I don't see a topic for this composer, who is surely prominent among obscure composers. Peterson-Berger is a Swedish composer who in his life was as well known for his acerbic music criticism as he was for his music. I've recently listened to two CPO releases containing his 3rd and 5th symphonies. The symphonic music is colorful with attractive melodies, inventive orchestration and sometimes interesting harmony. It is good conventional music, perhaps without the spark of true genius. Of the pieces I've heard so far the violin concerto strikes me as the most consistently successful. Eschewing virtuoso fireworks, it is very tuneful and coherently constructed according to the traditional format.
A surprisingly decent composer despite his terrible reputation (arch conservatism, attacks on Pettersson's music, etc). The 3rd symphony I find to be his best, and at times has a pictoral quality somewhere in the same realms as early Sibelius. The inclusion of the piano was a master stroke and its presence throughout is highly atmospheric rather than soloistic. I agree that the violin concerto is very good too - it stands quite happily alongside other lesser works in the genre such as the one by Pfitzner. I find Peterson-Berger to be at his best as a miniaturist, though - his suites included in the CPO box are exceptional.
Quote from: Lethe on November 29, 2009, 07:56:02 AM
A surprisingly decent composer despite his terrible reputation (arch conservatism, attacks on Pettersson's music, etc). The 3rd symphony I find to be his best, and at times has a pictoral quality somewhere in the same realms as early Sibelius. The inclusion of the piano was a master stroke and its presence throughout is highly atmospheric rather than soloistic. I agree that the violin concerto is very good too - it stands quite happily alongside other lesser works in the genre such as the one by Pfitzner. I find Peterson-Berger to be at his best as a miniaturist, though - his suites included in the CPO box are exceptional.
Opinions I share, I have the cpo set and I find the 3rd to be the best.
And he was a classic curmudgeon and would have messed up this forum no end if he had been alive today.
Quote from: erato on November 29, 2009, 08:04:45 AM
And he was a classic curmudgeon and would have messed up this forum no end if he had been alive today.
:D
I've been listening to a lot of Scandinavian music lately, and Peterson-Berger has turned up a lot. I am really enjoying his second symphony. There are tons of little motives that get stuck in my head.
Symphonies two, three and five are the best + the Violin Concerto. He spent his last years writing fiercely anti-nazi articles, so he can't have been all bad :)
I am interested in purchasing the CPO symphony set next month. I'm pretty excited to hear his work for the first time.
I hope you enjoy it - at least half of the set is very, very good (symphony 3, the VC, the suites), and the rest very solid.
Quote from: Lethe Dmitriyevich Shostakovich on March 22, 2011, 03:50:02 PM
I hope you enjoy it - at least half of the set is very, very good (symphony 3, the VC, the suites), and the rest very solid.
I am quite delighted at what i've heard so far! I've heard the 1st and 2nd, and love every bar. I love this sunshine, romantic, nostalgic music from Sweden. It makes me daydream of happy times. ;D
Quote from: Leo K on March 24, 2011, 12:43:40 PM
I am quite delighted at what i've heard so far! I've heard the 1st and 2nd, and love every bar. I love this sunshine, romantic, nostalgic music from Sweden. It makes me daydream of happy times. ;D
Yes, those blonde Swedish maids knows how to give you a happy time.
Quote from: vandermolen on March 24, 2011, 11:49:34 PM
Apparently during his last years he wrote some journalism attacking the Nazis - so he can't have been that bad!
I think he attacked more or less everyone. ;)
I listened to the 2nd Symphony again today, and I have to say, this piece is such a great romantic soundworld to wallow in 8)
Quote from: Leo K on March 27, 2011, 12:02:48 PM
I listened to the 2nd Symphony again today, and I have to say, this piece is such a great romantic soundworld to wallow in 8)
I agree. No 3 'Lapland' is my favourite but also No 5 and the VC.
Quote from: vandermolen on March 30, 2011, 01:48:54 PM
I agree. No 3 'Lapland' is my favourite but also No 5 and the VC.
I will listen to No.3 next ;D
FYI, if you like Peterson-Berger, definitely check out the CPO symphony sets of his fellow Scandinavian Late Romantics:
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/618Z9WF8ZRL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Z3QB33FZL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
The Symphony No. 6 (Hellas) of Peterson-Berger was left unfinished. Does anyone know if there is any disk recording of this symphony?
Quote from: Jean Rivier on August 04, 2012, 03:26:16 PM
The Symphony No. 6 (Hellas) of Peterson-Berger was left unfinished. Does anyone know if there is any disk recording of this symphony?
Actually, the Sixth Symphony contains only two incomplete movements (1st movement and Scherzo), and the other two are only brief drafts.
No signs of any orchestral score.
"Hellas" is a different work, conceived as a programmatic work in nine movements. Only thematic ideas survive.
He also sketched a Cello concerto and a Ballade for violin and orchestra.
This information comes from a book published in 2006, "Wilhelm Peterson-Berger en vägvisare" (in Swedish only).
Ok Thank you for you information!
Thought this thread deserved to be woken up from its seven year period in hibernation.
The WAYLTN thread reveals that both Daverz and myself have been listening to Symphony No.2 'The Journey to the South' which I impulse bought on LP in my youth. It is indeed a lovely, lyrical, late-Romantic work and could, for example appeal to admirers of Rachmaninov. I've listened to it twice through this morning:
There is a very good CPO recording as well (see below).
Any other admirers?
(//)
Just checked what P-B works I have: symphonies 1, 3, 4 and 5 (and assorted fillers). No symphony no 2 ??? :-[. Urgent action required !
Quote from: vandermolen on November 06, 2019, 12:52:22 AM
Thought this thread deserved to be woken up from its seven year period in hibernation.
The WAYLTN thread reveals that both Daverz and myself have been listening to Symphony No.2 'The Journey to the South' which I impulse bought on LP in my youth. It is indeed a lovely, lyrical, late-Romantic work and could, for example appeal to admirers of Rachmaninov. I've listened to it twice through this morning:
There is a very good CPO recording as well (see below).
Any other admirers?
(//)
The literal translation of the title of this Symphony would be "Journey towards the sun. I find that rather more evocative.
Quote from: André on November 06, 2019, 08:07:39 AM
Just checked what P-B works I have: symphonies 1, 3, 4 and 5 (and assorted fillers). No symphony no 2 ??? :-[. Urgent action required !
Most definitely my friend! I'm sure that you would enjoy it.
:)
Quote from: The new erato on November 06, 2019, 08:33:52 AM
The literal translation of the title of this Symphony would be "Journey towards the sun. I find that rather more evocative.
Thanks. My Swedish is limited (ie none) despite the fact that my brother-in-law lives in Stockholm and there is a whole Swedish side to my wife's family.
::)
Symphonies 2 and 3 along with Last Summer are my favorite pieces by him. The latter is really gorgeous.
Quote from: SymphonicAddict on November 06, 2019, 09:40:29 AM
Symphonies 2 and 3 along with Last Summer are my favorite pieces by him. The latter is really gorgeous.
How interesting Cesar. I have that work in the boxed set and have never played it!
Quote from: vandermolen on November 06, 2019, 09:47:08 AM
How interesting Cesar. I have that work in the boxed set and have never played it!
It's a thoroughly lovely and bucolic work, Jeffrey. It should appeal to you.
I could never get into Peterson-Berger as I always felt that there simply is no structural unity in any of the works I've heard. There's also very little development in his music, so it felt like this "Oh, here comes a melody!" and then suddenly "There goes the melody!" as quickly as it was introduced and there's no kind of bridge between either idea. To use another analogy, it's like throwing a bunch of darts at the target and watching what happens: some of them stick while the other darts are way off from the target.
Quote from: vandermolen on November 06, 2019, 12:52:22 AM
Thought this thread deserved to be woken up from its seven year period in hibernation.
The WAYLTN thread reveals that both Daverz and myself have been listening to Symphony No.2 'The Journey to the South'
Based on a recommendation from Andrew Hartman at MusicWeb (PDF):
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2019/May/Dozen_obscure_favourites.pdf
He has a second set of obscure favorites at:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2019/Oct/Obscure_pt2_Hartman.pdf
Quote from: Daverz on November 07, 2019, 12:15:47 AM
Based on a recommendation from Andrew Hartman at MusicWeb (PDF):
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2019/May/Dozen_obscure_favourites.pdf
He has a second set of obscure favorites at:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2019/Oct/Obscure_pt2_Hartman.pdf
Nice! The Boccherini and Alfven are anything but obscure, though :). I will put the Nowowiejski on my wish list. Good to see Tournemire's wonderful 3rd symphony getting the nod.
Quote from: Daverz on November 07, 2019, 12:15:47 AM
Based on a recommendation from Andrew Hartman at MusicWeb (PDF):
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2019/May/Dozen_obscure_favourites.pdf
He has a second set of obscure favorites at:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2019/Oct/Obscure_pt2_Hartman.pdf
Thanks. I agree with his comments on PB's Second Symphony. Tournemire's Symphony 3 'Moscow' is another very fine symphony.
Quote from: André on November 07, 2019, 05:09:47 AM
Nice! The Boccherini and Alfven are anything but obscure, though :). I will put the Nowowiejski on my wish list. Good to see Tournemire's wonderful 3rd symphony getting the nod.
You'd think the Boccherini would get recorded more, though (but there is a Karajan recording!). I was surprised the it was not in Brilliant's Boccherini edition, for example. The Op. 30 Quintets are not in that set.
Also among the obscurities is Tarrega's
Recuerdos de la Alhambra. I went looking for that online, but then thought I should check my hard drives. I had 3 recordings of it already: Pepe Romero, Julian Bream, and Narciso Yepes.
Quote from: André on November 07, 2019, 05:09:47 AM
Nice! The Boccherini and Alfven are anything but obscure, though :). I will put the Nowowiejski on my wish list. Good to see Tournemire's wonderful 3rd symphony getting the nod.
From Nowowiejski I only know his symphonies 2 & 3 and they are superb.
Quo Vadis sounds right up my alley as indicated in those notes.
Quote from: vandermolen on November 06, 2019, 08:43:59 AM
Most definitely my friend! I'm sure that you would enjoy it.
:)
Well, I found it at last, along with the VC:
(https://img.discogs.com/UjNGeF5xYcxhnxWU178nVtBWxCE=/fit-in/600x596/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-13603625-1557334497-5111.jpeg.jpg)
Yeahh!! :)
Quote from: André on February 14, 2020, 04:45:46 PM
Well, I found it at last, along with the VC:
(https://img.discogs.com/UjNGeF5xYcxhnxWU178nVtBWxCE=/fit-in/600x596/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-13603625-1557334497-5111.jpeg.jpg)
Yeahh!! :)
That's a really nice CD - both works. It's the CD version of my original encounter with PB.
[/img]
Quote from: André on May 14, 2020, 01:17:08 PM
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51BEoqM%2BtKL._AC_.jpg)
There is a theme on the violin in the first movement of the concerto that reminds me strongly of another music. But what exactly?
It occurs at 2:57 and 12:48 in this recording, probably 10-15 seconds earlier in the CPO disc, which clocks at 2 minutes less overall than this one.
Anyone cares to listen to the passage and try to identify it?
I'm listening to this concerto right now. The passage you mentioned reminded me of Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1, the 2nd movement.
From WAYLTN thread:
Peterson-Berger: Violin Concerto (1928) - a rather charmingly old-fashioned lyrical work, which I have been fond of since coming across the LP in my youth.
Stig Westerberg, Swedish RSO, Nilla Pierrou (1967 recording).
This evening I had a very nice email exchange with the charming soloist Nilla Pierrou.
Been enjoying this composer's second symphony on CPO. The filler works are nice, too. I like it better than I expected to.
Would love to hear more. What should I check out next?
Quote from: vers la flamme on May 17, 2022, 03:45:16 PM
Been enjoying this composer's second symphony on CPO. The filler works are nice, too. I like it better than I expected to.
Would love to hear more. What should I check out next?
I wasn't keen on this composer. I have the complete CPO set of his symphonies. If you liked this installment, you'll probably like the rest of the CPO series. [IIRC it includes a recording of the Violin Concerto as well as all the symphonies.]
Quote from: JBS on May 17, 2022, 03:52:31 PM
I wasn't keen on this composer. I have the complete CPO set of his symphonies. If you liked this installment, you'll probably like the rest of the CPO series. [IIRC it includes a recording of the Violin Concerto as well as all the symphonies.]
If you're not keen on it I'll gladly take it off your hands, free of charge ;D
Quote from: vers la flamme on May 17, 2022, 04:12:51 PM
If you're not keen on it I'll gladly take it off your hands, free of charge ;D
I'm not sure where it is at the moment...
But I rarely get rid of CDs, unless I've bought a second copy as part of a set. I fish them out from time to time for a new listen to see if it hits me different. This is especially true of gnarlier moderns like Boulez (took multiple listens over several years before he clicked with me).
The only CD I've purposely given away because I hated it so badly I knew I'd never listen to it again was Cameron Carpenter playing Bach
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51XSvC5B3NL._SY780_.jpg)
For the record, I don't think much of Peterson-Berger, but I'm not getting rid of my CPO set of his symphonies and orchestral works. I'm always leaving the door open --- even if it's halfway open.
Quote from: Mirror Image on May 17, 2022, 04:50:11 PM
For the record, I don't think much of Peterson-Berger, but I'm not getting rid of my CPO set of his symphonies and orchestral works. I'm always leaving the door open --- even if it's halfway open.
I like 3,2 and 5 but less so the other ones.
Quote from: vers la flamme on May 17, 2022, 03:45:16 PM
Been enjoying this composer's second symphony on CPO. The filler works are nice, too. I like it better than I expected to.
Would love to hear more. What should I check out next?
Peterson-Berger's music seems to divide opinion, but I love his Symphonies 2, 3 (my favorite), and 4, Violin Concerto,
Tornrosasagan, and a few other works. I'm enchanted by the unpretentious lyrical charm and glittering orchestration present in his works.
Quote from: kyjo on May 22, 2022, 10:57:33 AM
Peterson-Berger's music seems to divide opinion, but I love his Symphonies 2, 3 (my favorite), and 4, Violin Concerto, Tornrosasagan, and a few other works. I'm enchanted by the unpretentious lyrical charm and glittering orchestration present in his works.
3 is my favourite too Kyle but I also like 2 and 5 and the charming Violin Concerto. I must listen to No.4. Peterson-Berger was an anti-semite but also anti-Nazi (Atterberg as well had a rather questionable relationship with the Third Reich, but none of this stops me enjoying their music).
From what I can tell Peterson-Berger was a bit of an "anti-everything" type. Quite the cantankerous fellow, in his critical capacity.
Quote from: vers la flamme on May 23, 2022, 03:12:42 AM
From what I can tell Peterson-Berger was a bit of an "anti-everything" type. Quite the cantankerous fellow, in his critical capacity.
Yeah, given his apparent personality as a critic, you'd expect his music to be deadly serious, ill-tempered, dour, etc. when in actuality his music is just the opposite: cheerful, colorful, and unpretentiously tuneful. ;D
Quote from: vandermolen on May 22, 2022, 01:30:49 PM
3 is my favourite too Kyle but I also like 2 and 5 and the charming Violin Concerto. I must listen to No.4. Peterson-Berger was an anti-semite but also anti-Nazi (Atterberg as well had a rather questionable relationship with the Third Reich, but none of this stops me enjoying their music).
You might find No. 4 a bit too "light-hearted" but I find it to be a charming and endearing work. Just don't expect any looming catastrophe! ;D