Vagn Holmboe (1909-1996)

[Skogwald]

To me, Holmboe is about the only 'symphonic' composer who was able to combine the 'static' Stravinsky with a very 'symphonic', developing, style. He's unique in that respect, I would say. A good example being the opening, first one and a halve minutes, of the Fifth, but also all symphonies after that. People may disagree, but that's how I always "read" him.

I like this reading! His style is a bit difficult to put into words but it's very effective.

[Skogwald]

She yo-yo's me and I yo-yo her back, cause I'm a suburban Holmboe!

(am I the only fan of both Holmboe and Sparks here?)

[foxandpeng]

She yo-yo's me and I yo-yo her back, cause I'm a suburban Holmboe!

(am I the only fan of both Holmboe and Sparks here?)

Well, I have no idea what you are talking about! Clearly, cultural references are now beyond me 🙂

I am getting old, I think...

[Skogwald]

Well, I have no idea what you are talking about! Clearly, cultural references are now beyond me 🙂

I am getting old, I think...

It's a deep cut, don't worry haha

[relm1]

Forgive if this has already been posted but I thought this vintage recording of No. 8 was quite fantastic!  I adore the ending...striving, reaching, defiant, resigned.

[krummholz]

Forgive if this has already been posted but I thought this vintage recording of No. 8 was quite fantastic!  I adore the ending...striving, reaching, defiant, resigned.

I never knew there was an extant recording of the Boreale by Semkow! I shall have to give this a listen. The 8th is one of two Holmboe symphonies that I have trouble with (the other is the 3rd, especially the first movement). Listening to the BIS recording with Arwel Hughes, that finale sounds virtually unhinged in places. I agree though, that the ending is wholly satisfying.

[Symphonic Addict]

Forgive if this has already been posted but I thought this vintage recording of No. 8 was quite fantastic!  I adore the ending...striving, reaching, defiant, resigned.

The visionary-yet-forceful ending is my favorite part of that tremendous symphony. It has a dramatic nature, tension mixed with struggle that appeals to me so much. In fact, thinking of other of his symphonic endings, none is more satisfactory than that one I reckon. That performance is not as hard-driven as the one on BIS, but I enjoy both.

[foxandpeng]

Forgive if this has already been posted but I thought this vintage recording of No. 8 was quite fantastic!  I adore the ending...striving, reaching, defiant, resigned.

Ah, thank you. New to me. On the list for later today, once my calls have petered out...

[foxandpeng]

Holmboe #10 continues to rise in my estimation. There is something powerful here, and with gravitas.

[Symphonic Addict]

Holmboe #10 continues to rise in my estimation. There is something powerful here, and with gravitas.

That's one of the best I think. My favorites are 3, 5-8, In memoriam and 10. I need to be more familiar with Nos. 11-13 and the Chamber Symphonies.

[foxandpeng]

That's one of the best I think. My favorites are 3, 5-8, In memoriam and 10. I need to be more familiar with Nos. 11-13 and the Chamber Symphonies.

I also need to spend more time with the Chamber Symphonies!

[vandermolen]

Forgive if this has already been posted but I thought this vintage recording of No. 8 was quite fantastic!  I adore the ending...striving, reaching, defiant, resigned.

I discovered Holmboe through that fine LP (Vox/Turnabout). Never released on CD AFAIK.

[Symphonic Addict]

Exciting news! To be released on September 27th:



String Quartets 4, 5 and 16.

[krummholz]

Exciting news! To be released on September 27th:



String Quartets 4, 5 and 16.

Good news indeed! The 4th and 5th are among my favorite Holmboe quartets.

[foxandpeng]

Exciting news! To be released on September 27th:



String Quartets 4, 5 and 16.

Welcome news. The first two releases have been excellent - I've preferred them to the equivalent Kontras.

[Madiel]

I'm sure I would have noticed if somebody mentioned this, because I practically fell over just now.

I've just discovered that last November, there was a concert of Holmboe choral works, including 2 that I've never heard... and it's on Youtube.

I haven't even listened yet. It's published as both the complete concert, and as each work separately. And a number of the things have been published more than once, I'm not sure why.

Here's the complete concert:

The list of works:

Song at Sunset, op.138b
Ode til Sjælen (Ode to the Soul), op.161
A Lyke-wake Dirge, op.110
Die Erfüllung (The Fulfilment), op.183
Solyhymne (Hymn to the Sun), op.77


The 2nd and 4th ones are longer, accompanied works, and it's these that as far as I know have never been commercially recorded.

...to say that I'm hyped about seeing this would be an understatement!

[Madiel]

Two thirds of the way through the concert. It's good quality: both the performance and the filming are a pretty professional standard. Very watchable on a television screen.

[Madiel]

Actually, let's see if this view works... this should show you the covers of albums. And preferably not my email address anywhere.

https://airtable.com/shr7soGPTQtu3GiZs

In theory you can sort by album title, year of release etc.  You can look at the list of works, but from this view I don't think it will let you click on a work to see other recordings of it.

I've gone back to trying to update this, adding a few more albums. There's still some of the older ones, or ones from smaller record labels, to go. I think all the BIS and Dacapo albums are there.

Though it still has the basic problems with viewing that it did a few years ago. I'm thinking about creating a specific email address for this, so that if Airtable insist on publishing that information with the full database any spam doesn't go into my main inbox.

EDIT: 143 albums so far... it's depressing looking at some of the LPs that might never be updated.

[krummholz]

I've gone back to trying to update this, adding a few more albums. There's still some of the older ones, or ones from smaller record labels, to go. I think all the BIS and Dacapo albums are there.

Though it still has the basic problems with viewing that it did a few years ago. I'm thinking about creating a specific email address for this, so that if Airtable insist on publishing that information with the full database any spam doesn't go into my main inbox.

EDIT: 143 albums so far... it's depressing looking at some of the LPs that might never be updated.

It definitely looks comprehensive. Is it just my settings, or are the albums sorted randomly on Airtable?

[Madiel]

It definitely looks comprehensive. Is it just my settings, or are the albums sorted randomly on Airtable?

I think they should appear by year of release initially, but if I remember correctly you might be able to click something to sort by other fields.

There's definitely some more to be added. Two more Michaela Petri albums for one thing (Holmboe wrote several pieces for the world's foremost recorder player).