Charles Koechlin(1867-1950)

[Symphonic Addict]

Thanks for the review, Cesar. Sounds like a nice recording. Interesting to note your opinion of the Trois Mélodies as the inclusion of someone else's orchestration strikes me as odd, especially considering that there were plenty of Koechlin mélodies that were orchestrated by him that could've been recorded instead.

The Trois Mélodies op. 17 were recorded on the SWR Classic label before, except the first mélodie (Le colibri) which was the only that Koechlin didn't orchestrate, so Orledge did that one.

[Symphonic Addict]

I hope that mrs. Mathiak ( and the record company) will find the money to produce, prepare and record both lavishly scored works!

The second symphony (1943-1944) :

The first movement, Fugue sur un sujet d'Ernest Le Grand,  is an Andante presque adagio
The second movement, Scherzo, l'âme libre et fantasque, is based on themes from a suite for cor anglais op.185
The third movement, Andante, suite de six chorals:
1= Requête à l'inconnaissable" - La douleur humaine  (Request to the Unknowable - Human pain)
2= Aegri somnia (Patient's dreams)
3= Pour la consolation des pauvres âmes ( For the consolation of poor souls)
3 bis = apparently an alternative for this choral exists: "La mer sereine" - Calm sea
4= Les goélands sur la mer - (Gulls on the sea)
4 bis = alternatif "Le vaisseau calme" - (The calm ship) for string quartet only!
5= Berceuse marine ( for 3 horns and strings)
6= Vers la cime (Towards the summit)
The Fugue modale on a theme by Catherine Urner exists in two versions:
one for orchestra and 4 ondes Martenot, one for orchestra without the ondes, but with 2 saxophones, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones and piano.
It is an allegretto "gai et allégé de toute ombre".
The mighty  "Final" ( allegro moderato) is based on a theme that Koechlin qualifies as "lumière pure" - pure light!
Instruments: woodwinds per 4, 6 horns, 4 trumpets & trombones,2 saxophones, tuba, percussion + celesta, xylophone, vibraphone, marimba, piano, organ, 4 ondes Martenot....
All information from "Charles Koechlin, compositeur et humaniste" ed. VRIN 2010

The Symphonie d'hymnes is also scored for very lage forces and requires a chorus, ondes Martenot, organ and alto/mezzo solo. Koechlin compiled in 1936 5 works " à charactère hymnique".

Hymne au soleil, op. 127, composé entre 1930 et1935 (a combination of choral and fugue).
Hymne à la nuit, op. 48 no 1, dated ca 1908-1911
Hymne au jour, op. 110 (1929-1932 - scored for ondes Martenot and orchestra) - these two shorter works (Jour /Nuit)  can be seen as the slow movement of the "symphony")
Hymne à la jeunesse, op. 148, inspired by a text by André Gide, Le voyage d'Urien, a scherzo.
Hymne à la vie, op. 69, dated 1919 - a choral finale., with organ and alto solo ( the brass ection 6/5/5/2). Apparently identical to Choral opus 69,  a section from the symphonic suite "The seasons".. The text is by Koechlin himself and is an interrogation on human suffering and death. Only justice, courage and "thought" can deliver us..
Inspite of the huge forces, the Hymn to life ends in mystery and silence.

Oh my... it looks like it won't be an easy project at all. They'll be some of the recordings of the century if Capriccio manages to carry out such a tough task.

[Symphonic Addict]

Very happy to see this release. I think Koechlin string quartets are brilliant and look forward to hearing this orchestral adaption.

That orchestration sounded quite compelling to me.