The Nielsen Nexus

[Karl Henning]

Looks like I should just stick with Segerstam in Springtime in Funen.

That would be my recommendation, but of course, your taste may run otherwise than mine!

And here, you can give it a try:

http://www.youtube.com/v/oerjskq5t-s

[Mirror Image]

That would be my recommendation, but of course, your taste may run otherwise than mine!

And here, you can give it a try:

http://www.youtube.com/v/oerjskq5t-s

Thanks, Karl. I recently bought the Veto recording. I just haven't gave it a spin yet.

[Karl Henning]

Well, rather disappointed with the St Klemens School Choir!  0:)

[Madiel]

Karl, I don't think I've ever seen you dissect a performance so thoroughly.

That's what they get for making Nielsen scores thoroughly available. With tempo markings.

[71 dB]

Just got an email: The seller canceled my order (symphonies 4-6), but I am getting symphonies 1-3. 

[Mirror Image]

Just got an email: The seller canceled my order (symphonies 4-6), but I am getting symphonies 1-3. 

That stinks. Well, definitely try to reorder it.

[71 dB]

That stinks. Well, definitely try to reorder it.

Yeah. These cancellations are very annoying.  I'll check out the 1-3 set first how much I like Blomstedt's vision of Nielsen.

[Mirror Image]

Yeah. These cancellations are very annoying.  I'll check out the 1-3 set first how much I like Blomstedt's vision of Nielsen.

The first and second symphonies are given great performances, but it's the Espansiva that doesn't quite engage this listener, but YMMV.

[Karl Henning]

Karl, I don't think I've ever seen you dissect a performance so thoroughly.

I guess it is a while since I've done.  I don't think it's officially the first time 

That's what they get for making Nielsen scores thoroughly available. With tempo markings.

Aye, but (especially given the Segerstam as a point of comparison) some things (the men's choir most especially) sound wrong-headedly stodgy to me, even without the support of the source document.

[Mirror Image]

I'd love to watch someone perhaps on YouTube do an analysis of Nielsen's Sinfonia semplice with plenty of musical examples and audio excerpts being presented along the way.

[Madiel]

I'll stop raving about the 5th soon, but... do you know why I think I'm so immediately in love with the 5th?

I think it's because each of the 2 movements is big enough and rich enough to be a work in its own right. Today I've been particularly focusing on getting to know the 2nd movement better, and it's practically a smaller symphony (2nd section scherzo coming before 3rd section andante in this case).

Combine that with the great broad arch of the 1st movement, fully satisfying on its own terms, and you've got a very rich listening experience for the symphony as a whole. 

[Karl Henning]

I'll stop raving about the 5th soon

Why?  0:)

[Madiel]

Why?  0:)

Because I'll be busy listening to even-numbered symphonies.

[Karl Henning]

Well, all right, then!

The Fifth really is a kind of double-bill symphony.

[PerfectWagnerite]

I'd love to watch someone perhaps on YouTube do an analysis of Nielsen's Sinfonia semplice with plenty of musical examples and audio excerpts being presented along the way.

You won't get it because it is the least performed of Nielsen's symphonies. No one is going to bother.

[Mirror Image]

You won't get it because it is the least performed of Nielsen's symphonies. No one is going to bother.

Well, one can wish can't they?

[Mirror Image]

I'll stop raving about the 5th soon, but... do you know why I think I'm so immediately in love with the 5th?

I think it's because each of the 2 movements is big enough and rich enough to be a work in its own right. Today I've been particularly focusing on getting to know the 2nd movement better, and it's practically a smaller symphony (2nd section scherzo coming before 3rd section andante in this case).

Combine that with the great broad arch of the 1st movement, fully satisfying on its own terms, and you've got a very rich listening experience for the symphony as a whole.

Talk about the 5th as much as you like, my friend. No worries. I'll be happy to read your thoughts. I love it, too. Karl called this a 'double-bill symphony' and that's a good term for it as both movements provide a plethora of ideas and varying moods.

[Madiel]

You won't get it because it is the least performed of Nielsen's symphonies. No one is going to bother.

They'll bother when doing the whole set of symphonies. While I don't think/remember them having the level of analysis Mirror Image, I can remember at least one website having a set of introductions of all 6 works.

[Karl Henning]

Well, maybe I see a niche . . . .

[Mirror Image]

They'll bother when doing the whole set of symphonies. While I don't think/remember them having the level of analysis Mirror Image, I can remember at least one website having a set of introductions of all 6 works.

Ah yes, this must be the site you're referring to perhaps?

http://www.npr.org/sections/deceptivecadence/2015/06/09/411256072/evenly-odd-carl-nielsens-distinctive-symphonies