Allan Pettersson for Newbies

[Mirror Image]

I have only heard his Symphony No. 7 which seems to be the most played or accessible. Anyway, why is all of his music so dark? I mean I understand that he wasn't a happy man, but to me he seemed like he composed for himself than anybody else. Am I wrong in my analysis? What do you people think of the complete symphony set on Cpo? I might pick it up at some point just to own it, but I'm pretty scared to listen.....

[vandermolen]

Also don't forget his Symphony No 6 with its 'long struggle towards the sunrise' - it's one of his works (like VC No 2) in which the redemptive conclusion places a kind of retrospective glow on the earlier, more doom-laden, material. There was a great old LP with Okko Kamu conducting (CBS) which never made it to CD.

[The new erato]

Also don't forget his Symphony No 6 with its 'long struggle towards the sunrise' - it's one of his works (like VC No 2) in which the redemptive conclusion places a kind of retrospective glow on the earlier, more doom-laden, material. There was a great old LP with Okko Kamu conducting (CBS) which never made it to CD.

I think you have stolen my post from the "What are you listening to" thread as of July 15th:

Dark it is, but in a wonderfully uplifting, fulfilling way. Now go on to no 6 and violin concerto no 2, both have fully satisfactory readings on cpo (though I hope for a reissue of the Kamu on Sony, fat chance I guess).

[vandermolen]

I think you have stolen my post from the "What are you listening to" thread as of July 15th:

I didn't see it - honest great minds etc...

[karlhenning]

Now, make nice, lads! : )

[springrite]

I didn't see it - honest great minds etc...

Great minds, etc. plus the best form of flattery, etc... 

I will be ordering these from Just Jeff next week or so：

Allan Pettersson: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4  $5
Allan Pettersson - Sym 9 - Alun Francis, Deusches Sym Orch Berlin - 1993 CPO Records Germany   $7
Allan Pettersson - Sym 12 / Carl Rune Larson, Stockholm Phil Orch/Concerto No. 1 - Sig Westerberg, Swedish Radio Sym Orch 77/78 - Caprice $17
Allan Pettersson - Sym 13 Alun Francis, BB Scottish Sym Orch - 1993 CPO Records Germany   $5
Allan Pettersson - Sym 14 Johan M. Arnell, Radio Sym Orch Berlin - 1988 CPO Records Germany   $7
Allan Pettersson: Symphony No. 15; Peter Ruzicka: Das Gesegnete, das Verfluchte   $7

I only have 5,7,8,10 and 11 right now. So I am trying to get some more.

[The new erato]

I didn't see it - honest great minds etc...

I'll go for the great minds explanation any day. Very comforting to know I'm not alone!

[Tapio Dimitriyevich Shostakovich]

Also don't forget his Symphony No 6 with its 'long struggle towards the sunrise' - it's one of his works (like VC No 2) in which the redemptive conclusion places a kind of retrospective glow on the earlier, more doom-laden, material. There was a great old LP with Okko Kamu conducting (CBS) which never made it to CD.

Not necessary, because the CPO Albrecht release is great.
#6 is a long journey indeed; and a very interesting, mostly dark one.

[The new erato]

Not necessary, because the CPO Albrecht release is great.

It's Trojahn, and it's good. But it's still the only game in town, which isn't good for major works.

[Sef]

Also don't forget his Symphony No 6 with its 'long struggle towards the sunrise' - it's one of his works (like VC No 2) in which the redemptive conclusion places a kind of retrospective glow on the earlier, more doom-laden, material. There was a great old LP with Okko Kamu conducting (CBS) which never made it to CD.

http://subversion283.blogspot.com/2009/04/allan-pettersson-symphony-no-6.html

[Carnivorous Sheep]

http://subversion283.blogspot.com/2009/04/allan-pettersson-symphony-no-6.html

Thanks!

I've only recently discovered Pettersson symphonies, and there is no doubt that they are powerful. I'm still in the process of making my way through all of them.

[vandermolen]

http://subversion283.blogspot.com/2009/04/allan-pettersson-symphony-no-6.html

Yes, many belated thanks for this - I recall buying the LP whilst on holiday in some remote part of northern England c 1976 - I was very surprised to find it in a small record shop.

[The new erato]

Yes, many belated thanks for this - I recall buying the LP whilst on holiday in some remote part of northern England c 1976 - I was very surprised to find it in a small record shop.

It was called distribution, something currently out of favor with the major record companies.

[vandermolen]

It was called distribution, something currently out of favor with the major record companies.

How true - but there are now hardly any independent specialist classical CD shops in the UK.

[Mirror Image]

Ordered Pettersson's 7th and 11th symphonies on BIS with Segerstam a few days ago. I'm looking forward to examing the 7th again with a more open-mind.

[Mirror Image]

How true - but there are now hardly any independent specialist classical CD shops in the UK.

The days of the CD store are gone I'm afraid, which kind of bums me out, because there is always the thrill of discovering something you haven't seen before or have been wanting to hear.

[Mirror Image]

Great minds, etc. plus the best form of flattery, etc... 

I will be ordering these from Just Jeff next week or so：

Allan Pettersson: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4  $5
Allan Pettersson - Sym 9 - Alun Francis, Deusches Sym Orch Berlin - 1993 CPO Records Germany   $7
Allan Pettersson - Sym 12 / Carl Rune Larson, Stockholm Phil Orch/Concerto No. 1 - Sig Westerberg, Swedish Radio Sym Orch 77/78 - Caprice $17
Allan Pettersson - Sym 13 Alun Francis, BB Scottish Sym Orch - 1993 CPO Records Germany   $5
Allan Pettersson - Sym 14 Johan M. Arnell, Radio Sym Orch Berlin - 1988 CPO Records Germany   $7
Allan Pettersson: Symphony No. 15; Peter Ruzicka: Das Gesegnete, das Verfluchte   $7

I only have 5,7,8,10 and 11 right now. So I am trying to get some more.

I went ahead and just bought the whole set, because it was cheaper to buy them all in one box than to buy them individually. Got it from an Amazon Marketplace seller.


I'll let everybody know my impressions of the music when I have heard a few symphonies.

[springrite]

I went ahead and just bought the whole set, because it was cheaper to buy them all in one box than to buy them individually. Got it from an Amazon Marketplace seller.


I'll let everybody know my impressions of the music when I have heard a few symphonies.

Excellent! I have ontroduced Pettersson to a couple of friends, both said Pettersson is their most exciting discovery since ... well, in a long time!

[Mirror Image]

Definitely a composer who wrote the same symphony 16 times. Did he have any subject besides "the horrors of living"?

You have to be a little more open-minded when listening to Pettersson. "The horrors of living" is a great topic and since I'm a pretty cynical person, his music hits home for me. I dislike people who aren't honest. You can't blame Pettersson for not being honest. You can dismiss his music all you want to, but what you can't deny is that his music speaks the true nature of this world, especially now. This is a repulsive world we live in and people do things to people that are just cruel, inhumane, and evil. It takes a bold composer to use human suffering as a basis for music, but if you don't want to make the effort to understand his message, then it's like the old saying: "If you can't stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen."

[Mirror Image]

Excellent! I have ontroduced Pettersson to a couple of friends, both said Pettersson is their most exciting discovery since ... well, in a long time!

Prior to buying this set, I only own Segerstam's recording of his 7th and 11th symphonies, so I can't wait to dive in and discover more of this man's music.