Scandinavian and Finnish composers.

[Roasted Swan]

Fair enough! But do you have confirmation that Dacapo will eventually be releasing Bendix's 2nd and 4th symphonies?

Inside track on this..... there are plans to record symphonies 2 & 4.  However, the intention is to record No.4 with Bendix's final revisions/corrections as well as a different ending.  These exist in composer sketches so it will take some time to edit/transcribe these into a performable edition.

I have to say I was very impressed indeed by both works.  Yes for sure there are a couple of not-completely-worked-through passages particularly in No.1 but to my ear this is a reflection on Bendix's individuality.  I would much rather have some passages that don't quite work for all the freshness and invention elsewhere compared to so many "by-the Leipzig-rule-book" works trotted out by dozens of worthy composers who not doubt passed their exams with flying colours and a complete lack of genius........

Don't wait for volume 2 - enjoy volume 1 asap!!

[kyjo]

Inside track on this..... there are plans to record symphonies 2 & 4.  However, the intention is to record No.4 with Bendix's final revisions/corrections as well as a different ending.  These exist in composer sketches so it will take some time to edit/transcribe these into a performable edition.

I have to say I was very impressed indeed by both works.  Yes for sure there are a couple of not-completely-worked-through passages particularly in No.1 but to my ear this is a reflection on Bendix's individuality.  I would much rather have some passages that don't quite work for all the freshness and invention elsewhere compared to so many "by-the Leipzig-rule-book" works trotted out by dozens of worthy composers who not doubt passed their exams with flying colours and a complete lack of genius........

Don't wait for volume 2 - enjoy volume 1 asap!!

Good to know - thanks for the report, RS!

In contrast to my favorable impressions of Bendix's Symphonies 1 and 3, I was less than impressed recently by his rather pedestrian-sounding (IMHO) Piano Concerto in G minor, recorded here:



I must have something wrong with my ears, because all the Amazon reviewers preferred the Bendix over the accompanying Rudolph Simonsen (1889-1947) Piano Concerto in F minor (1915), whereas my reaction was precisely the opposite! The Simonsen is a big-boned, uber-Romantic work with a stern, dramatic first movement, a gorgeously lyrical slow movement, and a virtuosic, exciting finale. It's not particularly derivative of anyone and contains some ear-catching harmonic surprises every now and then. It's wonderfully performed here by pianist Oleg Marshev and the Aalborg SO under Matthias Aeschbacher, and can easily rank with some of the finer PCs featured in Hyperion's RPC series.

[Roy Bland]

[Roy Bland]

IMHO He was very lyrical

[Symphonic Addict]

To be released on 18 July:



Palmgren: Aus Finnland, Op. 24
Madetoja: Pastoraalisarja, Op. 34, Stabat Mater, Op. 27 No. 2 "Marian murhe"
Raitio: Idyll, Scherzo "Felis domestica"
Kajanus: Adagietto, Suomalainen rapsodia No. 2 in F Major, Op. 8
Sibelius: 2 Pieces from "Kuolema", Op. 44: No. 2, Scene with Cranes

[Symphonic Addict]

Was in the mood for two Scandinavian works that were quite contrasting each other. Forest Walk, op. 40 by the other Nielsen, Ludolf, is a suite for orchestra in the spirit of a fairy tale, involving scenes and characters like Echo, Pan, elves, etc. Some identify this composer as late-Romantic (even the cover art shows that), but what we have here is more of an impressionistic vein, a score that oozes magical atmospheres helped by a stellar use of the orchestra. Each of its five movements speaks for itself (Echo and Narcissus, Pan Walks the Forest, The Death of the Dryad, By the Elf-Marsh and Towards Daybreak), the scenery is vividly represented indeed, being the first four movements mostly subdued, delicate, and the last one gradually depicts a dawn from tranquil sounds to a refulgent sunrise. This is tone painting of very high caliber in my view.

Having said that I wanted contrast, the next work inhabits a totally different (and thoroughly engaging in its own right) sound world. The Fantasi for violin and orchestra, op. 45 by Finn Mortensen is the gnarly, discordant, aggressive counterpart of the Nielsen. It's written in twelve-tone or serial technique (forgive my ignorance), loaded with astringent ideas and some powerful climaxes and roars from the orchestra (chiefly from the brass section), just like two cadenza-like passages. I wasn't expecting to enjoy this work so much, it's really terrific and unpredictable. I found out this composer wrote other works for soloist and orchestra and now I'm curious about them.