No More Than 9 Symphonies

Composers who composed exactly 9 symphonies

There are actually a few famous composers who composed exactly 9 symphonies. Here are some of them:

1. Ludwig van Beethoven: Beethoven's nine symphonies are among the most famous and beloved pieces of classical music. His symphonies include the "Eroica" Symphony, the "Pastoral" Symphony, and the famous "Ninth Symphony" with the choral finale.

2. Anton Bruckner: Bruckner composed nine symphonies during his lifetime, and his music is known for its grandeur and complexity. His symphonies are often performed by orchestras around the world.

3. Franz Schubert: Schubert's nine symphonies are less well-known than Beethoven's, but they are still beloved by classical music fans. Schubert's symphonies are known for their lyrical melodies and romantic spirit.

4. Ralph Vaughan Williams: Vaughan Williams was a 20th-century English composer who composed nine symphonies during his lifetime. His music is often inspired by English folk tunes and landscapes, and his symphonies are known for their pastoral beauty.

5. Malcolm Arnold: Arnold was a British composer who is best known for his film scores, but he also composed nine symphonies during his lifetime. His music is known for its energy and vitality, and his symphonies are popular with audiences and performers alike.

These are just a few of the many composers who have composed exactly nine symphonies. Each of these composers has their own unique style and approach to symphonic composition, and their music continues to be performed and enjoyed by classical music fans around the world.

Composers who tried to compose a tenth symphony but died before succeeding

There are several famous composers who attempted to compose a tenth symphony, but unfortunately died before they were able to complete the work. Here are a few examples:

1. Ludwig van Beethoven: Beethoven famously started work on his tenth symphony in the years leading up to his death in 1827. However, he never finished the work, and all that remains are a few sketches and notes.

2. Franz Schubert: Schubert began work on his tenth symphony in 1828, but he died before he could finish the piece. The score was discovered years later, and several attempts have been made to complete the work based on Schubert's sketches and notes.

3. Antonín Dvořák: Dvořák planned to compose a tenth symphony, but he died before he could start the work. Some sketches for the symphony have been discovered, but it's unclear whether Dvořák ever had a firm idea of what the piece would be like.

4. Gustav Mahler: Mahler famously composed nine symphonies during his lifetime, but he began work on a tenth symphony in 1910. He completed the first movement and started work on the second before he died in 1911. Some fragments of the unfinished symphony have been performed and recorded.

5. Ralph Vaughan Williams: Vaughan Williams also attempted to compose a tenth symphony, but he died before he could complete the work. He left behind some sketches and notes, but it's unclear whether he ever had a firm plan for the piece.

These are just a few examples of composers who attempted to compose a tenth symphony but were unable to complete the work before they died. Despite their unfinished state, these works and their sketches continue to be studied and performed by musicians and scholars around the world.

The dangers of trying to go past 9 symphonies

There is a long-standing superstition in classical music that composing more than nine symphonies can be dangerous, perhaps because of the association of the number nine with completeness or finality. While this is a superstition and not a proven fact, there are some examples of composers who faced difficulties or died shortly after attempting to compose their tenth symphony.

One of the most famous examples is Gustav Mahler, who composed nine symphonies and began work on his tenth before his death in 1911. Mahler was a superstitious man, and he reportedly feared that composing more than nine symphonies would bring bad luck. While Mahler's death was caused by a heart condition, his unfinished tenth symphony has been viewed by some as evidence of the dangers of trying to go beyond the ninth.

Another example is Jean Sibelius, who composed seven symphonies before announcing his retirement from symphonic composition in the 1920s. However, he later attempted to compose an eighth symphony, but ultimately abandoned the work after struggling with the creative process. Some have speculated that Sibelius's difficulties with the eighth symphony were related to the superstition about the dangers of going beyond nine.

Of course, many composers have composed more than nine symphonies without facing any unusual difficulties or dangers. The superstition about the number nine is not supported by any empirical evidence, and it is likely that the challenges of composing additional symphonies are related to the individual composer's creative process and personal circumstances, rather than any mystical or supernatural factors.

In summary, while there is a superstition about the dangers of composing more than nine symphonies, it is not a proven fact and is likely related more to individual circumstances than any universal law. Composers should feel free to compose as many symphonies as they wish, without fear of supernatural consequences.

See also Wikipedia on the “curse of the ninth”.