Repertoire: Stenhammar's Superbly Sturdy, Serious Second Symphony
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 พ.ย. 2021
- A busy conductor and pianist, Stenhammar had little time for composition, which is a pity because he was a major composer. The Second Symphony is, along with the orchestra Serenade, one of his greatest masterpieces, and in this video you can sample the music and find out which recordings merit your attention.
Musical Examples courtesy of BIS Records. - เพลง
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Stenhammar's Second Symphony is indeed a serious masterpiece... but, for my money, if you REALLY want to get to the heart of what made Stenhammar STENHAMMAR, you absolutely must listen to his more intimate pieces for solo piano: The first of his Three Fantasies (Tre fantasier), Op. 11 (marked Molto appasionato!), is SO heart-on-sleeve and emotional and searingly "romantic" that you just won't believe that the music you're hearing came from the pen of a 24-year-old SWEDE; I challenge anyone, anywhere to listen to that soaring second "arpeggiated" theme and not tear-up! For a "serious" composer - to his credit or detriment - Stenhammer had his moments of pure, unadulterated (dare I say unhinged?) passion... simply marvelous! Mike D.
Been ranting and raving about Stenhammar for several years now. Very underappreciated in my opinion. Hope this continues to change down the road. Thank you for the video!
Stenhammar's String Quartet No. 4 is an emotional kaleidoscope that I rank among my top five or ten favorite string quartets. It has resonated with me most during difficult times, like a Mahler symphony.
5 And 6 are among the masterpieces of the entire genre. They are that good.
I do hope your talk on this marvellous symphony will encourage those viewers who don't know it to listen to it. It was thanks to Robert Layton's advocacy for the symphony in the Penguin Stereo Record Guide that I bought the the Westerberg LP many years ago. The LP was in a gatefold sleeve with excellent notes, I was immediately impressed by the music and went onto explore Stenhammar's other music, it surprises me that the Serenade is not in the repertoire, it would appeal to the vast majority of music lovers.
Huge stenhammar fan thanks for including
Stenhammar is such a wonderful composer. His Second is one of my favorites. And the Serenade, holy cow, infinitely gorgeous music.
Folks, you should listen to his piano concertos as well. The second is also a serious, concentrate piece of music, so so so austere. But I find more joy in his very youthful first piano concerto, which is the opposite: long and romantic and sprawling and very very ambitious. (And he borrows the first theme directly from Brahms’ Tragic Overture; why?)
Stenhammar is one of those short-lived cats whom I really wish had had more time to give us much more orchestral music. I also love the first symphony even though it's sometimes accused of still being too "German." And I also wax into a folkloric, Nordic sentimentality over the orchestral rhapsody with choir, "Midvinter."
Imagine if he'd lived longer and didn't disparage his own work so harshly. Wow, he really could have been something.
A longstanding favourite of mine (the Stig Westerberg recording on LP), now I listen to the Serenade more often (Blomsted!).
Actually, the first symphony is not so bad either.
Stenhammars's Second is one of the hidden gems, I highly recommend to invest your listener time into it, it'll pay back. My favorite is still Stig Westerberg's recording, even after hearing Järvi and Blomstedt, but should hear Sundqvist though.
Thanks for this - Stenhammer was just a name to me. You perform a public service with these talks! That excerpt was great. Only my bank balance will suffer.
Great "repertoire" choice, and one I've been waiting for you ti introduce and review, since I knew you liked the piece. I discovered Stenhammar almost by accident. On a whim, I purchased a recording of this two piano concertos on Hyperion, and found them quite enjoyable, if only mildly interesting. The harmonic idiom appealed to me. So I followed this up with the BIS set, thinking Stenhammar is a composer I could come to appreciate. But I was not prepared for my reaction to his Second Symphony. It blew me away and from the first hearing went to the top of the list of favorite Scandinavian symphonies--right up there with Sibelius 6 and Nielsen 3. All three works share a very eloquent use of modality. Yes, the Stenhammar 2 is a very "serious" work, yet there are some delightful touches of humor--not least in that sprawling fugal finale. (I wonder whether the finale of Bruckner 5 served as a model). In any case, thanks for featuring Stenhammar--and I agree that Jarvi's first recording is viscerally exciting in a way that the others I have heard are not.
Brilliant intro to a very interesting - somewhat curious - piece. The start had me welling up, so I had to go and find a recording. Thanks for introducing me to this (via your discussion of fugal finales!).
Very welcome attention for a great symphony. The Stig Westerberg recording was my first encounter with Stenhammar. It made an immediate impression. Unforgettable piece.
I have to agree. I have listened to all the modern recordings but this remains my favorite.
@@rsmickeymooproductions4877 I know the Järvi, too. But the tempi in the Westerberg are so well-judged, and also the sound of the recording is wonderfully spacious, I always return to it. Will give the Blomstedt a listen, though!
@@JohanHerrenberg If you listen to opening bars of the final movement, there is more more tension, edge to Westerburg than any other recording. The whole movement is exciting and spacious sounding. It's a no brainer for me
@@rsmickeymooproductions4877 Yes, that Finale is a test case. Westerberg is really inspired in that movement.
I have four recordings of this glorious work, but we obviously see the work differently. Jarvi senior was my introduction to the work (the BIS version) but I now find it rushed. Conversely, I find the Blomstedt far too slow at times. I also have the Stig Westerberg as a download that I'm very fond of, although the recordng sounds overbright to me. My favourite performance is one of the two you don't care for: Christian Lindberg with the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra. For me, everything seems beautifully judged in it from beginning to end and I think the recording is outstanding
Great video--Stenhammar is an excellent topic for discussion. Here's another vote for Atterberg too!
Atterburg, Hamerik or even Louis Glass ;)
When I'm interested in (by ?) a composer, or a work, that I don't yet know, I query "review" in the search bar, and there, Dave appears, who gives me the solution 👍.
Thank you for all your work, I don't know where you find the time to listen to it all❗Do you own a time turner, like Hermione ❓ 😀😁😂🤣
Good to see this excellent work being given some publicity! I notice that the jarvi re-makes on DG are available courtesy of Presto’s re-print service
I've owned the Jarvi for 30 years or so - thanks for the prompt to listen to it again
I've been curious about Stenhammar for some time, and thanks to you it's time to explore...and I know where to start😁
In the Elbphilharmonie opening concert the played the Parsifal Overture much too fast. THe first example of Stenhammar`s 2nd gave me the same shivers and hindered me from breathing. Maybe because i really got imprinted on this symphony but with slower tempo?
Love Stenhammar. Another composer who needs to be dusted off a removed from the closet of obscurity. Though Danish, Asger Hamerik is another. Unabashedly romantic but unpretentious in being so.
Lots of Scandinavian composers get rarely recorded/performed. I must admit not all good, but there are some real gems out there, who at their best are on a par with Sibelius/Nielsen.
Considering that you're covering Swedish composers, have you thought of doing a video covering Kurt Atterberg? I believe you've mentioned him in the past, but he really deserves his own video. His third symphony in particular is sublime.
I have mentioned him, several times. I don't think he's as good or as imporant as you do.
All the symphonies are good, as well as a super cello concerto
@@rsmickeymooproductions4877 Yeah, his concerti are underrated. Wrote an excellent piano concerto and a decent horn concerto as well.
@@thenoblegnuwildebeest3625 I'd have to disagree with you here. I find him very enjoyable, but not all of the symphonies are equally so, and the Piano Concerto is just plain silly, especially its finale. I will be talking about Atterberg, because he was a fine composer, but selectively. He has been featured in several videos already.
@@DavesClassicalGuide Fair points. There's definitely a big gap in quality between certain symphonies (2, 3, 4, and 6) and others.
The Jarvi/DG is available to listen on Tidal.
What a gorgeous excerpt. I’ve never heard this work, bumping it to the top oh my queue. I’ll probably start with the Blomstedt.
Good idea!
@@DavesClassicalGuide just finished streaming it. Wow! Wish I’d known about Stenhammer earlier. The Serenade is lovely too. So much more tuneful and attractive than lots of standard rep pieces.
@@AlexMadorsky Glad you like them!
Bernstein 2nd symphony age of anxiety cds? Recommendation
Go to ClassicsToday.com and have a look. It is reviewed and discussed thoroughly.
"Stain Hammer" sounds kind of dirty anyway.
Is it odd that I prefer his first symphony over this? Apparently he wasn't a fan of his own Bruckner phase...
There's one in every bunch!
I am a swede and I think you always should pronounce names as if it's from your own language. Stick to your own linguistic community. I think it's just snobbery not to. For example, I will never say Beijing. It's simply Peking 😀
Thank you!