Best known for the Pastoral Suite, the 12 concertinos, and the "lyric suite?" God in Disguise, Larsson can be easily mistaken for Wiren.
Many years ago, "The Best of Lars-Erik Larsson" (Naxos) was given to me, and the cd embodies a certain mid century northern provinence of many composers during this time (Piston, Simpson, etc.), though with a particularly Swedish tinge which may be hard to describe. If you're familiar with Larsson, Wiren, Koch, and Rosenberg, you begin to see similarities: certain melodic profiles, certain moods. Not as icy as the Finns, yet cooler than the Germans, 20th century Swedish orchestral music may be too smart for it's own good! Similarities with Dutch and Swiss music notwithstanding, the Swedes have ecked out quite a rarified terrain that may forever politely stand behind the more inevitable flows of modern music in terms of popularity.
Larsson (and perhaps Koch) epitomizes that certain anonymous, well crafted mid century style. All the pieces on the Naxos disc:
Epilog
Pastoral Suite
Lyric Fantasy
Adagio
Little Serenade
God in Disguise
have that noble, Hindemithian gait. This cd probably shows the most approachable and beautiful Larsson. The 12 concertinos are a bit grittier. I don't have a works list or discography before me at the moment, but I find the Naxos "Best of" humorous. But I wouldn't have started this thread if I didn't have a little surprise.
It does appear that there are two! recordings of Larsson's SQs 1-3 and a suite of miniatures. The Helsingborg Qrts. record is going for $120 on amazon (yea!!!), yet the new Daphne recording has been getting lots of praise. One of our finest members sent me a copy of the Helsingborg, as I wondered how Larsson might compare with Wiren in the SQs (Wiren also has SQs on Daphne label; I have an old Fresk cd w/3-4).
Larsson's SQ No.1 is, at first blush, is elusive in it's "Hi, I'm an SQ from the mid-'40s" anonymity; however, it's particular provinence and good natured folksiness reward repeated listening.
SQ No.2 is the clear "immediate appeal" winner, much like Wiren's No.3. It's from the mid-'50s, and here Larsson just comes up with winning appeal in all three mvmts. It is in the long (9mins) third mvmt., though, that Larsson really shines with a very unique melodic curve. I get the feeling of marble and ancient ruins. This is certainly a classic SQ in it's generation as much as Wiren's No.3 and Rosenberg's No.4 (I'd love to hear Blomdahl and Koch SQs but I do believe they remain unrecorded).
SQ No.3 is from 1975 and is the shortest and most concentrated (read gritty). Towards the end, it does exude the "old man", similar but not equal to Alwyn's SQ No.2, that "looking over a long life gone." It just fizzles at the end. No.3 will take a little while longer. I haven't yet heard Wiren's comparable SQ No.5 (1970).
The miniatures (6) are the earliest and truly the most standardly beautiful pieces on the disc, in typically mid-century autumnal style. The whole suite is not really that insubstantial at all.
Hopefully someone out there has the 12 concertinos. I know I haven't illuminated much, beyond the fact that I myself can't yet tell the difference between Wiren, Larsson, and Koch (any others?... Blomdahl and Lidholm??), but I'm an actual fan of greyish anonymous mid century nordic type composers, so I will be gladly plunging deeper into the fjord, if not with Larsson, then surely with one of his equally diplomatic compatriots.
Lately, the topic of Swedish composers has me riveted. Anyone?
I admit I don't know much of Larrson's music, but last semester, I worked on the last movement of the Double Bass Concertino. It was extremely fun to play, and I think it is a very good piece. I like it a lot better than the more standard rep for the bass, like Dragonetti's Concerto for bass, or Von Dittersdorf concerti. I wanted to play the whole thing, but there wasn't enough time in the semester to learn the whole thing.
But listening to the piece, the 2nd movement is one of the most beautiful things I've heard from any instrumental work.
Larsson was certainly a distinguished Swedish composer-as you say, of the same generation as Wiren, Koch, Pettersson and Blomdahl.
He was also a significant teacher of other younger composers like Bo Linde.
I don't know enough of his music to be sure of how good he actually was. I know the three symphonies((1927/28, 1937 and 1944/45) and each is an eminently pleasant work as Larsson's style evolves from a Sibelian to a more Hindemithian idiom. Larsson however withdrew all three shortly after their composition and they were only revived in the 1970s. During the 1950s and 1960s Larsson is credited with developing an interest in twelve-tone music(he had been a pupil of Alban Berg) but the very fine Violin Concerto(possibly Larsson's finest work?) from 1952 or the twelve Concertinos do not demonstrate anything markedly modernistic-certainly not in contrast with Blomdahl for example. I have not heard the later Variations for orchestra.
I doubt though whether you will be "gladly jumping into the fjord" with Larsson ;D The fjords are in Norway, not Sweden.
Almost every one of the concertinos is an absolute delight - I adore the cello concertino especially of course, which has maybe the loveliest slow movement of any of them, and play it often (though not yet with orchestra).
I greatly enjoyed the disc below - now out of print I fear:
Let me chime in for the op 45 concertinoes as well, they are delightful, my own particular favorite being one for viola. A chance encounter with it on the radio once upon a time made me aquire the BIS set.
Quote from: vandermolen on June 08, 2009, 04:49:07 AM
I greatly enjoyed the disc below - now out of print I fear:
'God in Disguise' is the coupling for the 3rd Symphony on BIS CD-96 while the Violin Concerto is also on a Swedish Society Discofil cd together with the Violin Concertino, the Trombone Concertino and the Double Bass Concertino and Lille Bror Soderlundh's Oboe Concertino.
There's a very good God in Disguise on Naxos coupled with Rosenbergs Den Helige Natten (i.e. Christmas Oratorio)
Quote from: Dundonnell on June 08, 2009, 03:37:17 AM
I doubt though whether you will be "gladly jumping into the fjord" with Larsson ;D The fjords are in Norway, not Sweden.
Norway stole them in 1332.
btw- Larsson/Salonen on Sony??? ???
Wonders will never cease. :)
Quote from: snyprrr on June 08, 2009, 01:34:59 PM
btw- Larsson/Salonen on Sony??? ???
Wonders will never cease. :)
Yes and it is a very nice CD. Didn't stay long in the catalogue I guess.
*bump*
I immensely enjoyed Larsson's Förklädd Gud today!!!
Lars-Erik Larsson: God In Disguise (Förklädd Gud) Swedish Radio Choir/Swedish Radio SO/Salonen
Very, very interesting....
https://www.youtube.com/v/UHeQhSuuIZ4
I also enjoyed this live performance....
https://www.youtube.com/v/AkN2Gbe1aD8
Any thoughts about Larsson's works for the piano?
[asin] B000027DWI[/asin]
https://www.youtube.com/v/I_AR4OW4Rdo
Quote from: snyprrr on June 08, 2009, 10:01:50 AMNorway stole them in 1332.
Sweden took them back in 1814, only to return them - complete with full independence, which was more helpful perhaps - in 1905.
Quote from: vandermolen on June 08, 2009, 04:49:07 AMI greatly enjoyed the disc below - now out of print I fear:
The Salonen/Sony was a big surprise, especially because Sony was still BIG at that time, and advertised it as if it were a Mozart CD. :)
Quote from: The new erato on June 08, 2009, 05:10:10 AM
Let me chime in for the op 45 concertinoes as well, they are delightful, my own particular favorite being one for viola. A chance encounter with it on the radio once upon a time made me aquire the BIS set.
+1 A great set indeed.
The cpo label recently published vol. 2 of their new series of the orchestral works of Lars-Erik Larsson.
[asin]B00JH53O7A[/asin] (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61RTkulJ43L.jpg)
Vol. 1 contained the 1st symphony as well as three other pieces. The 1st symphony is a work of a 19 year old and like the second looks very much back to the late-romantic period. It is melodious and easy-going and can be be compared to the ones by Alfven oder Peterson-Berger. Also the 4 Pieces after Shakespeare's Winter Tale are melodious and late-romantic, very nice actually. With the Concerto for Orchestra op.40 we enter a different sound world not very far away from its inspiration, namely the Bartok concerto which was composed 6 years earlier. Most interestingly, one can hear already some foreshadows of Allan Pettersson. Very interesting piece. The CD finishes with a 9-minute post-impressionistic Lyric Fantasy.
The 2nd Vol starts with symphony 2 from 1937 which is a kind of Swedish Pastorale. Glasunovs 4th symphony - my favorite of his - has a similar sound world. The first two movements are happy and sunny, the final Ostinato brings in some rain and thunderstorm. However, there is a certain misbalance in this work since the last movement is quite short when compared to the first two. Still, a very nice work. Larsson obviously was not happy with this work as well as symphony 1 and withdrew them for a long time. The second part of this CD contains pieces composed much later. The Variations for Orchestra op. 50 from 1962 show Larsson experimenting with 12-tone rows, in my ears not very successfully. The Barococo Suite of 1974 is again more melodious - a Swedish counterpart to Prokofiev's Symphony classique but not as genial. Actually, I would be happy to hear this piece at an outdoor concert or for New Years eve, but the rest of the year I can do without.
This are my first CDs of conductor Andrew Manze (I own some of his violin CDs) and he an the Helsingborg SO are quite impressive. As is the top-notch recording and booklet of cpo.
Thanks very much for the information on the new CPO releases. I have these symphonies on BIS and have enjoyed them but not sure I need the new releases although they sound interesting.
Quote from: Wieland on September 24, 2015, 10:22:04 AM
The cpo label recently published vol. 2 of their new series of the orchestral works of Lars-Erik Larsson.
[asin]B00JH53O7A[/asin] (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61RTkulJ43L.jpg)
Vol. 1 contained the 1st symphony as well as three other pieces. The 1st symphony is a work of a 19 year old and like the second looks very much back to the late-romantic period. It is melodious and easy-going and can be be compared to the ones by Alfven oder Peterson-Berger. Also the 4 Pieces after Shakespeare's Winter Tale are melodious and late-romantic, very nice actually. With the Concerto for Orchestra op.40 we enter a different sound world not very far away from its inspiration, namely the Bartok concerto which was composed 6 years earlier. Most interestingly, one can hear already some foreshadows of Allan Pettersson. Very interesting piece. The CD finishes with a 9-minute post-impressionistic Lyric Fantasy.
The 2nd Vol starts with symphony 2 from 1937 which is a kind of Swedish Pastorale. Glasunovs 4th symphony - my favorite of his - has a similar sound world. The first two movements are happy and sunny, the final Ostinato brings in some rain and thunderstorm. However, there is a certain misbalance in this work since the last movement is quite short when compared to the first two. Still, a very nice work. Larsson obviously was not happy with this work as well as symphony 1 and withdrew them for a long time. The second part of this CD contains pieces composed much later. The Variations for Orchestra op. 50 from 1962 show Larsson experimenting with 12-tone rows, in my ears not very successfully. The Barococo Suite of 1974 is again more melodious - a Swedish counterpart to Prokofiev's Symphony classique but not as genial. Actually, I would be happy to hear this piece at an outdoor concert or for New Years eve, but the rest of the year I can do without.
This are my first CDs of conductor Andrew Manze (I own some of his violin CDs) and he an the Helsingborg SO are quite impressive. As is the top-notch recording and booklet of cpo.
I thorough enjoyed Symphony 2 on the CPO release. It is very Swedish I think. The opening movement reminiscent of Peterson-Berger and the second movement reminded me of Nielsen, who, of course, was not Swedish! Still a fine work which did not deserve to be withdrawn by the composer after negative reviews in the Swedish press (he subsequently relented). As soon as it had finished I wanted to hear it again. It is a lyrical and very approachable symphony.
Seems I slipped on the Threadtitle here...hmm...
Parson Larsson's Lasso??
Larsson's Lund??
Larsson, It's What's for Breakfast??
Larsson's Locquatious...Laternium...
Quote from: Wieland on September 24, 2015, 10:22:04 AM
The cpo label recently published vol. 2 of their new series of the orchestral works of Lars-Erik Larsson.
[asin]B00JH53O7A[/asin] (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61RTkulJ43L.jpg)
Vol. 1 contained the 1st symphony as well as three other pieces. The 1st symphony is a work of a 19 year old and like the second looks very much back to the late-romantic period. It is melodious and easy-going and can be be compared to the ones by Alfven oder Peterson-Berger. Also the 4 Pieces after Shakespeare's Winter Tale are melodious and late-romantic, very nice actually. With the Concerto for Orchestra op.40 we enter a different sound world not very far away from its inspiration, namely the Bartok concerto which was composed 6 years earlier. Most interestingly, one can hear already some foreshadows of Allan Pettersson. Very interesting piece. The CD finishes with a 9-minute post-impressionistic Lyric Fantasy.
The 2nd Vol starts with symphony 2 from 1937 which is a kind of Swedish Pastorale. Glasunovs 4th symphony - my favorite of his - has a similar sound world. The first two movements are happy and sunny, the final Ostinato brings in some rain and thunderstorm. However, there is a certain misbalance in this work since the last movement is quite short when compared to the first two. Still, a very nice work. Larsson obviously was not happy with this work as well as symphony 1 and withdrew them for a long time. The second part of this CD contains pieces composed much later. The Variations for Orchestra op. 50 from 1962 show Larsson experimenting with 12-tone rows, in my ears not very successfully. The Barococo Suite of 1974 is again more melodious - a Swedish counterpart to Prokofiev's Symphony classique but not as genial. Actually, I would be happy to hear this piece at an outdoor concert or for New Years eve, but the rest of the year I can do without.
This are my first CDs of conductor Andrew Manze (I own some of his violin CDs) and he an the Helsingborg SO are quite impressive. As is the top-notch recording and booklet of cpo.
Again that tempting "buy me" Cpo choice of artwork! Never having heard Larsson's music and confronted by the BIS and Cpo recordings I would definitely find myself swayed by these paintings! Not the right basis on which to choose a recording,of course!! ::)
Quote from: cilgwyn on January 20, 2017, 10:06:41 AM
Again that tempting "buy me" Cpo choice of artwork! Never having heard Larsson's music and confronted by the BIS and Cpo recordings I would definitely find myself swayed by these paintings! Not the right basis on which to choose a recording,of course!! ::)
Oh, I don't know - the cover painting is very important in my decision making when buying a recording. ::)
Yep,Cpo!! ;D
I have the BIS recording of the symphonies and thoroughly enjoyed them!
Quote from: springrite on January 20, 2017, 05:58:45 PM
I have the BIS recording of the symphonies and thoroughly enjoyed them!
Me too.
Very much enjoying this. Can't understand why he withdrew it (Symphony 3)
[asin]B07FTL1TLC[/asin]
The first of the Three Orchestral Pieces reminds me of Franz Schmidt's 4th Symphony.
I was revisiting his Symphony No. 2 from this recording
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiNzkzNzI0Ny4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE0MDE5ODI1NTd9)
A memorable work from beginning to end carrying an unmistakable Nordic feel to it that reminds of Atterberg, a little of Sibelius and Nielsen. The tuneful 2nd mov. is a delight with its carefree and pastoral nature. This work should be better known, the same goes to other works of his.
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on June 17, 2023, 05:29:19 PMI was revisiting his Symphony No. 2 from this recording
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiNzkzNzI0Ny4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE0MDE5ODI1NTd9)
A memorable work from beginning to end carrying an unmistakable Nordic feel to it that reminds to Atterberg, a little of Sibelius and Nielsen. The tuneful 2nd mov. is a delight with its carefree and pastoral nature. This work should be better known, the same goes to other works of his.
Indeed, Cesar! It's my favorite of his three symphonies, though the other two certainly have their merits as well. I love how, in the finale, Larsson transforms the instantly memorable main theme of the first movement into a ground bass figure that forms the basis of the powerful, passacaglia-like movement (shades of Brahms 4). In full, I've only heard the CPO recording with Andrew Manze conducting, but I sampled the BIS recording and found myself preferring Manze's brisker tempo in the first movement.
Other works by Larsson I really like are his beautiful, almost Finzian cantata
God in Disguise, the darker and slightly more astringent Violin Concerto, the delightful Saxophone Concerto(!), and the neoclassical String Quartet no. 1. I see that he has a Cello Concerto which hasn't been commercially recorded (CPO take note)! It's interesting how much his style developed over the course of his career - from late-romantic/pastoral (first two symphonies) to neoclassical (a lot of stuff), to late-romantic with darker chromatic incursions (3rd symphony, VC), and finally to atonal/serial (the late stuff).
Great thread title, btw! ;)
I love the 12 concertinos op 45 set on BIS
Was just listening to this wonderful disc:
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71-43-m39mL._UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg)
...which provides an excellent overview of Larsson's stylistic development over the course of his career. The Intima miniatyrer are beautiful little gems in Larsson's early, late-romantic/pastoral style. The first quartet is a real winner, written in a shapely modal/neoclassical style but with frequent chromatic "side-stepping" harmonies (as in the opening theme). The rather Nielsenesque slow movement is particularly captivating with its song-like outer sections enclosing a more animated, dance-like central part. Subtitled Quartetto alla serenata, the 2nd quartet is probably the least compelling work on the disc, as it rather lacks the lyrical "heart" of the other works, but it's not a bad composition by any means. The remarkably concise (just over 10 min.) 3rd quartet is a late work, certainly more astringent than the previous two but still accessible and hardly atonal/serial like some of his later orchestral works are. The first movement is a brusquely exciting affair, the second is playful, and the third is a poignant lament which veers between pained chromaticism and comforting diatonicism, eventually coming to rest on a G major chord. The performances by the Stenhammar Quartet are uniformly superb - hear how they tear into the opening movement of the 3rd quartet, for instance!