Pettersson's Pavilion

[snyprrr]

I've got the Leipzigers playing the Mozart Lucchesi “Prussian” Quartets, and they do a dashed fine job.  I still haven't quite made my way through all the Pettersson symphonies, but I should in fact be interesting to hear a concerto for vn & str qt.

Seriously, I love this piece. Had Honegger had an epiphany just before he died, he may have produced this work. I think it yields only to Schoenberg's String Trio in terms of the late '40s early '50s. After Hindemith's last SQ, then put the Pettersson on.

Chausson Lite?

By no means...Pettersson's Concerto No.1 is a totally unique conception in my view. Not only does it not "reek" of Pettersson, it also has quite a unique profile for the late '40s. It is intense, AND fun...Pettersson's "diary" of his bicycle ride even contains much "bike" music that I find charming. Slightly similar to Sessions' String Quintet, though with a more personable profile.

[snyprrr]

I was just thinking how much I like late Pettersson, and how funny that sounds. I like the twin Symphonies 10-11, the absolute 13th, the "Mozartean" 14th, the bleak 15th,...

the three giant concertos...

... the Symphonic Movement...

Serious question:

Do we need another cycle?

If, then whom?

[The new erato]

I was just thinking how much I like late Pettersson, and how funny that sounds. I like the twin Symphonies 10-11, the absolute 13th, the "Mozartean" 14th, the bleak 15th,...

the three giant concertos...

... the Symphonic Movement...

Serious question:

Do we need another cycle?

If, then whom?

Of course we do. But in that case it should be by a major orchestra. But since that seems pretty unrealistic, I'll settle for some reissues, Kamu of the 6th and Commissiona's 8th. And I would love it if any of the major orchestras (LSO, Concertgebouw seems more likely than the BPO/WPO) were to do at least a symphony or two.

[Lilas Pastia]

Of course we do. But in that case it should be by a major orchestra(...).

Very true.

In my mind's ears I hear in the Concertgebouw the ideal recording venue for Pettersson's sound world. The deep, resonant,  'contained' acoustic would do wonders in revealing Pettersson's fanatically self-absorbed, inward-looking, outward-reaching orchestral music, with its dark string undercurrents, spare but luminous wind lines and dramatic timpani pounding (not necessarily loud, but thematically and rythmically very important).

Of course, if the house orchestra (the RCO) was playing, that would be les genoux de l'abeille. But I'd even settle for another dutch orchestra. AFAIK they all cultivate that kind of orchestral sound, and a few of them are technically excellent. Bring Pettersson to Amsterdam !

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Very true.

In my mind's ears I hear in the Concertgebouw the ideal recording venue for Pettersson's sound world. The deep, resonant,  'contained' acoustic would do wonders in revealing Pettersson's fanatically self-absorbed, inward-looking, outward-reaching orchestral music, with its dark string undercurrents, spare but luminous wind lines and dramatic timpani pounding (not necessarily loud, but thematically and rythmically very important).

Of course, if the house orchestra (the RCO) was playing, that would be les genoux de l'abeille. But I'd even settle for another dutch orchestra. AFAIK they all cultivate that kind of orchestral sound, and a few of them are technically excellent. Bring Pettersson to Amsterdam !

HEAR HEAR! (And I would be sitting on the balcony, opposite the orchestra)

[bhodges]

From May 2009, an interesting appreciation of Pettersson here on La Folia, an excellent site for articles on 20th-century and contemporary music.  (And reminds me that I need to get to know more of his work.)

--Bruce

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

From May 2009, an interesting appreciation of Pettersson here on La Folia, an excellent site for articles on 20th-century and contemporary music.  (And reminds me that I need to get to know more of his work.)

--Bruce

THANKS!!

[karlhenning]

Not crazy about the Twelfth.

[ChamberNut]

I've never heard a Pettersson symphony.  What should I start off with? 

[Sef]

I've never heard a Pettersson symphony.  What should I start off with? 

7th is the perceived wisdom I think. Followed by 6 and 8 if the fancy still takes you. At least these have interludes of quite the most gorgeous music, during which time you can try to figure out what just hit you.

[snyprrr]

I've never heard a Pettersson symphony.  What should I start off with? 

I'd rather recommend the 8th, if only for the best 3min. intro of any music anywhere, anyhow!

However, "chamber"nut...you should try the Concerto No.1 for Violin and SQ. Though it doesn't really "do" the Pettersson "thing", it is one of my favorite "ultimate" chamber works. It's not thaaat easy, but...imagine it being written by late-Honegger, peppered with 1940s Scelsi and 1950s Sessions. (or, maybe a verrry bitter late-Hindemith?,haha)

Not crazy about the Twelfth.

Who is?

[UB]

Who is?

Me! But would not recommend it to someone starting to investigate the symphonies. 7th and 6th would be my suggestions.

[Tapio Dmitriyevich]

6,7,8,9 - that order. Or 7,6,8,9.

[ChamberNut]

Ok great!  I'll be hunting. 

[vandermolen]

Violin Concerto No 2 is his masterpiece IMHO. Otherwise symphonies 7,6,8,2,4 in that order

[snyprrr]

Violin Concerto No 2 is his masterpiece IMHO. Otherwise symphonies 7,6,8,2,4 in that order

I know I asked you this before, but you're the only person mentioning No.4, the only one I haven't heard. 25 words or less? I really enjoyed No.3, but No.2 is still going to take some work on my part.

[Nunc Dimittis]

I know I asked you this before, but you're the only person mentioning No.4, the only one I haven't heard. 25 words or less? I really enjoyed No.3, but No.2 is still going to take some work on my part.

No. 4 is one of my favorites.  I bought the CPO recording when it was released.  Of the earlier syphonies, I prefer it above the better known No. 2, which even after having listened to many times over the past 20 years, I still do not quite get. For me, I would recommend numbers 7, 6, 8 and 4 in that order.

[Pettsson]

What do you think about the new Pettersson site www.pettersson100.de. Germany has a little problem with the splitting into  two Allan Pettersson Societies, the original www.iapg.de and the new one pettersson100.de

[jlaurson]

NEW RELEASES: CDS

A.Pettersson, Eight Barefoot Songs; Concertos Nos 1 & 2 for String Orchestra, C.Lindberg / Nordic CO
BIS 1690 (72:20)




Barefoot & Beautiful: Allan Pettersson's Music on BIS


Difficult to say whether the eight—of 24—Barefoot Songs on this BIS disc owe their gorgeousness to Allan Pettersson's wistful melodies, or Antal Dorati's sensitive, empathetic (and very extensive) orchestrations.

Who cares. The result is a lushly morbid collection of very fine orchestral songs with a central European romantic heart and darkly Scandinavian air surrounding them. Anders Larsson's baritone is nicely suited to this. Everyone of those Barefoot Songs makes one wish that Dorati had orchestrated all 24—and then regret that Pettersson only set two dozen of his own Barefoot Poems (out of over 100) to music in the first place...

continued at http://www.weta.org/fmblog/?p=780

[jowcol]

I must confess I had some hesitation about dipping into this world, but I've listened to his 7th Symphony three times this morning and love it.  Maybe I'm twisted, but I  find this very uplifting, human music, and it was not at all a strain to listen to. 

I'm sure I'll be listening to more....