The Nielsen Nexus

[Karl Henning]

Well, the composer was a violinist himself, and as the Concerto shows, he writes in strength there, especially.

Vol. I is on my wish list, but I am sow to act there, wondering if I really need another set of symphonies.  Vol. II, though, was clearly value added, so that was an easy button to mash : )

[DieNacht]

I have a curious idea that I have heard one or more of the violin sonatas, but orchestrated . . . should investigate that, and may do so to-day . . . .

Correct, Nielsen´s fellow countryman Bo Holten has orchestrated the 2nd Violin Sonata; CD issue by Danacord
http://odensesymfoni.dk/Webnodes/da/Web/Odense+Symfoniorkester/SHOP/CD+Nielsen/Nielsen+Commotio+m.m.

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2002/Aug02/nielsencommotio.htm

[Karl Henning]

Aye, that's a nice disc!

[eyeresist]

Listening to a bit more Nielsen. I find it helps me to think of him as proto-Shostakovich - certainly for the late symphonies and clarinet concerto.


I have a question for the panel!

What do we think of Bostock's cycle? I understand that no-one considers it a first choice, but the Third Ear guide rates him well ahead of Schonwandt (much loved of MI and Classics Today).

I ask because I've discovered the set below, which includes not only the symphonies but also the concertos and major orchestral works, songs and some piano works, and it can be had for as little as $20 (inc. shipping).

[ASIN]B005NKS2TS[/ASIN]

(I will also mention this in the "Stuff I am thinking of buying" thread.)

[Karl Henning]

Never heard any of it, though such a box strikes me as a worthwhile risk at that price-point.

[Karl Henning]

In fact, that one practically belongs on The Super-Duper Cheap Bargains Thread. : )

[Sergeant Rock]

Never heard any of it, though such a box strikes me as a worthwhile risk at that price-point.

I only know of it from the Hurwitzer's negative reviews of the symphonies (although he liked much of the "filler"--and it might be worth the price just for those short works--only 13 bucks! from a couple of Amazon sellers).

Sarge

[Karl Henning]

My thought exactly, Sarge! For $16, perfectly happy to fetch in such an abundance of Nielsen filler!

[eyeresist]

Listening now to Bostock conducting the 1st symphony. I must say, this sounds so much more "right" than Blomstedt EMI, Schmidt or - dare I say it - Jensen. And the sound is lovely! Hopefully I have got my hands on what Hurwitz would call a "sleeper"

[Sergeant Rock]

Listening now to Bostock conducting the 1st symphony. I must say, this sounds so much more "right" than Blomstedt EMI, Schmidt or - dare I say it - Jensen. And the sound is lovely! Hopefully I have got my hands on what Hurwitz would call a "sleeper"

I've heard two discs (the one with the Third and Fourth; and the one with the Flute Concerto) and my reaction is the same as yours. Loved both. Here's what I wrote in the Listening thread, a reply to Karl:

Good news, Karl. The two symphonies I've heard so far, Espansiva and Inextinguishable, are quite good...well, different anyway, and to me, different often means good 

As sometimes happens, what the Hurwitzer considers a negative, I consider a positive. This for example:

"His hasty accelerando over the powerful repeated chords leads to a main tempo that is apparently too fast for the orchestra to negotiate successfully. Consequently, the remainder of the movement is riddled with blurred articulation, hesitant entrances and insecure rhythms."

I didn't hear it that way. What I heard was a fascinating new way to play those opening chords. Something shockingly different. Yeah, the chords become a bit blurred as the acceleration reaches an insane pace, but man, does that launch the Allegro in a thrilling fashion. Too fast for a desert island pick or a library choice, maybe, but great fun to hear. Bostock has to brake pretty hard for the second subject but I like the extreme contrast. Gramophone noticed a lack of body in the strings and that too is a negative that I can turn into a positive: the strings don't swamp the rest of the orchestra (like in some Espansivas I know); there is great clarity in the other sections of the orchestra, especially the brass, which really pack a punch. The climax of the development, that fantastic waltz, is almost as good as Bernstein's or Kuchar's (even though at Bostock's tempo it would create chaos on the ballroom floor  ). Both Andantes are on the CD: the original with soprano and tenor, and Nielsen's alternative orchestration for clarinet and trombone. That should interest you! I thought the tempo for the Finale utterly perfect.

So, 13 bucks already well spent, and I've only heard the first CD of ten

Sarge

[prémont]

Just my opinion but the problem with posting images alone with things is that the links eventually won't work and they won't convey any information at all.  Just a personal annoyance of mine. 

So this was meant to be the missing link?

[eyeresist]

Just after my last post, I did worry that I may have been premature. Yep... I still haven't found the performances to convince me of these works, particularly 4 and 5. Next is a toss-up between Kuchar and Rozhdestvensky.

[Karl Henning]

I do not deny that the Sixth Symphony is somewhat enigmatic.  And yet, I've always liked it.

That said, one net result of those two proposals is, that I like the piece better with each hearing.  The theme and variations final movement is perhaps his most outrageous touch.  I am not sure just which I like better: the spare, almost Shostakovichian snare drum / xylophone / triangle / tuba variation, or the incongruously festive brass fanfare which breaks it up.

[Sergeant Rock]

Just after my last post, I did worry that I may have been premature. Yep... I still haven't found the performances to convince me of these works, particularly 4 and 5. Next is a toss-up between Kuchar and Rozhdestvensky.

The Fourth (the favorite of so many) didn't click with me for many, many years even though I tried all the recommended versions. It was the "unrecommended" Salonen that finally did it for me. Have you tried Bernstein's Fifth? If that doesn't convince you, you probably can't be convinced 

Of course there is the possibility that you simply don't like the symphonies of Nielsen. I have nine cycles. If I only had one, and that one being my least favorite, I would still love the music. Even a bad performance wouldn't change that. That you remain unconvinced, even after so many attempts, says something, I think.

Sarge

[Karl Henning]

I'm not sure why The Four Temperaments was an early "least fave" of the six.  Now, I still probably like most of the others better, arguably, but I've at last reached a place where I can let the second of the six be itself ; )

[Karl Henning]

Listening to a bit more Nielsen. I find it helps me to think of him as proto-Shostakovich - certainly for the late symphonies and clarinet concerto.


I have a question for the panel!

What do we think of Bostock's cycle? I understand that no-one considers it a first choice, but the Third Ear guide rates him well ahead of Schonwandt (much loved of MI and Classics Today).

I ask because I've discovered the set below, which includes not only the symphonies but also the concertos and major orchestral works, songs and some piano works, and it can be had for as little as $20 (inc. shipping).

[ASIN]B005NKS2TS[/ASIN]

(I will also mention this in the "Stuff I am thinking of buying" thread.)

I only just got my feet wet, so to speak, with this set yesterday, with the admittedly modest, yet (as I find it) curiously touching Paraphrase on "Nearer, My God, to Thee". Not surprisingly, just from the composer's piece, I picked up on the fact that the piece is meant as a reference to the Titanic . . . that fact, plus its being for wind band, a sound which plays upon the faint strings of early musical memory for me, has pried this miniature right in amongst me.

On 14 April 1912 the Titanic sank in the North Atlantic after hitting an iceberg. The news shook the world, and the tale of how the ship's small eight-member band played the hymn Nearer my God to Thee as the vessel sank went all around the globe. The Copenhagen Orchestral Society (Københavns Orkesterforening) quickly decided to mount a benefit concert for the families of the drowned musicians, and Nielsen agreed to compose a paraphrase of Nearer my God to Thee and to conduct the concert. He drew up a short score in pencil with a few indications for the instrumentation, which he then left to Julius Reesen to carry out. It is evident from the score that it was finished on 18 May. The concert should have taken place on 21 May in the old railway hall in Copenhagen, which the Falck emergency service had promised to convert for the occasion into a brand new concert hall, but the concert was cancelled because of the sudden death of King Frederik VIII on 14 May. At first the plan was simply to postpone the concert for about ten days, but afterwards the whole enterprise was shelved until further notice.

[Karl Henning]

Has anyone heard the g minor viola quintet (FS5)? Very early work, 1888 . . . .

[Mirror Image]

I recently purchased this set:



I'm really, really looking forward to hearing these performances as this set has been under my radar for quite some time. It will be nice to have all of the concerti together as well. I've heard nothing but good things about these performances from Chung/Jarvi. Will this become my preferred cycle? Who knows.

Nielsen cycles I already own:

Blomstedt - Decca
Schonwandt - Dacapo
Kuchar - Brilliant Classics
Rozhdestvensky - Chandos
Salonen - Sony
Vanksa - BIS

[The new erato]

Has anyone heard the g minor viola quintet (FS5)? Very early work, 1888 . . . .

I'm waiting for the Danacord box where this is included. Shipped from europadisc in the UK today.

[madaboutmahler]

I shall be getting this as soon as possible!

[asin]B000M2DNQY[/asin]

My Nielsen collection is rather small, which is surprising considering that he is one of my favourite composers. So I am very keen to expand it.... and this recording has been recommended to me many times now! So I must get!