Nørgård's Niche

[brewski]

Per Nørgård passed away today, 92 years old.

RIP.

Very sorry to hear this. In 2016 I heard a big chunk of his music at Scandinavia House in NYC, and much of it was a revelation.

Now listening to Constellations (1958), a concerto for 12 strings, with the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra and conductor Juha Kangas, all new to me.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Per Nørgård passed away today, 92 years old.

RIP.

Ah, man. That's a shame. He was getting up there as he was in his 90s. I'll play some of his music today as a memorial to him. Such a fascinating composer.

[Iota]

I was at the UK premiere of his Third Symphony conducted by Thomas Dausgaard at the BBC Proms in 2018, a concert at which he was present, and at the end the spotlight found him in the audience, and he stood up and the whole Albert Hall cheered him to the rafters.
In memoriam, I listened again to the Third today, and as in 2018, despite finding it a striking and grandly impressive work, with all sorts of notable and often beautiful passages, I find myself unable to really connect with it as yet. I will perhaps try 'Constellations' from earlier in his life, that @brewski has posted above, perhaps that will open the door a little wider for me.

But yes, whether or not it's not for me, clearly a composer with something to say. Hope his passing was peaceful. RIP

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

I was at the UK premiere of his Third Symphony conducted by Thomas Dausgaard at the BBC Proms in 2018, a concert at which he was present, and at the end the spotlight found him in the audience, and he stood up and the whole Albert Hall cheered him to the rafters.
In memoriam, I listened again to the Third today, and as in 2018, despite finding it a striking and grandly impressive work, with all sorts of notable and often beautiful passages, I find myself unable to really connect with it as yet. I will perhaps try 'Constellations' from earlier in his life, that @brewski has posted above, perhaps that will open the door a little wider for me.

But yes, whether or not it's not for me, clearly a composer with something to say. Hope his passing was peaceful. RIP

Nørgård is a hit/miss composer for me big-time. Coincidently, I love his 3rd symphony (and his 4th). His SQs are also some of my favorite works of his output. I recall enjoying some of his concerti, but forget which ones at the moment.

[foxandpeng]

Per Nørgård passed away today, 92 years old.

RIP.

Yeah, this sucks. I know 92 is more than most of us will get or can hope for,  but the loss of such figures remains sad. His music has been a growing and then enduring pleasure. I'm glad of his legacy.

[Alex Bozman]

This is sad to hear, one of the Scandanavian greats. Attended a concert in Manchester about twenty years ago where Nørgård gave a pre-event talk and came across as an interesting character. The 3rd symphony remains a favourite. I must have another go at trying to get to grips with his later music.