi,

I am currently somewhat obsessed with Arvo Parts 3rd Symphony (and have been for suite some time now).
This is my all time favorite piece of classical music.
Dark, yet intensely emotive; a tremendously moving piece of music.

I have yet to find anything that strikes the same chord with me (no pun intended).
A close second would be Gorecki's 3rd. Another fave would be "Adagio" by Samuel Barber.

Based on the above, can you recommend a couple of specific pieces of music? I have tried quite a few of the romantic composers (Shosty, Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, etc.) and even the modernists (Glass, Reich, Nyman) and although I like alot of their material, nothing I have found yet, has floored me. I may just be looking in the wrong areas...

Alot of what I have found sounds too bombastic and "poppy" to me...maybe too happy? I have no idea if that makes any sense. That said, I do like the more emotive pieces that have multiple "peaks" and "valleys", like what is found in Parts 3rd.

Would you be able to recommend any specific pieces to me, based on  my above likes/dislikes?

Thank you!

Answer
Off the cuff I can recommend some individual movements, such
as the 3rd movement of Khachaturian's 2nd symphony, based on an Azerbayjani funeral march.

The 2nd part of Kabalevsky's Requiem has an unusually powerful section called "The Future" for contralto, baritone, chorus, and orchestra.

How about Roy Harris' 3rd Symphony or Vaughan Williams' 2nd symphonies, written on the eve of WW II and WW I respectively.

I just heard Prokofiev's 6th Symphony in concert last Saturday. There are a few beautiful themes amidst a somber post-WW II atmosphere.

Perhaps they don't have the concentrated power of a shorter piece like Barber's Adagio but the broader canvas has other compensations.

I hope that at least one of these works for you.

Regards,
Gary

Also check out the 3rd movement of Mahler's 6th Symphony. It's the strongest expression of grief that I can recall.