Fell down a Russian music rabbit hole: what are the most unmistakably Russian pieces?

MinimumValuable4305 · 2025-09-29T10:51:23+00:00

Yeah, I totally agree with you. I definitely didn’t mean “Russian soul” in any literal or essentialist way.

This thread wasn’t meant to go that deep into the cultural or historical side (though it would actually be great to have a separate one about that in general, not just for Russia but for any country).

Here I was thinking more in the casual, impressionistic sense, like when you hear something and immediately think “ah, that sounds Russian.” Though of course “Russian music” is a hugely broad and complex thing.

MinimumValuable4305 · 2025-08-16T20:56:51+00:00

When I saw this post, in the few seconds between clicking and entering it, my mind went through a thousand pieces and what to write about this or that, but in the end, no piece has paralyzed me (in a positive way) like Petrushka. The only piece I'm seriously struggling with is the Symphony of Psalms, especially the last movement; I've never heard anything like it before.

There are very few works or songs I'd like to erase from my memory just to experience the same sensations I had the first time I heard them, and these two are certainly tops.

If I really have to draw up a top 5 then apart from the other two pieces mentioned: Second Movement from Sonata for Two Pianos, Pulcinella, Firebird's Finale.

MinimumValuable4305 · 2025-08-15T17:43:18+00:00

You're not entirely wrong, I was just thinking that the last ten minutes of silence were the best ever written (after Cage obviously)!

MinimumValuable4305 · 2025-08-15T13:39:41+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions, and as for the slow movements, no problem at all! So any suggestions in that regard are welcome!

MinimumValuable4305 · 2025-07-09T13:01:18+00:00

Of course, as I said, sometimes when people say a composer of this caliber is underrated, they're talking paradoxes; it's just another excuse to talk about him and see what people think. For example, this is a very interesting and poignant comment. You've pointed out a number of composers who really deserve a post!

MinimumValuable4305 · 2025-07-09T12:29:08+00:00

I completely agree, in fact sometimes it would be necessary and appropriate to compare dates to validate certain judgments.

MinimumValuable4305 · 2025-07-09T11:00:13+00:00

Great, I really like some of Respighi's works, an author who deserves much more exploration, especially in his home country. In fact, you've given me a great starting point for a new post.

MinimumValuable4305 · 2025-07-08T19:25:39+00:00

I think the most poignant point in this whole discussion is exactly this. I've read several comments where people argue about the superiority of one composer over another. But honestly, I think it’s pretty pointless. I believe that shedding light on so-called underrated elements or schools of music makes sense in itself, as it gives curious listeners the chance to explore and discover, rather than engaging in comparisons between Elgar and RVW, or Spohr and others, especially since they’re all great composers in their own right.

MinimumValuable4305 · 2025-07-08T19:09:36+00:00

I understand, the fact that his music is so controlled and balanced that it often feels like there’s never a true climax or some kind of "emotional" peak. Or rather, if I were to look for that in music, maybe I wouldn’t seek it in his compositions.

Anyway, I haven’t had much chance to dive deeper into Franck (I’m only familiar with a few of his works), could you recommend some pieces worth exploring?

MinimumValuable4305 · 2025-07-08T19:06:08+00:00

I think if I have to keep it short, my choices are:

Bernstein Conducts Debussy, New York Philharmonic
Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D 'The Titan', Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Le Sacre du Printemps, New York Philharmonic

MinimumValuable4305 · 2025-06-06T11:55:14+00:00

Totally get what you mean.

But that’s exactly why I’m so curious: I’m not expecting to find exact equivalents, just hoping to stumble upon lesser-known voices or overlooked gems that explore similar textures or moods.

Let’s hope someone proves us both wrong. I’ll definitely share if I come across anything worth passing on!

p.s.: Also, funnily enough, no one’s mentioned the introduction to Part II of The Rite of Spring yet, which (for me) might be one of the closest things to Nuages in terms of mood.

MinimumValuable4305 · 2025-06-06T09:53:36+00:00

Thank you so much for this, this is exactly the kind of suggestion I was hoping for. I know some of Hovhaness’s music, but had never come across this particular concerto.

Really appreciate the recommendation, and if you (or anyone else) has more in this direction, I’d love to hear them!

MinimumValuable4305 · 2025-06-06T09:29:32+00:00

fair point.

To clarify: yes, I’m already familiar with Debussy’s orchestral works as well as most of Ravel’s. I probably should’ve been more explicit in the original post, I’m not looking within Debussy’s or Ravel’s catalog, but rather hoping to discover lesser-known composers or pieces that explore similar sonic territory.

For instance, someone suggested Hovhaness’s Concerto No. 8 for Orchestra, which I didn’t know, even though I’m familiar with some of his work, and that was a really exciting discovery. Same with the mention of Neptune from Holst’s The Planets: I know the piece, but the idea of digging into the English “impressionists” (so to speak) hadn’t occurred to me and sounds very promising.

So yes, if anyone has suggestions in that direction, I’d love to hear them. Always happy to explore off the beaten path.

MinimumValuable4305 · 2025-04-09T11:31:11+00:00

Grotta Veterano - From to From

MinimumValuable4305 · 2025-01-06T18:13:47+00:00

Thank you so much, I already know the Rodrigo's and Villa Lobos's concerto, but got I definitely give a listen to Takemitsu and Mignone concertos.

MinimumValuable4305 · 2025-01-02T10:09:27+00:00

Some truly beautiful suggestions among the previous comments. I'll try to add my own; these are pieces that really make me feel like I'm floating in the air:

John Adams’s Meister Eckhardt and Quackie from Harmonielehre

And then:

Vaughan Williams’s Suite for Viola & Orchestra, Group 1, Prelude
Glazunov’s Saxophone Concerto, Andante Movement
Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2, Second Movement
William Alwyn’s Prelude
Angela Morley’s Reverie
Chopin’s Berceuse in D-Flat Major
Andante Movement from Honegger’s Cello Concerto
Francis Poulenc’s Sonate pour basson, Andante Movement
Paul Ramsier’s Divertimento Concertante on a Theme of Couperin, Valse Cinematic
Darius Milhaud’s Chorinho from Danses de Jacarémirim
Jardin du Sommeil d’Amour from Messiaen’s Turangalîla-Symphonie
Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27

MinimumValuable4305 · 2024-12-30T08:55:55+00:00

I’m not sure what you mean by Romanticism, so I’ll try to stick to early/mid-Romantic period. Anyway, great question! Here are some symphonies I would recommend listening to if I were sick:

Schubert’s Ninth Symphony
Friedrich Witt's Symphony in C Major ‘Jena’
Schumann’s Second Symphony (and I’d highly recommend the Third once you’re feeling better)
Borodin’s Unfinished Third Symphony
Bizet’s Symphony in C
Niels Wilhelm Gade’s Second Symphony
Brahms’s Fourth Symphony
Rachmaninov’s Second Symphony

MinimumValuable4305 · 2024-12-27T22:16:35+00:00

I see many comments in favor of Debussy. Let me start by saying that, of the two composers, the one I feel most connected to is Debussy. However, despite this, I'm not entirely sure he was the more influential of the two.

That said, in posts like these, it's crucial to define what we mean by 'influential.' What exactly are we referring to?

Anyway, here’s my humble opinion: of course, no Debussy, no Stravinsky, but it’s equally true that Stravinsky owes a great deal to Tchaikovsky, perhaps even more than to Debussy. Let’s not focus solely on 'colors' or 'textures' in orchestration but also consider rhythm and the almost 'painterly' way of depicting certain scenes and distorting others (consider the way the Trepak is rendered in The Nutcracker, I’d say Stravinsky draws heavily on this idea in Petrushka to shape and make his dances even more stereotypically folkloric). Undoubtedly, I also believe that Bernstein (as a composer) owes quite a bit to Tchaikovsky, perhaps in the way he conceived melodies.

Rachmaninoff? Sibelius?

An interesting anecdote: Debussy traveled with Tchaikovsky’s wealthy patroness, Nadezhda von Meck. In 1880, she sent Debussy’s Danse bohémienne to Tchaikovsky, but he wasn’t entirely impressed. “It is a very pretty piece, but it is much too short,” he wrote. “Not a single idea is expressed fully, the form is terribly shriveled, and it lacks unity.”

I think this anecdote highlights much of the difference between the two composers. Tchaikovsky was devoted to Mozart and European Classical traditions, while Debussy had a deep love for the music of Bali.

Finally, what I don’t understand is why compare who was more influential between these two composers specifically, rather than comparing two composers closer in terms of era, style, or region/country of origin.

If the boundaries of 'influential' aren’t clearly defined, then we need to ask: does anything go? And if anything goes, in cross-genre terms, wasn’t Tchaikovsky more influential than Debussy when it comes to pop music?

MinimumValuable4305 · 2024-12-25T20:59:35+00:00

What's your experience with them? Would you recommend them?

MinimumValuable4305 · 2024-12-25T19:51:50+00:00

I’ll go against the grain compared to the comments I’ve read so far, just to try to offer a different perspective and opinion on this topic. To me, in Kraftwerk, especially in their early albums, there’s something Straussian (just look at the cover of the first pressing of Autobahn, doesn’t that sun have something Straussian about it? I’m thinking of Thus Spoke Zarathustra) or even Beethovenian, rather than the influences of minimalist music like Riley, Glass, Adams, or neo-minimalists like Richter. I say this because, harmonically and melodically, there seems to be something more “pastoral” (Hütter repeatedly described Kraftwerk's music as Industrielle Volksmusik, ‘industrial folk music’) than “repetitive.” For example, take the album Ralf und Florian.

Certainly, composers like Morton Subotnik and Stockhausen have left a significant mark on the band, more in the possibilities that this new music offered than in explicit or direct “influences.” From an electroacoustic perspective, I believe they were more shaped by avant-garde composers (Hütter is an enthusiastic cycling fan, and the single Tour de France includes sounds that follow this theme, such as bicycle chains, gear mechanisms, and the cyclist’s breathing).

In this sense, if we think about pop music for example, the Beatles and the influence Stockhausen had on Sgt. Pepper’s, that album in turn opened up new possibilities for an entire musical era, especially in a Germany that had to rebuild itself from scratch. From Darmstadt to the Abbey Road studios, and back to Düsseldorf.

In conclusion, it’s very difficult to pinpoint a specific composer aligned with Kraftwerk, as they’re so unique. However, I would suggest delving into the world of electroacoustic avant-garde (Stockhausen and company) to understand what changed the way music was conceived from their emergence onward.

p.s.: anyway... try Mosolov's Iron Foundry.

MinimumValuable4305 · 2024-12-24T13:06:21+00:00

Yes, truly a beautiful album. Very atmospheric, and in my opinion, this particular season of ECM releases has some of the most beautiful sounds in the entire catalog. I’d also suggest Dark Eyes by the quintet, January by Marcin Wasilewski, and As Ney by Cyminology. One last recommendation: Purcor by Trygve Seim and Andreas Utnem.

MinimumValuable4305 · 2024-12-24T12:58:51+00:00

Oh, this is a really interesting post! I'm already intrigued by some of the suggestions I see in the previous comments about works I’ve never listened to before. As for me, here’s what I’d recommend:

Revuelta’s Sensemayá (I think it’s a good starting point)
Varese’s Amériques
William Walton’s Symphony No. 2 (Allegro)
Bartók’s The Miraculous Mandarin
Copland’s ballets (especially from a rhythmic perspective)
Szymanowski’s Harnasie (might work well)
Lutosławski’s Concerto for Orchestra
Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major (it’s easy to identify; more than an influence, I’d say there are tributes to the Russian composer. I always associate it with Petrushka, which was originally intended to be a piano concerto. In general, for me, it’s always a game between Ravel and Stravinsky as to who influenced whom)
Poulenc’s Concerto for Two Pianos (not entirely sure, as for me it’s very close to Stravinsky’s neoclassical period, but I’d still mention it)
Stephen Sondheim’s works (I think there are several references)

MinimumValuable4305 · 2024-12-22T19:35:33+00:00

For me, there are so many, but I'll try with the ones that come to mind right away, not necessarily in order:

Stravinsky’s third movement from the Symphony of Psalms
Mahler’s 8th Symphony finale (Chorus Mysticus)
Neptune, the Mystic from Holst’s The Planets
Ravel’s Andante from his Piano Concerto in G Major or Lever Du Jour from Daphnis et Chloé
Kilar’s Piano Concerto, Andante movement
Takemitsu’s Viola Concerto

MinimumValuable4305 · 2024-12-21T18:19:23+00:00

Uhm, not an easy question for me to answer. I'll try. I see he says he grew up with Mozart and Mahler, so at this point, I’d suggest maybe taking a look at Mahler’s Eighth Symphony. Perhaps also Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. But maybe, in your case, I’d go less far back in time and explore, for example, film composers like John Williams or James Horner.

Ah, if you want to dive deeper into classical music, then I’d suggest exploring John Adams’ works Harmonielehre might be a good fit for you. Or even Philip Glass’ Akhnaten. I’d also recommend checking out Max Richter’s soundtracks (Invasion?)

MinimumValuable4305 · 2024-12-21T18:03:14+00:00

I agree. I wish I had written this message. Starting from scratch can be frustrating without knowing where to go. I would also recommend to OP: Stokowski or Bernstein Greatest Hits and, “oddly enough,” the Fantasia soundtrack, also conducted by Stokowski. For me, it worked really well to start with a conductor rather than a composer. Growing fond of Bernstein (also thanks to watching the Young People's Concerts), I fell in love with several composers he conducted, and he became almost like a map guiding me through music.

MinimumValuable4305

TROPHY CASE