Vagn Holmboe (1909-1996)

[Madiel]

There is no such thing as a chamber sinfonia. The box that says "chamber concertos and sinfonias" contains:

1. Chamber concertos
2. Sinfonias

But on the other point, "sinfonias" are indeed different to symphonies, chamber or otherwise. The sinfonias are works for strings only.

The worse problem is that what Dacapo calls "chamber concertos" are just called "concertos" elsewhere (on the BIS label). This is due to a change in Holmboe's own terminology at some point.

The "key masterpieces" album is just a Dacapo sampler, which means it will have some of the same recordings as the chamber concertos & sinfonias box at least.

[KevinP]

Okay, that makes sense.

The kind of thing we used to see in our Introduction to Linguistics coursebooks.

[springrite]

I will give #9 another crack...

[vandermolen]

This LP was my introduction to Holmboe's music. I regret that AFAIK it was never released on CD

Same goes for this one

[Alex Bozman]

This LP was my introduction to Holmboe's music. I regret that AFAIK it was never released on CD

Same goes for this one

Mine too. I first heard on Robert Simpson's Innocent Ear programme, where he'd name the piece at the end, then ordered. As already mentioned on this thread, I prefer Semkow's version of the 8th to the Arwel Hughes.

[vandermolen]

Mine too. I first heard on Robert Simpson's Innocent Ear programme, where he'd name the piece at the end, then ordered. As already mentioned on this thread, I prefer Semkow's version of the 8th to the Arwel Hughes.

Totally agree Alex - I think that it is a much better performance. Other Vox/Turnabout LPs were reissued on CD (Hilding Rosenberg's 6th Symphony 'Semplice' for example), so why not Holmboe? I bought the 8th Symphony LP AFAIK from HMV in Notting Hill Gate, London with a record token when I was in my early 20s. It was an impulse buy as I'd neither heard of the composer or heard any of his music but I really enjoyed it.

[springrite]

This LP was my introduction to Holmboe's music. I regret that AFAIK it was never released on CD

Same goes for this one

That was my introduction as well.

Now I have the following Holmboe symphonies on my portable player (which contain about 1G of music):

1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11 and the Four Metamorphosis

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Recent listening (just finishing at the moment):  Vagn Holmboe's Chamber Symphony No. 1 from 1951.  Very dark opening.  When I googled the year, I first thought that it was from the 1930's but then realized that it was later.  I felt like I was listening to some Sibelius at the beginning of the fourth movement...anyone else have this sense?  I ran across a CD of three of his chamber symphonies (1-3) with John Storgards and the Lapland Chamber Orchestra.

Interesting to read that he planted 3,000 trees on his property.  Way to go! 

PD

[vandermolen]

That was my introduction as well.

Now I have the following Holmboe symphonies on my portable player (which contain about 1G of music):

1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11 and the Four Metamorphosis

No.10 is excellent as well Paul (one of the two I discovered on LP).

[krummholz]

I will give #9 another crack...

I needed to give it several cracks - at least 4 or 5 - before it finally began to click. Now it's my favourite of all his symphonies - it's economical, very coherent, and the sound world is unique as far as I know, and to me extremely evocative.

[krummholz]

This LP was my introduction to Holmboe's music. I regret that AFAIK it was never released on CD

Same goes for this one

I only heard Ehrling's 10th once... at the premiere in Detroit, in January 1972 I think. Still took several hearings (of the Arwel Hughes version) to convince me that it's a great symphony.

[Christo]

I needed to give it several cracks - at least 4 or 5 - before it finally began to click. Now it's my favourite of all his symphonies - it's economical, very coherent, and the sound world is unique as far as I know, and to me extremely evocative.

I had the same experience with it, about 20 years ago. At first hearing the Eight, with which it is coupled in the Hughes recording, is the more impressive, but on repeated listening the Ninth is a winner. 

[vandermolen]

I had the same experience with it, about 20 years ago. At first hearing the Eight, with which it is coupled in the Hughes recording, is the more impressive, but on repeated listening the Ninth is a winner.

I thought that you'd chip in sooner or later 
I always enjoyed your accounts of your various encounters with Vagn Holmboe.

[springrite]

I just have no idea how to pronounce his name, though...

[Madiel]

I just have no idea how to pronounce his name, though...

Well don't ask me, because every time I've tried to pronounce it to a Danish person they've looked slightly puzzled...

I have audio somewhere though.

EDIT: "Vagn" has a similar vowel sound to "round" or "hound". Holm... to me it sounds more like a "u" than an "o", to an American it might sound more like an "a", somewhat rhyming with "palm"?

[vandermolen]

Now playing - the most memorable of his symphonies ('Sinfonia Boreale') IMO

[Madiel]

Now playing - the most memorable of his symphonies ('Sinfonia Boreale') IMO

It certainly seems to be the most popular. And with good reason. Though I do wish some of the others got more of a spin as well.

[krummholz]

I just have no idea how to pronounce his name, though...

I've no idea how accurate this is, but fwiw...

https://forvo.com/word/vagn_gylding_holmboe/

[vandermolen]

It certainly seems to be the most popular. And with good reason. Though I do wish some of the others got more of a spin as well.

I also think highly of 4 (especially the opening) 6,7 and 10.

[Maestro267]

After getting three discs of the Holmboe symphony cycle last year I managed to pick up the other three. Two of those discs arrived today.

Nos. 1, 3 & 10
Nos. 6 & 7
No. 2 & "In memoriam" (still to get here)