The Nielsen Nexus

[Joe Barron]

Today, June 9, is the 145th birthday of the great Dane. I won't have time to listen to anything on the day itself, but last weekend I did spin  the Second and Sixth Symphonies in the fine performances by Blomstedt and the SFS. (I have two complete cycles, by Blomstedt and Schmidt, plus several singles.) Coming back to the Sixth after several years, I have to say I was much more impressed with it than I remember ever having been, or perhaps it was the reading that impressed me so much. It's an underrated work, I think, or would be, if I had ever heard anyone rate it. There are some beautiful moments, such as the end of the third movement, and some astounding ones, such as the pixilated waltz in the Variations. If there's any relation between biography and creativity --- and it's a questionable premise --- something disturbing must have been going on in Nielsen's life at the time he wrote this piece.

So, happy Nielsen day.

[karlhenning]

Today, June 9, is the 145th birthday of the great Dane.

I must have felt something in the air . . . I listened to Pan og Syrinx and the Flute Concerto yesterday. And I'll listen to some more today!

[Sergeant Rock]

So, happy Nielsen day.

Thanks for reminding us. I think I'll spin the Sixth too...I love it. Blomstedt's my favorite. I also have Berglund, Kuchar, Ormandy, Salonen, Schonwandt and Rozhdestvensky. Rozh is the new kid on the block and I haven't heard his Sixth yet. Perfect opportunity then.

Sarge

[Joe Barron]

Anybody like the chamber music? I should go back and listen again to the pieces for solo violin and the violin sonatas. And the Suite Op. 49 is extraordinary. Too bad John Odgen's great recording was never released on CD. I have the two-volume set of piano music on Naxos, which is perfectly serviceable, but still ...

The there are the songs: Danish is such a beautiful language when sung. like German, but without all the hard consonants. 

[Sergeant Rock]

Anybody like the chamber music?

I love the Wind Quintet. That's the only chamber work of his I own. Can you recommend recordings of other chamber pieces?

Sarge

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

If there's any relation between biography and creativity --- and it's a questionable premise --- something disturbing must have been going on in Nielsen's life at the time he wrote this piece.

From what I've been told, the climax in the first mvt. of the 6th supposedly depicts his recent heart attack. His declining health was a factor when he wrote this symphony.

[not edward]

Anybody like the chamber music? I should go back and listen again to the pieces for solo violin and the violin sonatas. And the Suite Op. 49 is extraordinary. Too bad John Odgen's great recording was never released on CD. I have the two-volume set of piano music on Naxos, which is perfectly serviceable, but still ...

Andsnes has at least done most of the stronger works. An absolute must IMO.

I'd love to get some good recordings of the alternative works.

As for the wind quintet, it's in historic sound but my favourite remains the dedicatees on Clarinet Classics:



(Pretty good couplings, too: the Clarinet Concerto with Cahuzac and members of the Copenhagen Wind Quintet in Serenata in Vano. Sort of a clarinetist's wet dream, probably.)

[Scarpia]

I love the Wind Quintet. That's the only chamber work of his I own. Can you recommend recordings of other chamber pieces?

I have this set, but don't remember anything about the music.



I do recall listening to the same ensemble's Kodaly recordings, which were well done.

[Joe Barron]

My recording the Philadelphia Wind Quintet's recording of the Nielsen Woodwind Quintet, and it doesn't get any better than that. Probably his greatest chamber work. The CD also includes Barber's Summer Music.

[Joe Barron]

And the Suite Op. 49 is extraordinary.

Oops, that should be Op. 45. My apologies.

[karlhenning]

I must have felt something in the air . . . I listened to Pan og Syrinx and the Flute Concerto yesterday. And I'll listen to some more today!

I did, you know: the Sixth Symphony. How I love Nielsen's music!

[Joe Barron]

How I love Nielsen's music![/font]

Yet he never got  the following Sibelius did. I remember that wretched old Bernard Holland once described him as "north of good, south of great." But then, old Bernard always seemed content to base his judgments on his perceptions of focus groups. If something wasn't a staple of the mainstream concert calendar, he couldn't believe it was any good. his philosophy was, "There must be a reason it isn't played very often."  It was a nice, safe tack to take,  since it never required him to put his  own perceptions on the line. I never got the feeling he was listening very closely. Ives would have called him a Rollo.

[Saul]

Nielsen's fifth is one of the best symphonies ever written.

[Joe Barron]

Nielsen's fifth is one of the best symphonies ever written.

'Nuff said.

[71 dB]

My ranking of the Nielsen Symphonies from best to "worst" looks something like this:

#4 - #3 - #5 - #2 - #6 - #1

[Joe Barron]

My ranking of the Nielsen Symphonies from best to "worst" looks something like this: #4 - #3 - #5 - #2 - #6 - #1

I've always thought of the Third, Fourth and Fifth as the Big Three-- and as equals --- with the others occupying a lesser position, but it's not an opinion I'm prepared to defend to the death. I appreciate the Sixth more and more, and I've always loved the Second, even if it reminds me of Brahms at times. It was Nielsen's  most popular symphony during his lifetime, I believe. The second and fourth movements are outstanding, with the themes so simple and yet so inspired one can't believe they haven't existed forever.

The First is a young man's effort, and I haven't listened to it enough to judge. I should go back to it. Maybe even today. First symphony in history to end in a different key than it sarts in, I believe. There's a word for that, but I can think of it. Something like polydiatonharomicism.

Just listened to the Suite Op. 45, the Three Piano Pieces Op. 59 and a few of the songs. Beautiful stuff is all I can say, though with music so varied, beauty means several different things.

[alkan]

Nielsen's fifth is one of the best symphonies ever written.

And Nielsen's "Masquerade" is one of the best overtures ever written !!!

[Joe Barron]

And Nielsen's "Masquerade" is one of the best overtures ever written !!!

I don't believe this opera has ever been staged in the US. I keep hoping the Philadelphia opera company will do it.

[Joe Barron]

I have two recording's of CN's Sixth --- Ole Schmidt and Herbert Blomstedt with the SFS. I've listened to both in the past week. Both are great, bu I have to say and I'm particularly  impressed with the Blomstedt. It has clarity, power and drive, and the CD has a very full, "present" sound. the section that caught my attention when i was listening to it last night was the end of the third movement, when the orchestra is slowing down, and the the high strings are playing a haunting, broken, wandering figure over the winds. It never really struck me with such force before, and I've known this piece for more than thirty years.

[karlhenning]

Hear, hear.