Dutch Composers

[Harry]

I knew Lex van Delden primarily as a good music-critic for the Amsterdam-based newspaper Het Parool. I heard one of his compositions in the Concertgebouw once (when he was still alive and even present in the audience). I found it a rather tame affair then, but I was a very absolute young man. I'll have a listen to this piece later today (those two string orchestras sound enticing already!). Thanks!

Not to long ago Johan I bought two MDG cd's with the SQ by Lex van Delden, and I have to say that I was pretty much impressed.
I have played them many times over, so they are good friends now, and I can recommend them any time, for they are well written and far from a tame affair.

[Christo]

Léon Orthel, Symphony No. 4 `Sinfonia concertante' for piano and orchestra Op. 32 (1949)
The recording (NCRV Radio, 1 October 1965) is not of the same high quality as those of the Second and Third symphonies (posted here before, both under Van Otterloo), but it features the composer himself at the piano!: Léon Orthel piano, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Jean Fournet.

http://www.mediafire.com/?kz4vzt9frdo

`The Fourth Symphony is an `homage to the memory of my mother'. A childhood memory: passing an old church on his way to school he heard its bells – this sound scared him, made him sad and at the same time happy. They were the funeral bells. He incorporated these childhood memories into the finale of this work. The composer calls it `a concertante symphony for piano and orchestra'. On the occasion of the premiere (by the Residentie Orchestra conducted by Willem van Otterloo in 1950) Wouter Paap wrote in the periodical Mens en Melodie (vol. 5, no. 12): `The attractiveness of this overwhelming piece of music actually lies in the numerous, often unexpected impulses in which a predilection for virtuosity and a need for dramatic release fight for priority, and frequently come to an impressive agreement. (...) Numerous times it seems that in Orthel a new Rachmaninov has arisen.' Some weeks later Eduard Flipse introduced the work in Rotterdam. Jean Fournet, who also conducts the performance on this CD, gave the Amsterdam premiere with the Concertgebouw Orchestra in 1951. ' (Otto Ketting)

`Orthel belonged to what has come to be known as the lost generation: composers educated in the 1920s and 1930s whose traditional style did not fit in with the modernistic and avant-garde tendencies of the 1950s. Notable in Orthel's music is his desire to take account of the public's capacities of musical perception. Not that he shied away from experimenting with modern techniques: his First Symphony (1933) has a twelve-tone theme, and in later works, such as Epigrammen (1938, he explored polytonal and atonal techniques. But he ultimately distanced himself from modernism and found inspiration in a Romantic style, which in the post-war modern clamour was received by some critics with a mixture of relief und unease.
This was the case, for example, with his Fourth Symphony (1949), which music critic Wouter Paap described in the periodical Mens en Melodie as filled with `pathetic fantasy' that arises from the often unexpected impulses in which the longing for virtuosity and the need for the dramatic conveying of feelings vie for prominence', although `pathos seemed one of those qualities that modern music had unanimously abandoned.'
In retrospect, Orthel's best-known work, the Second Symphony (1940), reveals him to be a composer who was very conscious of the musical development of his time. This piece, in six uninterrupted movements, seems written by someone who took insightful note not just of what his Dutch and French contemporaries were doing, but also of Shostakovich's music. The Second Symphony has a forward drive, leaving itself and the listener no time for reflection and, despite its slightly threatening atmosphere, certainly no reason for gloom. The Fourth Symphony – whose many surprising turns make it exciting form beginning to end, despite its great length, is different in this respect. Here, Orthel seems to have wanted to confirm his preference for dark colours. Notable characteristics are his liking for the `al niente' close and extremely low pedal points: in the Second Symphony there is even a low A which is held for a full hundred measures. '  (Johan Kolsteeg)

Still more Orthel to follow ...

[Harry]

Now I have to find out how to store it on my computer. O, you young people, so knowingly about the download department, and other stuff, concerning computers.
My mind is just not made that way, I am afraid.

[Thom]

Now I have to find out how to store it on my computer. O, you young people, so knowingly about the download department, and other stuff, concerning computers.
My mind is just not made that way, I am afraid.

There is still hope Harry 
Not being so young anymore myself, I can manage.

[Harry]

There is still hope Harry 
Not being so young anymore myself, I can manage.

How nice to hear from you Thom. Long time no see!
No time for your friends at GMG huh?
Is all okay?
And concerning computers, I have a capable IT firm doing most of the software things that are beyond my capabilities, but downloading classical music is not one of the things I can ask them. As it is they have a low profile of me concerning or implementing things in the computer, for they have to repair the mistakes I made ever so often,  so "There is still hope", well, I am skeptical my friend!

[Thom]

Thank you for your kind words Harry. All is well. Very busy at work though but occasionally I look into this great forum. The Dutch Composers thread I like very much. It definitely added to my notion of Dutch Musical Life. Posted this morning a concerto by Lex van Delden myself. I noticed your upload of coverart of two Van Delden's cd's. I also bought his string quartets and have not regretted this. It was more or less a buy on impulse though and - stupid I know - by the splendid looks of the coverart (isn't it a painting by Willink?).

My regards, Thom

[Harry]

Thank you for your kind words Harry. All is well. Very busy at work though but occasionally I look into this great forum. The Dutch Composers thread I like very much. It definitely added to my notion of Dutch Musical Life. Posted this morning a concerto by Lex van Delden myself. I noticed your upload of coverart of two Van Delden's cd's. I also bought his string quartets and have not regretted this. It was more or less a buy on impulse though and - stupid I know - by the splendid looks of the coverart (isn't it a painting by Willink?).

My regards, Thom

Willink, yes, it is!

[Christo]

Léon Orthel, Scherzi III per orchestra a tutti mani &c. (1961)   [11:11]
Limburg Symphony Orchestra, André Rieu (père), rec. AVRO Radio, 31 October 1961.

http://www.mediafire.com/?jfxxm22zgtn

`Léon Orthel (1905-1985) wrote his virtuoso Scherzi III, `homage to the memory of my uncle', as a result of a commission for an opening piece for the first Dutch Paralympics. Orthel took inspiration from the tradition of the yearly festival of Lent, widely celebrated in the southern provinces. The premiere was conducted by Andre Rieu during the closing days of the festival with the leading orchestra of the region. The rather filmic and rhythmic introduction is followed by a long lyric passage mainly in the lower strings, which is so characteristic of Orchel's orchestral writing. It is followed by a warlike march leading to a second climax, after which the work is concluded by references to the opening material. The composer was also inspired by reading Rilke's Fasching and on seeing Hieronymus Bosch' paintings, originating in the same region.'   (Wytze Klukhuhn)

(MUCH) LATER EDIT: Beware of this! After all the postings of Orthel's music, I decided to add a practical joke, as could have been deduced from the nonsense title and commentary. In reality, the music is the Estonian composer's, Veljo Tormis' Ouverture No. 2 (1958) - which reminds me a bit of Orthel's style.

Tormis' work is to be found at this twofer:

                         

   

   

[Thom]

Magnificent, Christo. Can't thank you enough.

Thom

[Christo]

So what do you think of Lex van Delden (1919 - 1988)? (...) I like his Concerto per Due Orchestre d'Archi.  (...) This one is from an Etcetera disk (KTC 1156, 1993) with Eugen Jochem and the Concertgebouw. Orchestra. It is clearly a live recording with annoying background noises (coughs etc) but still, i think this is good music!

I agree! And I would have started offereing Van Delden's music - the same `lost generation' as Orthel, and not completely unlike him - here, if you hadn't done it already. The problem being, that the only disc available with some of his symphonic music is of a rather low recording quality. I own the disc you mention, and it contains also his Third Symphony `Facetten' (1955), his `Piccolo Concerto' for winds, timpani, percussion and piano (1960) and his Musica Sinfonica for orchestra (1967).

 

[Thom]

I agree! And I would have started offereing Van Delden's music - the same `lost generation' as Orthel, and not completely unlike him - here, if you hadn't done it already. The problem being, that the only disc available with some of his symphonic music is of a rather low recording quality. I own the disc you mention, and it contains also his Third Symphony `Facetten' (1955), his `Piccolo Concerto' for winds, timpani, percussion and piano (1960) and his Musica Sinfonica for orchestra (1967).

Yes I own the same. I also found this one somewhere on the inetrnet  :

Symphony No. 8 for string orchestra, Op. 84 (1964)
Piccolo Concerto, for 12 wind instruments, timpani, percussion and piano, Op. 67 (1960)
Paul Hupperts; Utrecht Symphony Orchestra
Radio Nederland LP 109880.2 Y, 109877.1 Y (1968)
Sonata for violin and piano Op. 82 (1964)
Jaap van Zweden, violin; Boukje Land, piano
Radio Nederland broadcast

If you want me to, I can try to upload these.

Thom

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Thank you very much for the two latest uploads, Christo! If that Third Scherzo is as good as the Second... (Scherzo No. 2 is my favourite Orthel piece at the moment, with the Second Symphony a close second...)

Keep 'em coming!

[Christo]

Yes I own the same. I also found this one somewhere on the inetrnet  :
Symphony No. 8 for string orchestra, Op. 84 (1964)
Piccolo Concerto, for 12 wind instruments, timpani, percussion and piano, Op. 67 (1960)
Paul Hupperts; Utrecht Symphony Orchestra Radio Nederland LP 109880.2 Y, 109877.1 Y (1968)
Thom

I am not aware of any recording of the Eight Symphony (1964), Van Delden's last. It isn't mentioned in his discography: http://www.lexvandelden.nl/disco.php?LANG=EN  Is it on CD, or just a radio recording? In any case: I would love to have it! Btw: in its transcription, as his String Quartet II Op. 86, the work is included in the CD with his string quartets, shown here before.

As The orther recording of the Piccolo Concerto (the one in the CD, below, is a mono recording from 1964) will also be most welcome, if you manage to do so! 

[Thom]

All right, I will upload the lot. Give me some time. I notice that, while uploading, mediashare often breaks off before the end so i have to start all over again. Maybe something to do with my connection (although it is braodband).

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

All right, I will upload the lot. Give me some time. I notice that, while uploading, mediashare often breaks off before the end so i have to start all over again. Maybe something to do with my connection (although it is braodband).

I sometimes had this problem with MediaFire, too, especially with larger (or multiple) files. And I have broadband, too. That's why I upload to Rapidshare the last few weeks (I have an account there).

[Christo]

I sometimes had this problem with MediaFire, too, especially with larger (or multiple) files. And I have broadband, too. That's why I upload to Rapidshare the last few weeks (I have an account there).

In my case, after struggling with with Mediafire the same way the two of you describe, I found out the problem was caused by my anti-virus protection programme (Kaspersky). Now I switch it off for a moment, and Mediafire uploads go smoothly!

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Listening to Scherzo No. 3 - another gem. And played very well, too!

[Thom]

In my case, after struggling with with Mediafire the same way the two of you describe, I found out the problem was caused by my anti-virus protection programme (Kaspersky). Now I switch it off for a moment, and Mediafire uploads go smoothly!

Yes! That seems to do the trick. Uploading now after stopping Norman anti4us and it goes smoothly so far. Thanks for the tip.

[Thom]

LEX VAN DELDEN (1919-1988)

Symphony No. 8 for string orchestra, Op. 84 (1964)
Piccolo Concerto, for 12 wind instruments, timpani, percussion and piano, Op. 67 (1960)
Paul Hupperts; Utrecht Symphony Orchestra
Radio Nederland LP  109880.2 Y, 109877.1 Y (1968)
Sonata for violin and piano Op. 82 (1964)
Jaap van Zweden, violin; Boukje Land, piano
Radio Nederland broadcast


01 Symphony No 8 for string orchestra, Op 84 - I Mov
http://www.mediafire.com/?tjjzyitd9gz

02 Symphony No 8 for string orchestra, Op 84 - II Mov
http://www.mediafire.com/?tgctwllmy5h

03 Symphony No 8 for string orchestra, Op 84 - III Mov
http://www.mediafire.com/?4jysz9lhjmy

04 Piccolo Concerto, for 12 wind instruments, timpani, percussion and piano
http://www.mediafire.com/?ljwxngmo1xl

05 Sonata for Violin and Piano Op 82.
http://www.mediafire.com/?dy1d0ywz2ot

Thom

[Dundonnell]

Oh my!! More!!

I knew that it was a good idea to spend a couple of days in Amsterdam in January!! I am being rewarded for my good sense in choosing Dutch!!