And the runner up was Franz Schmidt with his Third Symphony, and yes, I too, do prefer Atterberg's Sixth Symphony to Schmidt's Third.Seán wrote: ↑Wed Feb 28, 2024 9:51 pm On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Schubert’s death the Columbia Gramophone Company invited composers in 1928 to write a work which the Unfinished Symphony would inspire them to compose. The 10,000-dollar first prize went to Swedish composer Kurt Atterberg for his 6th Symphony, which has borne the sobriquet “The Dollar Symphony” ever since. Many factors contributed to its success, including its transparent orchestration, euphony, engaging melodies, rousing dance-like music in the outer movements, the poetic mood of the central Adagio (with its rewarding clarinet solo), and a hint of Swedish folk music.
That said this is a great recording, I'm loving Järvi's work:
Franz Schmidt
Symphony No. 3
Symphony No. 4
Frankfurt Radio Symphony
Paavo Järvi conducting