Scandinavian and Finnish composers.

[Symphonic Addict]

To be released on 6 March 2026:



String quartets by Niels Viggo Bentzon, Fini Henriques, Herman Koppel, Otto Mortensen and Knudaage Riisager. Can't wait for this!

[Symphonic Addict]

It turns out Rangström doesn't have a thread of his own to post this, so it had to be here. I revisited his Symphony No. 3 encouraged by another conversation. I did remember this work to be impressive, but on this revisitation it knocked my socks off big time. Once I said that some of Rangström's music sounds like Atterberg on steroids and on this work that description sounds apt (without demeaning Rangström's own voice, of course). In its 22-minute length it encapsulates some of the most cinematic and vivid sea music by any Nordic composer I know. The booklet notes mention it was composed under the impression of a soft and turbulent night voyage at sea, but it features more of the latter to be honest, and it does it spectacularly. The orchestral effects depicting the wind blowing ferociously, for instance, is marvelous. A roller-coaster of a piece which reaches points of hair-raising hysteria, but also of atmospheric calm. This is the kind of music I'd beg to hear live someday! Awesome to say the least.

[Irons]

It turns out Rangström doesn't have a thread of his own to post this, so it had to be here. I revisited his Symphony No. 3 encouraged by another conversation. I did remember this work to be impressive, but on this revisitation it knocked my socks off big time. Once I said that some of Rangström's music sounds like Atterberg on steroids and on this work that description sounds apt (without demeaning Rangström's own voice, of course). In its 22-minute length it encapsulates some of the most cinematic and vivid sea music by any Nordic composer I know. The booklet notes mention it was composed under the impression of a soft and turbulent night voyage at sea, but it features more of the latter to be honest, and it does it spectacularly. The orchestral effects depicting the wind blowing ferociously, for instance, is marvelous. A roller-coaster of a piece which reaches points of hair-raising hysteria, but also of atmospheric calm. This is the kind of music I'd beg to hear live someday! Awesome to say the least.

A fabulous symphony. I am equally keen on Rangstrom's 1st Symphony "August Strindberg in Memoriam". Both featuring Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra.

[Symphonic Addict]

A fabulous symphony. I am equally keen on Rangstrom's 1st Symphony "August Strindberg in Memoriam". Both featuring Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra.

You mean this disc I suppose:



I too am fond of that symphony and the 2nd as well; the 4th a little less so, but it has its moments.

[springrite]

Time for me to revisit the Rangstrom complete symphonies box!
(I remember loving the two middle ones more than the two outer ones...)

[dhibbard]

Despite Hannikainen was Finnish, both works are very Russian-sounding, somewhat akin to Lyapunov and Rachmaninov in style (above all the bold Piano Concerto); then again, his studies under Alexander Siloti show that influence, I suppose. The Piano Quartet flows more lyrically and passionately in places and seems tinged with some French touches. It may be the most rewarding work of the disc. Beautiful music overall, another great recording of this year to me, and it also confirms Oliver Triendl's incredible versatility to perform off-the-beaten-track repertoire with natural aplomb.

This has been a hard CD to find.. as the tariffs have made it so that oversea sellers do not want to ship to the USA.
I have eventually Amazon will have this available.

[Symphonic Addict]

This has been a hard CD to find.. as the tariffs have made it so that oversea sellers do not want to ship to the USA.
I have eventually Amazon will have this available.

You can sample it in the meantime.

[kyjo]

It turns out Rangström doesn't have a thread of his own to post this, so it had to be here. I revisited his Symphony No. 3 encouraged by another conversation. I did remember this work to be impressive, but on this revisitation it knocked my socks off big time. Once I said that some of Rangström's music sounds like Atterberg on steroids and on this work that description sounds apt (without demeaning Rangström's own voice, of course). In its 22-minute length it encapsulates some of the most cinematic and vivid sea music by any Nordic composer I know. The booklet notes mention it was composed under the impression of a soft and turbulent night voyage at sea, but it features more of the latter to be honest, and it does it spectacularly. The orchestral effects depicting the wind blowing ferociously, for instance, is marvelous. A roller-coaster of a piece which reaches points of hair-raising hysteria, but also of atmospheric calm. This is the kind of music I'd beg to hear live someday! Awesome to say the least.

Indeed, it's a spectacular work, almost phantasmagoric in its vividly colorful drama. It's certainly Rangström's masterpiece in my view, though I'm very fond of his noble Second Symphony Mitt Land as well. Nos. 1 and 4 are enjoyable as well but can be a bit tiring on the ear in their reliance on loud, heavy brass writing. Rängstrom wrote some other interesting works outside of his symphonies, like the fantastical song cycle Häxorna (The Witches) for soprano and orchestra and a concise, single-movement String Quartet.

[Roasted Swan]

This has been a hard CD to find.. as the tariffs have made it so that oversea sellers do not want to ship to the USA.
I have eventually Amazon will have this available.

But American consumers aren't paying the tariffs - your great leader made that very clear many times over.....

[dhibbard]

I had a CD that I purchased on eBay returned to seller because US Customs did not collect the tariff for the CD... so  here I wait until things get figured out.. I would pay the tariff but its made international commerce impossible.