Are Swedish composers unjustly neglected?

[karlhenning]

What can you possibly learn from Beethoven?

I've learnt much from Beethoven;  still, I think it something of a Pandora's Box to claim that he has more to teach anyone, than any other composer.

[PerfectWagnerite]

I've learnt much from Beethoven;  still, I think it something of a Pandora's Box to claim that he has more to teach anyone, than any other composer.

Beethoven has more to teach us because our professors in school keep shoving him down our throats in almost every single theory course. I didn't really enjoy Beethoven until AFTER all that and I can relax and just enjoy the music. Nothing like seeing a question like: identify the different harmonies in the first 50 bars of the Op. 10 sonata to make you detest the music.

[(poco) Sforzando]

I've learnt much from Beethoven;  still, I think it something of a Pandora's Box to claim that he has more to teach anyone, than any other composer.

One has to be very careful of one's wording here. To quote my earlier post: "which of course was never meant to imply that other composers don't have a great deal to teach you." If you prefer a phrasing like "few composers have as much to teach you," I'm perfectly happy with that.

Beethoven has more to teach us because our professors in school keep shoving him down our throats in almost every single theory course. I didn't really enjoy Beethoven until AFTER all that and I can relax and just enjoy the music. Nothing like seeing a question like: identify the different harmonies in the first 50 bars of the Op. 10 sonata to make you detest the music.

Well yes, pedantic or unsympathetic teaching can always kill any composer for you, I suppose. But I don't know how much GGGGRRRRREEEEEGGG has experienced of that, let alone keep you up all night after hearing something like that op. 111. Hell, Beethoven's so good it's amazing he wasn't Swedish.

[Sef]

I hadn't thought of so noxious a possibility. But honestly, the only suitable metaphor I can use for describing a Pettersson symphony is the vile stuff you have to drink in preparation for a colonoscopy.

I think you might be onto something here. Having had experience of both I think I talk from a position of knowledge. The colonoscopy drink is indeed vile, the journey to the inevitable conclusion disturbing (to say the least), but the end result somehow strangely satisfying, though depending on your point of view you could also call it relieving. Vive la difference!

[greg]

Uhhh, not thanks, not for $62. I'll try the Lincoln Center Library first. Don't think I found any 10 years ago but maybe they restocked them.
You do realize that Beethoven was one of Mahler's gods right? The other one was Wagner (from whom you may also pick up a few neat tricks, like to change keys in the blink of an eye).

Anyway Mahler and Beethoven had a lot in common - like variety of expressive power from the orchestra, achieving organic unity in a large work from small motivif cells. Well I don't want to belabor the point but you get the gist.

Yep, i'll have to go back and read their scores sometimes because i wanna see where Mahler got some of his ideas! 

[Sergeant Rock]

Hell, Beethoven's so good it's amazing he wasn't Swedish.

[Sergeant Rock]

I think you might be onto something here. Having had experience of both I think I talk from a position of knowledge. The colonoscopy drink is indeed vile, the journey to the inevitable conclusion disturbing (to say the least), but the end result somehow strangely satisfying, though depending on your point of view you could also call it relieving. Vive la difference!

A brilliant and well written analogy. 

Sarge

[drogulus]

   I hadn't considered the justice angle.

[violinconcerto]

Hello!

I lately read that the "Symphony No.4" by Hugo Alfven is for Piano, Violin, Cello, English Horn, Soprano, Tenor, and Orchestra.

Are there really that many soloists or are these just prominent solo parts for orchestra members?

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Hello!

I lately read that the "Symphony No.4" by Hugo Alfven is for Piano, Violin, Cello, English Horn, Soprano, Tenor, and Orchestra.

Are there really that many soloists or are these just prominent solo parts for orchestra members?

The soprano and tenor are there at key points, beautifully ('erotically', some would say) woven through the orchestral fabric. Piano, violin, cello, cor anglais have solos.

[Mozart]

Joseph Martin Kraus, an almost exact contemporary of Mozart (and who also died young, in his case of tuberculosis), was court composer to Gustav III of Sweden - the monarch whose life was the basis for Verdi's "Un Ballo in Maschera" - and wrote several fine symphonies that are easily available on Naxos. He also travelled to the continent to become acquainted with Gluck and Haydn, and one of his symphonies was published under Haydn's name. After Gustav's assassination, Kraus composed music for his funeral that has also been recorded, though a little of it goes a long way IMO. He also wrote an opera on the Proserpina myth that has also been recorded; I have it and tried to get through it, but it was too deadly to hear much of. Another opera on Aeneas in Carthage has been called his masterpiece, but I don't think it's been recorded.

Kraus is wonderful! A new discovery for me, just listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpH0QnVQi0A

[greg]

Kraus is wonderful! A new discovery for me, just listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpH0QnVQi0A

To answer your question "This guy is fantastic, why Haven't I heard of him before?"



Because he's Swedish. 

[The new erato]

To answer your question "This guy is fantastic, why Haven't I heard of him before?"



Because he's Swedish. 

He's actually German, but, like Smetana, spent a majority of his professional career in Sweden.