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1  Assorted items / Individual composers / Re: Ragnar Soderlind(1945-) on: January 20, 2015, 05:54:03 pm
Amongst all the recent discussion-some of which I initiated-about the health of the Symphony as we progress into the 21st century and whether or not there are any great modern symphonists there has been mention of British composers(like Maxwell Davies, McCabe and David Matthews) and Finns(like Rautavaara, Sallinen, Aho and other younger composers) but we may have forgotten two Norwegian composers of symphonies, both of whom I regard as of enormous ability: Soderlind and Halvor Haug.

Neither has received anything like the exposure which they so richly deserve.

Haug has only written 2 symphonies in the last twenty years and I have been totally unable to hear either :(

Soderlind is probably more of a "neo-romantic" and is now up to-I think-eight symphonies(the Symphony No.8 "Jean Sibelius in memoriam" was written in 2004-05). This last symphony, like its big predecessors, Symphonies Nos. 6 "Todesahnung" and No.7 "La Campane dell'Atlantico" have not been recorded (which is an absolute disgrace in my opinion). Aurora recorded Symphonies Nos. 2, 3 and 4 but seem to have abandoned Soderlind since then.

I wrote lengthy posts about both composers in another place and I am not going to repeat myself here but if you doubt my word please give Symphony No.5 "Kvitsunn" a listen. I am going to put a link in the UC Reposts section :)

Not only is it a splendidly neo-romantic and eminently accessible work but it has one of the most magical last six minutes of any modern symphony I know. After 22 minutes of anger and turmoil the symphony concludes in blissful peace and tranquillity, albeit an somewhat uneasy and maybe even troubled peace.

Anyone who admires the modern but essentially tonal symphony should be impressed. It is at least as good as anything written by Rautavaara....yet the Finn has been lauded to the skies and is recorded by Ondine whereas Soderlind has been shamefully neglected on disc.


I do not own anything by Soderlind.  I will investigate Symphony 5. Thanks for that.  I will say I adore Haug's Symphony 3 "The Inscrutable Life".  What a pleasure.....

Robert
2  Assorted items / General musical discussion / Re: A Symphonies Game on: January 20, 2015, 05:49:16 pm
At least there is only one contender for the 5 1/2 spot!

Beat you to it ...
[/quote

I am happy to be on the same wavelength......

Robert
3  Assorted items / General musical discussion / Re: Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian Composers on: January 19, 2015, 06:40:34 pm
Today I enjoyed Kapp Symphony 2  Vasks Music for Strings, Symphony 1.  Sumera Symphony 2 3

Robert


Which Kapp?  ;)
Of Course   Villem Kapp
BBC Philharmonic
Neemi Jarvi


Thats almost like which Jarvi......

Robert
4  Assorted items / General musical discussion / Re: Peterson-Berger Symphonies on: January 18, 2015, 02:44:00 am
I have the set ... I am a great admirer of P-B. That said, the symphonies are not all of the same standard; I think No 4 is the best. The stand-out work for me is the violin concerto.

I love his symphonies I like three as much as four....VC is something else.....

Robert
5  Assorted items / General musical discussion / Re: Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian Composers on: January 18, 2015, 02:39:24 am
Today I enjoyed Kapp Symphony 2  Vasks Music for Strings, Symphony 1.  Sumera Symphony 2 3

Robert
6  Assorted items / General musical discussion / Re: Orchestral works for USA bicentennial 1976 on: January 18, 2015, 02:27:06 am
I would avoid the Roy Harris 13th Symphony.  Probably the worst piece of music ever written by a major figure. Embarrassing.
William Schuman 10th Symphony quite engrossing.
[/quote
I believe it was over for Harris after the ninth.  Schuman I am in for 3 5 6 9

Robert
7  Assorted items / General musical discussion / Re: What are you currently listening to? on: January 18, 2015, 02:13:01 am
I am presently listening to an old favorite

Jack Gallagher The Persistence Of Memory
Betty Beath  Lagu Lagu Manis
Mary Mageau  The Furies

New Music for Orchestra
Vienna Music Masters...
8  Assorted items / General musical discussion / Re: A Symphonies Game on: January 18, 2015, 02:06:35 am
And the reluctance to exclude composers I get allot of pleasure from! So where can I fit Spohr? He's not a particularly deep composer,but I think his orchestration (at it's best) is gorgeous. No's 7 & 8 I find athletic and bracing,they cheer me up! But now I've got to leave Beethoven out! Spohr instead of Beethoven? He would have been up there himself once,of course! And late last night I started listening through Mahler's symphonies again. I really do like Roussel's No1.But instead of Mahler !?!! I like both,but........!!!!!
Tournemire got in mainly because I was struggling to come up with another no 8! For some reason,apart from the Dvorak and Daniel Jones,I don't really have any real favourites with that number. I do like the Vaughan Williams,but I don't think it's the most consistent of the cycle,although it has some very striking ideas. I bought the Haitink recording of 8 & 9 recently,which may change my mind?! The Tournemire is  consistent in it's invention,however,so in it went! Rather impressive. Strange music! His Seventh is seriously wierd,but I'm not sure if it hangs together. His Sixth is imho a knockout! But then I'd have to boot out Arnold and Piston! Confession time! I don't play the Tournemire that much to really justify including it! A job for Timpani,though! (Although as far as I can make out they're uninterested. I hope I'm wrong!)

But having to leave out Mahler 2,3 & 6!!! All the other Beethoven symphonies! Bax's third and fifth?! And then there are lesser symphonies that seem to suddenly grab you for some apparent reason,justified or not,and become a sort of 'flavour of the month'! I recently got hold of a s/h musicassette of George Lloyd's Seventh,which has been the subject of some discussion at the GMG,recently. Not sure if I'd want to dump Sibelius,Beethoven or VW in favour of George Lloyd (or that I should?!) but I DO rather like this one at the moment!

No Don Gillis symphonies I'm afraid!! ;D

I was also tempted to include a Rued Langgaard! No 9 "From Queen Dagmar's City",believe it or not?! I think this is an absolute peach of a symphony. Although it's more of a suite. If it hadn't been for Dvorak,Beethoven and VW it might actually have got in! Funny how such a screwed up miserable man could produce music as lovely,happy and carefree as this. No 3 is another example. His escape from a personal hell,I suppose?!

I bought the BIS Tubin and Holmboe cycle a few months ago,but I haven't yet got to the stage where I would feel I have to include one. Maybe No 2,which I have known (along with No 6) for years,via a still functional 25 year old cassette tape!


I wonder what Dundonnell and kyjo would have chosen?!!
 
You could include Don Gills Symphony 5 1/2...
9  Assorted items / General musical discussion / Re: American female Composers on: January 18, 2015, 01:59:56 am
Vivian Fine Excellent call.  Very Prolific composer. I have a few CRI disc of her music...

I also bring to attention

Ursala Mamlock

Mary Howe.

also quite a few women on Vienna Music Masters label

10  Assorted items / General musical discussion / Re: American female Composers on: December 28, 2014, 10:54:24 pm
Roger,

I love Maconchy's String Quartets......

Robert
11  Assorted items / Individual composers / Re: Matthijs Vermeulen on: December 28, 2014, 10:50:15 pm
Yes Roger, very disappointing....I was hoping BRILLIANT would pick up there catalog...I cannot believe no one would be interested.  This was a MAJOR label.,with some very important composers........I will investigate the 25th.

Robert
12  Assorted items / General musical discussion / Re: What are you currently listening to? on: December 28, 2014, 05:52:44 pm
Richard Wetz, Symphony 2
13  Assorted items / Individual composers / Re: Matthijs Vermeulen on: December 28, 2014, 05:51:19 pm
Roger,

If memory serves me right, when Olympia recorded the complete symphonies they went out of business before they could release them all. A company ALTO had to finish the cycle.

Robert 
14  Assorted items / General musical discussion / Re: American female Composers on: December 28, 2014, 05:39:33 pm
Louise Talma was born in France.  She was raised in New York.  Attended Juillard.....12 tone serialist.....I am very much aware of her and would have included her on my list but wasn't sure if she was French or American....

Robert
15  Assorted items / Individual composers / Re: Matthijs Vermeulen on: December 27, 2014, 11:24:41 pm
My error Miasakovsky did write 27 symphonies not 26.   Sometimes I find I cannot always trust my memory....
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