Carl Nielsen's Fifth Symphony

[schweitzeralan]

It's been many years since I've listened to Nielsen's 5th.  Just wanted to commet on this forum that I think it's quite a major work.  Some time ago I inaugurated a topic on War Music.  I don't remember having formerly scrutinized all the postings to determine if any comments were made concerning Nielsen's symphony.  The war's suggestive presence and influence pervades the work.  I think that this work is representative of the artist's perspective of rapidly changing values during and after Great War. The work is taught and sustained throughout.

[Christo]

Have accidently been playing it a couple of times, in the last two weeks. So yes, I have every reason to agree with you.

Nielsen's Fifth is one of those epochal symphonies and as such comparable with e.g. Shosta Four and Vaughan Williams Six, imho.

This week I've been playing the Rozhdestvensky with the Royal Stockholm PO on Chandos. I know it's too slow and lacks some edge and bite, yet I like this performance very much for its lyrical qualities and great sound (Chandos!), making it the most singable Fifth I know of.

                                   

[Superhorn]

  Yes, the Nielsen 5th is a truly remarkable and unique work. It's hard to think of any other symphony like it.  It abandons tradtional symphonic structure totally and as usual with Nielsen,is not rooted to one key. 
  Its a very difficult work even to describe. Nielsen conceived it as a depiction of a colossal struggle between good and evil,chaos and order.  There is no subtitle,as with the 2nd or "Four Temperments,"Sinfonia Espansiva,the 3rd, or "Inextinguishable,the 4th. 
  The first movement begins in some kind of void , and is like entering another dimension.  The snare drum begins its sinister rat-tat-tat, and everything seems chaotic and  indeterminate.  Finally, the music settles into an unequivocal G major ,and  and a kind of calm lyricism, but finally the snare drum is directed to literally go berserk, and to improvise wildly with absolutely no regard for what the rest of the orchestra is doing. 
   There is a tumultuous climax where total chaos breaks out, but the snare drum is finally overcome by a mighty
crescendo.The battle is over, and a solo clarinet ponders the whole strange affair quietly.The snare drum withdraws into the distance.
The second movement begins with great energy; the music is trying to arise from the ashes of the battle.This leads to a kind of panicky fugue which soon erupts into a kind of musical hurricane.The theme of the fugue is transformed into a slow calm fugue, and finally the music of the energetic beginning returns,and the music goes into overdrive,generating white heat. But the work ends in fierce,defiant triumph.
I recommend either Bernstein?Sony or Blomstedt/Decca, but there are other fine recordings of this strange and fascinating symphony.

[Superhorn]

   That should read Bernstein/Sony,not Bernstein question mark Sony.Slip of the finger.

[schweitzeralan]

  Yes, the Nielsen 5th is a truly remarkable and unique work. It's hard to think of any other symphony like it.  It abandons tradtional symphonic structure totally and as usual with Nielsen,is not rooted to one key. 
  Its a very difficult work even to describe. Nielsen conceived it as a depiction of a colossal struggle between good and evil,chaos and order.  There is no subtitle,as with the 2nd or "Four Temperments,"Sinfonia Espansiva,the 3rd, or "Inextinguishable,the 4th. 
  The first movement begins in some kind of void , and is like entering another dimension.  The snare drum begins its sinister rat-tat-tat, and everything seems chaotic and  indeterminate.  Finally, the music settles into an unequivocal G major ,and  and a kind of calm lyricism, but finally the snare drum is directed to literally go berserk, and to improvise wildly with absolutely no regard for what the rest of the orchestra is doing. 
   There is a tumultuous climax where total chaos breaks out, but the snare drum is finally overcome by a mighty
crescendo.The battle is over, and a solo clarinet ponders the whole strange affair quietly.The snare drum withdraws into the distance.
The second movement begins with great energy; the music is trying to arise from the ashes of the battle.This leads to a kind of panicky fugue which soon erupts into a kind of musical hurricane.The theme of the fugue is transformed into a slow calm fugue, and finally the music of the energetic beginning returns,and the music goes into overdrive,generating white heat. But the work ends in fierce,defiant triumph.
I recommend either Bernstein?Sony or Blomstedt/Decca, but there are other fine recordings of this strange and fascinating symphony.

Good analysis.  I thinlk it is a masterpiece.  You pointed out the essece of the symphony.

[Christo]

Good analysis.  I thinlk it is a masterpiece.  You pointed out the essece of the symphony.

Point made. (And could you now please correct the spelling of the composer's name in the title?) 

[schweitzeralan]

Point made. (And could you now please correct the spelling of the composer's name in the title?) 

Got it!  Sorry. Two old favorites: Nielsen and Hanson.  Always spelled with the "o." in both cases.

[jochanaan]

You'll get no argument from me!  Nielsen Five is high on my list of all-time favorites.

[The new erato]

I actually prefer the 4th. But they are both among the sublime symphonic utterances of the 20th century.

[Sergeant Rock]

I actually prefer the 4th. But they are both among the sublime symphonic utterances of the 20th century.

I actually prefer the Third, and the Sixth. But all four are among the sublime symphonic utterances of the 20th century. The First and Second ain't bad either   

Sarge

[The new erato]

I actually prefer the Third, and the Sixth. But all four are among the sublime symphonic utterances of the 20th century. The First and Second ain't bad either   

Sarge

I absolutely adore the 3rd (beat you at that) but am somewhat flummoxed (not bad for a Norwegian, eh?) by the 6th (love the proposta seria though). The 2nd is very well written and very impressive, and great fun at times as well, the 1st have gotten too little attention by me. But overall one of the great symphony cycles of the 20th century. So that! And don' tease me, I will soon spend part of my summer vacation in your vicinity!

[Sergeant Rock]

But overall one of the great symphony cycles of the 20th century.

Completely agree 

And don' tease me, I will soon spend part of my summer vacation in your vicinity!

Cool. I'll try to stay on your good side then    Maybe we'll have an opportunity to share a bottle of Pfälzer wine.

Sarge