Hugo Alfvén: Symphony no. 3 in E major, op.23
performed by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra under Niklas Willén The symphony has no programme, it depicts neither concrete nor abstract. It is an expression of the joy of living, an expression of the sun-lit happiness that filled my whole being. … Continue reading Hugo Alfvén: Symphony no. 3 in E major, op.23
Ludvig Norman: Symphony no. 2 in E flat, op. 40
performed by the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra under Hans-Peter Frank Another symphony in E flat! Fredrik Vilhelm Ludvig Norman was born on 28 August 1831 in Stockholm, beginning his musical training with Lindblad, from last week. However, he also studied at the Leipzig Conservatory, where he … Continue reading Ludvig Norman: Symphony no. 2 in E flat, op. 40
Franz Berwald: Symphony no. 4 in E flat, ‘Sinfonie naïve’
performed by the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra under Okko Kamu I’ve been very excited about this Swedish Symphony Series for some time, and I think we got off to a great start with the first symphony of Adolf Fredrick Lindblad last week, but today’s … Continue reading Franz Berwald: Symphony no. 4 in E flat, ‘Sinfonie naïve’
Per August Ölander: String Sextet
performed by the Uppsala Kammarsolister Per August Ölander was born 8 January, 1824 in Linkoping. His father was an organist. He studied at Uppsala University, and owed something of his career to support from his father-in-law, Johan Erik Nord Blom, Director … Continue reading Per August Ölander: String Sextet
TSO’s Mahler 7
As described in passing in a recent article on musical programming, I’ve had a pretty good run of hearing the Beethoven symphonies performed live by some wonderful orchestras. That perhaps isn’t a surprise. Beethoven’s symphony cycle is one of the … Continue reading TSO’s Mahler 7
August Söderman: Piano Quartet in E minor
Per Sandklef, violin, Gideon Roehr , viola Åke Olofsson, cello Carin Gille-Rybrant, piano Johan August Söderman was born on 17 July, 1832 in Stockholm. Wikipedia says he “has traditionally been seen as the pre-eminent Swedish composer of the Romantic generation, … Continue reading August Söderman: Piano Quartet in E minor
Lindblad Piano Trio in G minor, Op.10
performed by: Bernt Lysell, violin Björn Sjögren, viola Lucia Negro, piano First things first. Do note that this piano trio is for violin, viola, and piano, with no cello. You’ll notice in the recording. Also, it’s an extra installment of our SQS on … Continue reading Lindblad Piano Trio in G minor, Op.10
Adolf Fredrik Lindblad: Symphony No. 1 in C
performed by the Uppsala Kammarorkester under Gérard Korsten or here by the Stockholm Philharmonic under Okko Kamu An exciting symphony to begin an exciting series. Here we are with our first Swedish Symphony in September. This is, obviously, the earliest work to come … Continue reading Adolf Fredrik Lindblad: Symphony No. 1 in C
September’s Swedish Symphony Series 2016
(for all the posts that were in this series, click here) This one has been brewing for some time. So many series… but I feel like it’s a good way to organize works into a little package, a timeline that … Continue reading September’s Swedish Symphony Series 2016
Podcast: Livre pour Quatuor Diotima
featuring Yun Peng Zhao from Quatuor Diotima. Listen here or in iTunes, or an abridged Chinese version here But when you listen to the twentieth century, maybe just give up this habit, for example, nice melody. For example, some drama… maybe … Continue reading Podcast: Livre pour Quatuor Diotima
Revisit: Rautavaara Symphony no. 1 (2003 version)
performed by the Belgium National Orchestra under Mikko Franck, or in the earlier two-movement version as below, by the Leipzig Radio Symphony under Max Pommer It’s another revisit. For some ridiculous reason, when this blog started, I took on works from composers … Continue reading Revisit: Rautavaara Symphony no. 1 (2003 version)
You and Your Programming: an open letter
Dear Orchestra I Was Looking Forward To Seeing This Year, (and also Famous Pianist I Don’t Really Know) I’m flattered, but also a little annoyed. In most cases, we are very glad to have your type come through. Living in … Continue reading You and Your Programming: an open letter
Various Violin Virtuosity: A wrap-up
There isn’t much to say, maybe, about August’s line-up. There was quite a variety of influences peppered throughout the four composers featured this month, from Ravel’s earliest work and influence from Debussy to his later fascination with jazz and then … Continue reading Various Violin Virtuosity: A wrap-up
Mendelssohn String Quartet no. 1 in E flat, op. 12
performed by the Talich Quartet, or below in a nice performance from the Halcyon Music Festival with a small introduction The opening of this work seems like such a mature, polished, well-executed work for a young, early composition like a first string … Continue reading Mendelssohn String Quartet no. 1 in E flat, op. 12
W. A. Mozart String Quartet No. 3 in G, K. 156
performed by the Amadeus Quartet and movement 2 and movement 3 respectively, or in a complete performance here (with the score) that is also very nice And now we’ll jump back more than two hundred years before last week’s quartet … Continue reading W. A. Mozart String Quartet No. 3 in G, K. 156
Glass Sonata for Violin and Piano
performed (and premiered) by Maria Bachmann and Jon Klibonoff, second movement below The last work in our little series of pieces for the violin is a very recent work, having only been premiered in 2009. The piece was written specifically for Bachmann, and … Continue reading Glass Sonata for Violin and Piano
Glass Violin Concerto no. 1
performed by Gidon Kremer and the Vienna Philharmonic under Christoph von Dohnanyi, or below by Karen Gomyo and the Hague Residentie Orchestra under Brad Lubman “I wrote the piece in 1987 thinking, let me write a piece that my father … Continue reading Glass Violin Concerto no. 1
Glass String Quartet no. 2, ‘Company’
performed by the Smith Quartet, or below by the Spektral Quartet or in another great performance here Here we are! This is something many more people will recognize as Philip Glass. The description of the above video says it is … Continue reading Glass String Quartet no. 2, ‘Company’
TSO’s Heroic Voices
featuring violinist Ray Chen The concert season is starting back up. It feels like it’s been ages since I’ve been in the concert hall, and I guess it has been. With the exception of an outstanding Othello at the beginning of July, the last … Continue reading TSO’s Heroic Voices
Philip Glass: String Quartet no. 1
performed by The Smith Quartet (in a video below that seems not to be available in all countries. The album can be purchased here or in iTunes) I’ll be the first to say that this work isn’t the best place to start … Continue reading Philip Glass: String Quartet no. 1
Influential People: Philip Glass
A living composer! I had deliberated on whether to write this article and how to go about it. The works of Glass’s we’re going to be discussing aren’t necessarily the best place to start for this composer to get to know him and his … Continue reading Influential People: Philip Glass
Fugue for Thought 