Behold, the Sea.

[relm1]

Fortunately, all of his symphonies (and often different recordings of them) are easily available on YT. Ari Rasilainen's recordings are always a safe bet (Jarvi's are much more controversial). Happy exploring, and please report back with some impressions!

For some reason, I strongly prefer 1970's and 80's versions of Atterberg.  The Sixten Ehrling recordings are fantastic and haven't been surpassed.  It is as if they lived the music. 

These are the finest recordings of these works:
https://www.amazon.com/Atterberg-Symphony-No-3-Concerto-Horn/dp/B000027S1Q
https://www.amazon.com/Atterberg-Symphony-No-Suite/dp/B000053F1X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=atterberg+symphony+no.+2&qid=1564619606&s=music&sr=1-1

[André]

For some reason, I strongly prefer 1970's and 80's versions of Atterberg.  The Sixten Ehrling recordings are fantastic and haven't been surpassed.  It is as if they lived the music. 

These are the finest recordings of these works:
https://www.amazon.com/Atterberg-Symphony-No-3-Concerto-Horn/dp/B000027S1Q
https://www.amazon.com/Atterberg-Symphony-No-Suite/dp/B000053F1X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=atterberg+symphony+no.+2&qid=1564619606&s=music&sr=1-1

+1.

And Westerberg in the 5th too.

[vandermolen]

Another vote for Klami's 'Sea Pictures' here and also for Atterberg, especially, in relation to this thread, Symphony No.3 the 'West Coast Pictures'. I also like Atterberg's symphonies 2,5 and 8 in particular.
This is my favourite recording of the symphony. I think that it has a more poignant and soulful opening that the, otherwise very good, CPO version.:

[Biffo]

Tomorrow night (7:45 pm) at the Three Choirs Festival -

Stanford: Songs of the Fleet
Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony

Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Geraint Bowen with Katherine Broderick soprano, Roderick Williams baritone and Three Choirs Festival Chorus

No indication that it is being recorded or broadcast which is a pity.

[relm1]

+1.

And Westerberg in the 5th too.

+1

[vandermolen]

+1

+2 great disc!

[kyjo]

I checked my shelves and unfortunately it has gone - why is it whenever I dispose of a recording I end up regretting it! Of coarse after your and Kyle's advocacy I will have another crack and thanks for varied list of suggestions which are all noted.

Edit: I am pretty sure this was the one -



In fact I am certain.

Irons, I listened to the Aladdin Overture and Suite Pastorale from this recording (in its CD incarnation) yesterday and can understand why it gave you a negative impression of Atterberg. Neither work is close to being among the composer's best, and some sections are curiously academic and uninspired, two words I would rarely use to describe his music. It doesn't help that the performances are rather unpolished and the string sound quite scrawny, and there are even some wrong notes in the Suite Pastorale! So, fear not, Atterberg's other works (and the recorded performances of them) are of a much higher caliber!

[relm1]

Irons, I listened to the Aladdin Overture and Suite Pastorale from this recording (in its CD incarnation) yesterday and can understand why it gave you a negative impression of Atterberg. Neither work is close to being among the composer's best, and some sections are curiously academic and uninspired, two words I would rarely use to describe his music. It doesn't help that the performances are rather unpolished and the string sound quite scrawny, and there are even some wrong notes in the Suite Pastorale! So, fear not, Atterberg's other works (and the recorded performances of them) are of a much higher caliber!

Funny how much of this thread is devoted to Atterberg.  Maybe we fans of his should propose a play list for Irons because perhaps he is an acquired taste and we fans have been lucky to be exposed to him in that order.  For me, he is a favorite but I haven't heard anything I would consider boring but his works aren't exactly available either so I haven't heard some of the lighter suites.  I wish to hear his operas and more expansive works that are less available but if he is an acquired taste, I've acquired it.

[Irons]

Irons, I listened to the Aladdin Overture and Suite Pastorale from this recording (in its CD incarnation) yesterday and can understand why it gave you a negative impression of Atterberg. Neither work is close to being among the composer's best, and some sections are curiously academic and uninspired, two words I would rarely use to describe his music. It doesn't help that the performances are rather unpolished and the string sound quite scrawny, and there are even some wrong notes in the Suite Pastorale! So, fear not, Atterberg's other works (and the recorded performances of them) are of a much higher caliber!

Thank you very much Kyle for taking the time and trouble to do that. Good to hear that I'm not completely blessed with cloth ears! I have sampled on YT Symphonies 1,2 & 3. I liked the 1st very much, not so much the 2nd, the 3rd which seems to be a key work I especially liked the outer movements. The "Storm" is better appreciated through my system I feel. Anyway, enough is enough, I have ordered the complete CPO set of symphonies and if I don't like them, I can always blame you - only kidding On my next visit to my favourite record emporium which is overdue I will check out Atterberg/Stig Westerberg, a conductor I admire.

[kyjo]

Thank you very much Kyle for taking the time and trouble to do that. Good to hear that I'm not completely blessed with cloth ears! I have sampled on YT Symphonies 1,2 & 3. I liked the 1st very much, not so much the 2nd, the 3rd which seems to be a key work I especially liked the outer movements. The "Storm" is better appreciated through my system I feel. Anyway, enough is enough, I have ordered the complete CPO set of symphonies and if I don't like them, I can always blame you - only kidding On my next visit to my favourite record emporium which is overdue I will check out Atterberg/Stig Westerberg, a conductor I admire.

Excellent! You will become an Atterberg convert in no time!

[steve ridgway]

I know one!

[asin]B000JVSVD8[/asin]

[listener]

BEETHOVEN Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage  op.118, if it hasn't been mentioned.
Maybe its omission from all the Beethoven anniversary programs is justified?

[André]

Cross-posted from the WAYLT thread:

The composer's dates are 1876-1954.

Symphonies composed in 1904 and 1927, but the musical language and style hark back to a good 20-30 years before. Not that that's a bad thing, but coming from a danish composer 11 years younger than Nielsen, one might expect something more modern-sounding. 100% tonal, traditional stuff. Nothing about the 2nd symphony evokes the sea, even remotely. The notes tell us that the idiom is nordic-romantic with influences from Grieg and Svendsen (two norwegian composers born in the 1840s). I don't hear much Grieg, but the shadow of Svendsen looms large indeed. We also learn that Børresen loved the sea. He writes: The sea is the same as it was 50 years ago - the mighty horizon and the great painting of the sky. That pretty much sums it up - including the bit about the past being almost unchanged. Recommended for lovers of conservatively written late-romantic music.

[relm1]

What about this?  Jake Heggie's Moby Dick?  He also turned it in to a symphonic suite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhnUmkcjWqU

[kyjo]

What about this?  Jake Heggie's Moby Dick?  He also turned it in to a symphonic suite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhnUmkcjWqU

I heard this on the radio a while ago and was very impressed. I never foresaw myself enjoying a contemporary opera, but Heggie's score is approachable and atmospheric. I hope a complete recording is issued sometime soon!

[pjme]

https://www.youtube.com/v/kWVgT4L0Quw

An opulent seascape in hommage of the great writer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois-Ren%C3%A9_de_Chateaubriand

"Autre notion chère à Aubert, le temps suspendu, qu'il exprime par l'usage des gammes et des harmonies modales dans Le Tombeau de Chateaubriand (1948). Cette fresque maritime est un hymne au grand écrivain et aux passions qu'ils partagent : les côtes de l'Armor, le vaste océan, le grand large, l'évasion et les édens lointains."
https://xn--lesamisdelamusiquefranaise-dkc.com/?dossier=aubert-louis