Harald Genzmer (1909-2007)

Started by jlaurson, February 09, 2009, 11:31:45 AM

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jlaurson

Anniversary today.

Small appreciation on WETA: http://www.weta.org/fmblog/?p=495

QuoteBecause Genzmer wrote for just about every instrument and in any conceivable combination, and not the least because his teacher was Hindemith, his works have the air of Gebrauchsmusic ("Utility Music"). Looking for a work for Cello and Double Bass? Three recorders and piano? Saxophone quartet? Horn quartet? Trombone and organ? Guitar duo and orchestra? Genzmer's got it.

Turner

#1
From my want list, now down to 9 items, I ordered a 10 CD Anniversary box with music by Genzmer. In this case from French Amazon; the price for the item was €32 + postage.

I´ve heard a couple of very nice CDs with chamber music by him, and his style is extremely entertaining. He seems to be one of the most accessible 20th century composers - mainly neoclassicism, but very much without any dryness or pedestrianism, a sort of modern Haydn perhaps. It is somewhat surprising how neglected he is, compared to (relatively speaking) Holmboe.

Lots of samples of his style can be heard here in mp3, and there´s a list of the box´ content:
https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Harald-Genzmer-1909-2007-Harald-Genzmer-Zum-100-Geburtstag/hnum/9186815

My experience with jpc.de is that it is a good dealer too, and their postage fee is smaller than most other sellers - there´s just a single fee of around €7 for the packet (Europe).

classicalgeek

That Anniversary box has now been licensed to Membran and is available for around €12 + postage. I'm likely going to pick it up at some point in the near future - Genzmer's style really drew me in. It reminded me a lot of Hindemith (Genzmer studied with him), and a little bit of Stravinsky and Bartok. Bacewicz is another composer who came to mind. It's solidly crafted, rhythmically vital, and tuneful music; he writes in traditional forms, but the music is always fresh and alive.

He had a large and varied output, and he seemed to write for every instrument (and combination of instruments) possible. In this respect, Genzmer reminds me a bit of Niels Viggo Bentzon: extremely prolific, and all but unknown.
So much great music, so little time...

Original compositions and orchestrations: https://www.youtube.com/@jmbrannigan