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Date: | Thu, 6 May 1999 04:35:19 -0400 |
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Tore F Steenslid <[log in to unmask]> replied to Billy Kitson:
>I have Leifs' Saga Symphony and it's certainly very memorably music. Each
>of the five movements are based upon Norse sagas. The only symphony I know
>about which includes sword fights! The only recording is available on BIS
>CD-730, with Iceland symphony orchestra conducted by Osmo Vanska. It was
>released in 1995.
As I said once, very impressive and uncompromising music, sometimes
of primary strength, but much more than just striking and original.
Beware, there is another recording conducted by Jussi Jalas, but it is not
complete. Anyway, the Icelandic Music Information Centre does not sell it
any more, while they do have a marvellous collection of CDs of their own,
whose cover designs also bring a nice touch in a stern record library.
Highly recommended (the music, I mean).
>Leifs' wife were Jewish so they run into problems during the war. They
>managed to keep a low profile and avoid the consentration camps. They got
>out of Germany in early 1944. There are a little more info about this in
>the notes to the Saga Symphony.
Leifs had been living in Germany since the 1920s (maybe even before).
His music finally was more or less forbidden by nazis. After that, it met
utter contempt in Nordic countries, and together with the rumour that he
had been complacent towards nazis, it did not make his life very easy until
his death in 1968. But AFAIK there is no evidence of actual collaboration
with nazis. His music does rely on old Norse roots, but certainly not the
way 3rd Reich officials would have favoured.
Thanh-Tam Le
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