Havergal Confessional

[eschiss1]

and to complicate matters (a little; this isn't so rare...) it's his first completely surviving symphony (... if that; the full manuscript score doesn't. But moreso than the Fantastic Symphony that he once called his first symphony.)

[Dundonnell]

"It does seem that the Gothic is the one that moves people and represents the pinnacle of HB's symphonic achievements, it dominates evrything I read about HB and his music, and yet it is Symphony No.1 ..... so, was it a case of an initial massive outpouring of genius (as some view it) and then (some might say) a half-century of less inspired symphonies? I can't really get a grasp of his musical development - it seems to all be in reverse! 

Perhaps, the Brianites can put me straight on this..... "

Oh dear

It is far too late at night and there are others who can be more than relied on to reply at length and in depth

[kolaboy]

For me, the Brian Symphonies (I'm speaking primarily of the symphonies after the 5th) are the equivalent of flying over a dramatically undulating landscape; once you've flown over you can recall that it was "dramatic" & "undulating,"  but none of the individual high points really stand out as memorable peaks...
Perhaps this was his intent - cryptic fellow that he was.

I do have a great affection for the first five, however

[vandermolen]

I loved hearing The Gothic Live (for the second time) and think that it is a great work.  Even so the choral sections do take some perseverance IMHO, although I appreciate them much more now. I agree with Colin's selection of favourites No 6-10 but also have come to appreciate No. 2,3,16 and 22.  Some of the others are indeed difficult to get hold of and I hardly ever play them (No. 11 is an exception).