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Date: | Mon, 2 Aug 1999 23:03:17 -0400 |
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David Stewart <[log in to unmask]> asks:
>Heard this at the RAH tonight. I know Nielson has been discussed a lot on
>this list and I wondered if anyone has made any sense out of this work?
No one should to introduced to Nielsen with the Sixth Symphony. That would
be like bumping into "Wellington's Victory" and thinking you had gotten the
measure of Beethoven.
I am the world's authenticated Nielsen worshipper. I think he is the
greatest 20th century composer. But not based on the Sixth. He suffered
a hideous heart attack that left him wracked with pain. It ate away at his
strength far more than deafness could to Beethoven or madness to Schumann.
In fact, in retrospect we now realize that Beethoven's deafness was not his
curse, it was his blessing. It opened him to unheard sounds. But some
diseases rot the strongest and tallest trees.
Nielsen's Fifth, one of really great works, is difficult. It is advanced
in tonality far more than any of his previous symphonies, but it retains
its center even as it pulls the rubber band nearly to breaking. I would
start with the delicious Third, the "Sinfonia Espansiva." Maybe you can get
classical and "original" Thomas Jensen which comes in Danacord's complete
set of the symphonies (DAC) 121-123). Berkshire had it for a good price,
but it is now gone. Perhaps they will offer it again. These performances
have never been surpassed interpretatively, although they are wanting in
sound quality.
I will leave this for now. Other Nielsen fanatics will surely fill in some
of the up-to-date choices.
Even Nielsen lovers forget the huge collection of songs, some of which are
up there with Schubert. Get only the Aksel Schoitz performance, also on
Danacord. Also, don't miss his Wind Quintet, undoubtedly the greatest
composition in this genre. There the modern performances pail before
historical one, again on Danacord. It will take a lifetime of pleasure
to become really familiar with Nielsen's many masterpieces.
Andrew E. Carlan <[log in to unmask]>
"Standing Up For Nielsen"
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