Stephen Albert (1941-1992): Symphony No. 2

[@stephenjablonsky1941]

Here's how it is. There is popular music and there is unpopular music. This wonderful music was posted eight months ago and has 568 views so I guess it falls into the latter category. I have to assume that dying at the young age of 51 didn't help Stephen's career. He was certainly well on his way to widespread recognition and reward but ended up in a terrible car crash. Mahler also died at 51 and his compositions spent a half century on dust laden shelves. Stephen and I were both born in 1941. I am delighted to still be here. As in all such cases one wonders what masterpieces he might have created had he survived.

[@AndrewKosinskicomposer]

My teacher's teacher. Feels nice to hear the work of somebody that I unfortunately never met.

[@julianopianaro4544]

Obrigado!!!

[@jonakpil4152]

The slow passage starting at 17:57 is breathtaking

[@mikekarren5010]

The brass are nice, but at 20:15 when the strings enter my heart stops and I hear John Williams at his best! I have to wonder which parts of this were "finished" by another composer and not really composed by Albert?

[@peterbuckley265]

STEPHEN ALBERT, AMERICAN COMPOSERR 6 FEB 1941 TO 27 DEC 1992. SYMPHONY 2, 1992.

[@cvrart]

I was getting flavors of Sibelius' Tapiola, Lemminkäinen, Finlandia, etc.

[@peterbuckley265]

THIS WORK IS FROM 1992.

[@johnfusek7518]

I finally get to hear this. Thank you i await the cello conc.

[@hectorbarrionuevo6034]

Love when 20th-century composers maintain a connection to tonality (here, perhaps most saliently, in the Second movement) !

[@camilorojas1744]

I'm sorry but I disagree with the comments -I hope I won't be killed by posting my opinion. I found this symphony somewhat boring. It sounds to me like the composer saying: Hey guys. I know how to write music but I don't have anything to say.

[@MrWalkingbass]

but it's a very moving incidental piece of music.

[@lisaragsdale1530]

I won't kill you, that would be stupid. However you must be listening for something that is unique and for that "special something" that you require in order to like it. I'm listening to it as a work by a young composer trying to express what he had to offer even though it does not "grab me" like a Copland or Barber work. I still like this piece very much.

[@andrewpetersen5272]

Are you sure you're not talking about Bruckner?

[@guntergunterlaliques]

God knows!