Vagn Holmboe (1909-1996)

Karl Henning · February 07, 2013, 04:00:07 AM

Brian's pointing a certain book out over at the HQ reminds me that it is time I fetched in the chamber concertos. I had been waiting for a reissue of the lot, but . . . grew tired of the wait : ) The trigger has been pulled . . . .

Karl Henning · February 14, 2013, 10:37:04 AM

Oh, any day now . . . .

Madiel · March 05, 2013, 04:09:00 AM

Do it! Do it!

Not that I've done it yet... I still haven't finished listening to the string quartets and the chamber symphonies...

PS Hi all, back on the forum after wandering off for some months. *waves*

Madiel · March 05, 2013, 04:36:28 AM

Ooh. Meanwhile, Da Capo has just released their promised recording of the Viola Concerto, Violin Concerto No.2... and the early Concerto for Orchestra.

Not only are these premiere recordings (these are 2 of the last mature concertos to be recorded), in the case of the Concerto for Orchestra it's believed to be a premiere performance.

Karl Henning · March 05, 2013, 05:55:06 AM

WB, Orfeo!

I did, I did fetch in the chamber concerti, and have started listening.

That new release sounds mighty tasty.

Leo K. · March 10, 2013, 03:07:05 PM

Really looking forward to hearing Holmboe for the first time, just got this:

Mirror Image · March 10, 2013, 03:24:47 PM

Quote from: Leo K. on March 10, 2013, 03:07:05 PM
Really looking forward to hearing Holmboe for the first time, just got this:

Sadly, I'm still trying to figure Holmboe out. His music just doesn't land on my ear, in fact, it flies across my ear and nothing sticks! I own this set as well and have owned for several years.

Madiel · March 10, 2013, 03:25:52 PM

Quote from: Leo K. on March 10, 2013, 03:07:05 PM
Really looking forward to hearing Holmboe for the first time, just got this:

Will be very keen to hear your responses!

Daverz · March 10, 2013, 04:32:15 PM

Quote from: Leo K. on March 10, 2013, 03:07:05 PM
Really looking forward to hearing Holmboe for the first time, just got this:

eclassical.com is charging $35 for lossless downloads of the whole box.

Christo · March 10, 2013, 10:44:16 PM

Quote from: Mirror Image on March 10, 2013, 03:24:47 PM
Sadly, I'm still trying to figure Holmboe out. His music just doesn't land on my ear, in fact, it flies across my ear and nothing sticks! I own this set as well and have owned for several years.

In your case, given your (wide range of self-confessed) preferences, I think the best start would be with Symphonies Nos. 5, 6, 7, perhaps 4 (if you accept the quality of the choir) and 8 ('Boreale'). Otherwise: the folksy No. 3 or tragic-heroic No. 10.

Daverz · March 10, 2013, 11:36:18 PM

Quote from: Christo on March 10, 2013, 10:44:16 PM
In your case, given your (wide range of self-confessed) preferences, I think the best start would be with Symphonies Nos. 5, 6, 7, perhaps 4 (if you accept the quality of the choir) and 8 ('Boreale'). Otherwise: the folksy No. 3 or tragic-heroic No. 10.

I find the Chamber Concertos more interesting. And I hope the Bis set is not the last word on the symphonies.

Octave · March 10, 2013, 11:50:33 PM

Hey Leo, I hope you find these symphonies interesting. I have only dipped my feet into Holmboe at this point, but based on my own response, I can say that you should absolutely check out the FOUR SYMPHONIC METAMORPHOSES disc (also on Bis) if you like the symphonies. I think I liked that disc even a bit more than the symphonies. I also got a lot of mileage out of the bargain box of his string quartets, maybe especially several of the later quartets.

Karl Henning · March 11, 2013, 02:02:28 AM

Quote from: Leo K. on March 10, 2013, 03:07:05 PM
Really looking forward to hearing Holmboe for the first time, just got this:

Very cool! I find it all a wonderfully rich cycle, and I find it yields more with each succeeding listen. The quartets (which Octave mentions) are brilliant.

Mirror Image · March 11, 2013, 07:37:20 AM

Quote from: Christo on March 10, 2013, 10:44:16 PM
In your case, given your (wide range of self-confessed) preferences, I think the best start would be with Symphonies Nos. 5, 6, 7, perhaps 4 (if you accept the quality of the choir) and 8 ('Boreale'). Otherwise: the folksy No. 3 or tragic-heroic No. 10.

I've heard all of Holmboe's symphonies at least twice, Christo. I've tried to enjoy the music, I really have, but there's nothing there for my ears to grab onto. I'll take your suggestions but I'm in no hurry to listen to Holmboe any time soon.

Daverz · March 11, 2013, 02:53:42 PM

Quote from: Mirror Image on March 11, 2013, 07:37:20 AM
nothing there for my ears to grab onto.

It's all that Delius. Bad for building ear strength.

I do remember finding 4 very exciting, and quite different in character from the other symphonies. Also, 8 is pretty good. I tend to blame these performances for some of my lack of enthusiasm.

Mirror Image · March 11, 2013, 02:56:11 PM

Quote from: Daverz on March 11, 2013, 02:53:42 PM
It's all that Delius. Bad for building ear strength.

No, it's simply me not responding to Holmboe's music. Completely my own fault and certainly not the composer's. I do agree that the performances leave much to be desired.

Karl Henning · March 11, 2013, 05:52:31 PM

Quote from: Daverz on March 11, 2013, 02:53:42 PM
It's all that Delius. Bad for building ear strength.

I do remember finding 4 very exciting, and quite different in character from the other symphonies. Also, 8 is pretty good. I tend to blame these performances for some of my lack of enthusiasm.

That is the drawback to having but one set available!

Somehow, in the case of Holmboe's music, I can "hear through" the shortcomings in the occasional recording. I hear the greatness here.

Madiel · March 12, 2013, 08:50:42 PM

There's not that many instances of Holmboe works with a wide range of recordings to choose from! Although I seem to remember the Op.19 Notturno crops up at least 3 times (none of which I have yet).

I find it fairly difficult to assess a performance of a work when I don't have anything to compare it to - either another recording or a score.

One area of Holmboe where performance choice has delayed a purchase is the 'chamber' concertos. Da Capo has recorded them all. BIS has recorded only some. What listening comparison I've done suggests that the BIS performances are better, though, which puts me in a quandary about which way to go (I'm a sucker for complete sets).

Mirror Image · March 12, 2013, 08:55:37 PM

The symphonies definitely need to be recorded again as the BIS cycle is far from flattering. Maybe Dacapo could offer better performances?

Daverz · March 12, 2013, 09:27:05 PM

Quote from: orfeo on March 12, 2013, 08:50:42 PM
There's not that many instances of Holmboe works with a wide range of recordings to choose from! Although I seem to remember the Op.19 Notturno crops up at least 3 times (none of which I have yet).

I think I may have a recording of Symphony 8 on Lp somewhere.

Quote
One area of Holmboe where performance choice has delayed a purchase is the 'chamber' concertos. Da Capo has recorded them all. BIS has recorded only some. What listening comparison I've done suggests that the BIS performances are better, though, which puts me in a quandary about which way to go (I'm a sucker for complete sets).

I have the first volume of the Da Capo series, and thought it was great. I'll have to hear the Bis recordings.

One thing that confused me at first, is that there are the Chamber Concertos and the Chamber Symphonies (OK, so I'm not that observant sometimes).