Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
The World's Greatest Composer

The five movement Rhenish Symphony was the last one Schumann wrote, soon after he moved to Dusseldorf in 1850, hence its name, Dusseldorf being in the Rhineland. Although we are comparing four magnificent works, the Rhenish is my least favourite of the Schumann symphonies.  It is probably the most technically "correct" and is an involving and enjoyable listen, but to me doesn't have the involvement of the others, especially the fourth and second. Neither is it as popular with the listening public as those two. Make your mind up, as you listen to the five excerpts below.

If you want to listen to a complete performance,  here is my Youtube offering
Here are excerpts from the 1973 recordings by Wolfgang Sawallisch and the Staatskapelle Dresden. If you want to download the complete symphony, or the entire set, you can do it very cheaply and legally from here

1st Movement - Lebhaft   
2nd Movement - Scherzo   
3rd  Movement - Nicht Schnell   
4th  Movement - Feierlich   
5th Movement -  Lebhaft   

Symphony No. 1  Symphony No. 2  Symphony No. 3  Symphony No. 4