Vagn Holmboe (1909-1996)

[Karl Henning]

I finished my first voyage through the symphonies set.  The only one I thought weak was the Fourth: Mahler without the neuroticism, Shostakovich without the angst.

This week I am going through the SQs.  The lack of track listings, or even identifying the quartets on the sleeve of each CD, is a bit annoying.  God help me if I ever lose the booklet!

Point taken!

[Madiel]

Concerto time again... for the last time.

Because the Viola Concerto op.189 is the last work in this form to be recorded.

[asin]B00AOALXJI[/asin]

And what a recording. The martial start, all pounding drums, leaps out of the speakers. The first entry of the viola is a long rhapsodic solo (introducing some of the figures that will recur in the rest of the movement), but then the orchestra reasserts its steady pulse and the 2nd time the viola agrees to join in, Allegro moderato ma con forza. The viola breaks free from the rhythm just a couple more times in the 1st movement, one of them being at the very end as the music quietens and decelerates in a typical Holmboe manoeuvre.

And then the 2nd movement starts just as forcefully, and faster, and they're off again in a rhythmic dance that's not dissimilar in mood to the 1st movement. But this time, it only lasts a few minutes before the viola has a big cadenza which leads into the central Andante section of the movement, far more lyrical. When the pace picks up again the music is light and slightly jaunty. It doesn't feel fast but there are occasional fast runs. The music slows down a bit again, then resumes its pace with the drums making their presence strongly felt. And that's how it goes to the end, with the last thumps failing to dislodge the viola from its final note.

The viola seems to have done darn well from Holmboe. One review of this disc described this as "one of the finest viola concertos ever penned", and the Chamber Concerto for viola was one of my favourites from that series. But the other thing this particular disc has is outstanding recorded sound.

[Madiel]

And that's the end of this grab-bag of concerto thoughts, because sadly the String Quartet Concerto hasn't been recorded by anyone. I kind of wish it had been put on that Da Capo disc instead of the early Concerto for Orchestra, but oh well. One day.

[Karl Henning]

Concerto time again... for the last time.

Because the Viola Concerto op.189 is the last work in this form to be recorded.

[asin]B00AOALXJI[/asin]

And what a recording. The martial start, all pounding drums, leaps out of the speakers. The first entry of the viola is a long rhapsodic solo (introducing some of the figures that will recur in the rest of the movement), but then the orchestra reasserts its steady pulse and the 2nd time the viola agrees to join in, Allegro moderato ma con forza. The viola breaks free from the rhythm just a couple more times in the 1st movement, one of them being at the very end as the music quietens and decelerates in a typical Holmboe manoeuvre.

And then the 2nd movement starts just as forcefully, and faster, and they're off again in a rhythmic dance that's not dissimilar in mood to the 1st movement. But this time, it only lasts a few minutes before the viola has a big cadenza which leads into the central Andante section of the movement, far more lyrical. When the pace picks up again the music is light and slightly jaunty. It doesn't feel fast but there are occasional fast runs. The music slows down a bit again, then resumes its pace with the drums making their presence strongly felt. And that's how it goes to the end, with the last thumps failing to dislodge the viola from its final note.

The viola seems to have done darn well from Holmboe. One review of this disc described this as "one of the finest viola concertos ever penned", and the Chamber Concerto for viola was one of my favourites from that series. But the other thing this particular disc has is outstanding recorded sound.

There is beautiful music on that disc!

[Camphy]

And that's the end of this grab-bag of concerto thoughts, because sadly the String Quartet Concerto hasn't been recorded by anyone. I kind of wish it had been put on that Da Capo disc instead of the early Concerto for Orchestra, but oh well. One day.

There's hope. Thanks for writing these observations. I've ordered some of the concertos disks (from the BIS series), and am looking forward to listening to them. Last year Da Capo announced on their website the release of a box set of the concertos, but after a short while the announcement was taken off again. Even so, I hope they will follow up on it in the near future.

[Mirror Image]

Let's hope Dacapo gets to recording the symphonies (not that I'm dissatisfied with Hughes in any way).

[vandermolen]

Point taken!

I like the opening of No.4 although 6,7,8 and 10 are my favourites. Must get that Viola Concerto CD.

[Karl Henning]

orfeo, would you have any idea if an (apparently late, "by 1994") choral unaccompanied setting of Pludselig blev mørket lyst igen (Suddenly the darkness became light again) has been sung?  Where we might obtain choral scores?

[Madiel]

orfeo, would you have any idea if an (apparently late, "by 1994") choral unaccompanied setting of Pludselig blev mørket lyst igen (Suddenly the darkness became light again) has been sung?  Where we might obtain choral scores?

The catalogue info I have says that it was published in a book called "6 National Songs" (6 Folkelige sange), edited by Else Marie Okkels. That was published in 1994, hence the date.

There are apparently two versions of the book, one of which has the choral unaccompanied setting (the other is voice and piano).

So maybe it's only available in that book with other composers. Google provides library hits on the Danish title that prove the book exists, though I haven't spotted one for sale.

[Karl Henning]

The catalogue info I have says that it was published in a book called "6 National Songs" (6 Folkelige sange), edited by Else Marie Okkels. That was published in 1994, hence the date.

There are apparently two versions of the book, one of which has the choral unaccompanied setting (the other is voice and piano).

So maybe it's only available in that book with other composers. Google provides library hits on the Danish title that prove the book exists, though I haven't spotted one for sale.

Many thanks!

[Karl Henning]

It occurs to me that I know an organist from Denmark, and I should see what he might be able to tell me . . . .

[Madiel]

It appears it was published by... an association for Danish high schools??

I believe these are the people: www.ffd.dk  but the site is only in Danish. If you can't track down a copy in a Danish library, at a pinch you could try writing to them (in English - chances are they speak it) and see what happens.

Heck, writing to people about obscure Holmboe recordings has netted me 4 free CDs this year...

[Karl Henning]

(in English - chances are they speak it)

Every Dane I have gotten to know yet, has spoken very good English.

[Madiel]

Every Dane I have gotten to know yet, has spoken very good English.

Yes, the only reason I hedged my bets was simply because there was no English version of the site.

Anyway, your local Danish organist can tackle the task for you, as well as investigating libraries. 

[Camphy]

Rereleased:



http://www.forgottenrecords.com/Sauermann-Musica-Vitalis-Quartet--Nielsen-Holmboe--969.html

[Camphy]

New announcement of the collected chamber concertos by Da Capo (January 2017):

http://www.dacapo-records.dk/en/future-releases.aspx

[Madiel]

Excellent. Let's hope it actually happens this time!

[Camphy]

Doubtful. It's been taken off again.

[CRCulver]

The quality of the Dacapo Chamber Concertos (both in terms of performance and sound) is so inferior to those Chamber Concertos recorded on BIS, that I wish BIS had just completed their series. Unfortunately, after over a decade Robert von Bahr's attention has probably wandered off elsewhere than Holmboe, and maybe Owain Arwel Hughes isn't in a position to conduct more Holmboe with a Danish orchestra.

[Daverz]

The quality of the Dacapo Chamber Concertos (both in terms of performance and sound) is so inferior to those Chamber Concertos recorded on BIS, that I wish BIS had just completed their series. Unfortunately, after over a decade Robert von Bahr's attention has probably wandered off elsewhere than Holmboe, and maybe Owain Arwel Hughes isn't in a position to conduct more Holmboe with a Danish orchestra.

I'll have to compare with the Bis, but the Dacapo discs have excellent sonics to my ears.  Perhaps a matter of taste.  No complaints about the performances, either.