Kurt Atterberg (1887-1974)

[cilgwyn]

Solution: wait until Xmas before playing the sampler tracks......and the overall feeling I get from all the posts I have read here and at the AMF is that the Cpo set is still the one to get. i DO wish Chandos would go back to concentrating on unrecorded music,or,at least,music that is only available in substandard recordings. The Rufinatscha symphony seems to lack truly memorable material,but at least it was something different,and it's pleasant enough and an intriguing puzzle (but,maybe one volume is enough? They are doing the same thing with their Raff recordings. I don't mind really;I rather like Raff;but the Tudor cycle is superb. When there is so much fine music out there that hasn't been recorded or is only available in decidedly substandard recordings why duplicate something that is very good? Cpo recently started recording a new cycle of Louis Glass. This cycle was already available on the Dacapo label,which was absolutely b***** awful! I have the first Cpo release in my collection and in terms of playing and the recording quality there is simply no comparison. It sounds like a totally different work. In fact,imho (as they say ) Glass's third symphony has been revealed as a later romantic gem. I was playing the cd of it,and the suite with which it was coupled,over and over again....so,in some instances duplication of neglected,or less well known music,is worthwhile. Take Langgaard for example. I like his music;but I really don't need another cycle. Tournemire,yes! The Marco Polo recordings are at best serviceable,and the Auvidis Valois efforts are quite good,but could be allot better. And if they want to record a less than front rank symphony that has already been recorded loads of times;why not a really first rate recording and performance of Rubinstein's "Ocean" symphony. It's well known,some people enjoy it,some don't,Rubinstein's value as a composer has been the subject of umpteen debates on various music forums;yet there isn't one decent recording!! And please....much as I love Bax....no more incomplete remnants found in old socks or dusty archives. Enough is enough!! Classico produced a cd of the sixth with a German orchestra,which might have offered a worthwhile,alternative slant (and it was actually quite good) but that was the end of that!! Otherwise,please no!! And quite frankly,with due respect to the late Vernon Handley,if it was up to me,I would delete the Handley cycle (which is only available as a pricey box set) and reissue the Thomson cycle instead,ASAP!!

Anyway,that's enough ranting for now!!

[cilgwyn]

On a more positive note;you only have to read the posts here by relm1,vandermolen and Scots John,amongst others. The fact that Jarvi's recordings are resulting in all these discussions about Atterberg's music can't be a bad thing.....and at least,unlike me,they've heard the music. See you at Xmas!

[Mirror Image]

Talking to yourself again I see, cilgwyn.

[cilgwyn]

Yes,worrying,isn't I? Maybe I ought to see Docteur Fabricius?!!

[Karl Henning]

Yes,worrying,isn't I? Maybe I ought to see Docteur Fabricius?!!

Hah!

[Brian]

Well, cilgwyn, I really enjoyed that series of posts! And I agree with you, mostly. Chandos is trying to release some money makers (complete Brahms, Chopin, Haydn, Beethoven, AND Schubert piano music right now), but their obscure-music efforts should be places where their artists can turn in the best and most valuable recordings.

Which is a polite way of saying yeah, you should get the CPO Atterberg box. 

[Mirror Image]

Yes,worrying,isn't I? Maybe I ought to see Docteur Fabricius?!!

By the way, I'm surprised you don't own the Atterberg symphony set on CPO. What the hell? Run, don't walk, over to your e-retailer of choice and buy it ASAP! Remarkable music.

[vandermolen]

Yes,worrying,isn't I? Maybe I ought to see Docteur Fabricius?!!

I always follow your posts here with interest and pleasure.

I suggest that you buy the CD now and stop making such a song and dance about it.   

[cilgwyn]

I'll see about putting Atterberg on my Xmas list,possibly birthday (end of July) but I've got to resist for now! I've already got some power company hounding me for a gas bill........what gas? Where?! It's news to me!! That said,the trouble with cd collecting (and before that Lp's) is that one thing always leads to another. Look at all these old Decca/Oiseau Lyre Lewis/Mackerras Purcell sets I've bought,now. Wonderful singing from stellar soloists from years gone by (although Pears might bother some people) and excellent performances for their vintage. But how long before the fact that there are more authentic recordings with period instrumentation starts to niggle away at me?!! (Maybe,not? I'm not that big a fan of period authenticity anyway. Well,it depends,really? For instance,I prefer those old Davis recordings of Berlioz on Philips to those new Gardiner things,any day!) And I can't help thinking how collecting Tubin led to Vagn Holmboe and Raff and Spohr cds led to Rufinatascha,and now Felix Draeseke,for goodness sake. I thought three Draeseke cds would be enough,but the some bounder described his Piano concerto as "Beethovenian"! And then what about that Koechlin Seven Stars Symphony I dug out last week? The next minute I'm buying Hanssler cds of Le Docteur Fabricius and  Le Buisson ardent (I already have the BMG/RCA Jungle Book,thank goodness!) No wonder I've always stayed clear of Myaskovsky.....much as I like his twenty first;which seems to be the most well known.
And who knows? If I buy the Atterberrg Cpo set,I could be ordering Peterson-Berger (I think I've got his name right?) next. Some people think he's good!!

I notice alcoholics have groups they can join,but nothing for cd buying addictions! Why not?!!

[Sergeant Rock]

I notice alcoholics have groups they can join,but nothing for cd buying addictions! Why not?!!

There's a group dedicated to your addiction right here:

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,15426.msg378935.html#msg378935


Sarge

[cilgwyn]

Thanks,Sarge! This might help. And allot better than having to physically stand up in front of a group of people in a room and tell them who you are............("Hi guys,I'm Dave,etc......)

[cilgwyn]

I'm,erm,not called Dave,incidentally!

[Karl Henning]

I'm,erm,not called Dave,incidentally!

Mind if we call you Dave to keep it clear?

[vandermolen]

My wife has accused me of 'Having an affair' with my CD collection.

[cilgwyn]

  I understand you're a member of this self help group,too,vandermolen!
Meanwhile,I've celebrated my cast iron willed determination to resist the urge to buy that expensive Cpo Atterberg set by splashing out on a s/h copy of the earlier (fat box) 1990 release of the Karajan Bruckner symphonies box set!

Uh-oh!!  

[vandermolen]

I understand you're a member of this self help group,too,vandermolen!
Meanwhile,I've celebrated my cast iron willed determination to resist the urge to buy that expensive Cpo Atterberg set by splashing out on a s/h copy of the earlier (fat box) 1990 release of the Karajan Bruckner symphonies box set!

Uh-oh!!

A remarkable act of restraint. 

[Brian]

I'm about to listen to Neeme Jarvi's new Atterberg 5. It is, incredibly, 26 minutes to Ari Rasilainen's 34.

[vandermolen]

I'm about to listen to Neeme Jarvi's new Atterberg 5. It is, incredibly, 26 minutes to Ari Rasilainen's 34.

I have been enjoying this new recording very much although it is very fast - it was much the same with Symphony 8 I think.

[relm1]

I have just listened to the Chandos/Jarvi/Atterberg volume 3 (Symphony No. 1 and 5) CD.  As any fan of Atterberg's would already know, this is a very different interpretation.  It is very well played and recorded but why does Jarvi rush so much?  I very much enjoyed the CD but I wonder, is it more attributed to the quality of the writing of Atterberg than this CD?  Ultimately, I think it is a worthwhile investment but I wish it was considerably slower (like 20%).  These are melodic qualities that tend towards longing, nostalgia, and subdued melancholia.  Much like Sibelius, can you imagine a 30 minute version of his symphony no.1?  Or 15 minute version of No. 7?  Sure, a surge of energy can add a unique perspective but it never feels quite right to the material.  It seems as if Jarvi just doesn't like this music very much...he doesn't linger in the underlying pathos the way 1980's Lenny Bernstein might have.  I could imagine a late 1980's Lenny to have the Symphony No. 5 at about 38 minutes.  Sure that is pure speculation but that is how I hear the music.  It is so well structured and melodically indulgent that it needs to breath. 

[Brian]

relm1, I agree with you. This Jarvi Vol. 3 is easily the best CD in his series so far - I like it, whereas I hated the first two. But you're right: he seems not to like the music very much.

This is also part of the Neeme Jarvi style: he is very bad at warm romantic emotions or effusions, and good at cool calculated efficiency. If you ever listen to his Saint-Saens album, you'll hear more of the same. As mentioned above, the other Atterberg cycle is indeed about 20% slower all the time. I would love to have heard a Lenny cycle.

There in fact IS a 16 minute version of Sibelius' No. 7. It has been posted here, and it's on my home computer, but I cannot remember who the conductor and orchestra are. (The recording was in mono and from the 40s or 50s.) I do remember liking it. Right now, inspired by your post, I'm listening to a Stokowski performance that's 16:58 - although the sound quality is abjectly awful.