YES I WOULD EVEN SAY AN EXCELLENT DEMONSTRATION OF HIS OUSTANDING INTELLECUAL ABILITIES !!!. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS ON EBAY BEFORE TODAY 24 DEC 2919 !!!!.
The song "Pan" is clearly very closely related to the Sixth Symphony... see comparative video; th-cam.com/video/FDlvA_eGqFE/w-d-xo.html ~ but which came first? Melartin finished the Symphony in 1925 having been working on it for several years. The song is said to date from no later than 1920 ~ at this time Melartin set a number of poems by Finland's then most famous poet Veikko Antero Koskenniemi (1885-1962), "Pan" is from his "Runoja" published in 1906. translate.google.co.uk/transl...
The 3rd Movement, "Air" which is certainly the best movement has always struck me as distinctly Chinese in feel! Incidentally he shared the same dates as Ravel, with whom I think he may have studied.
There are broad parallels with Nielsen's Sixth which appeared at much the same time, in the sense that both represent bold and somewhat unexpected leaps towards modernism. But whereas Melartin (who may have started work on his significantly earlier) respects and embraces modernism in a serious way, Nielsen cannot resist outrageously satirising the genre. They certainly knew each other, Melartin conducted works by Nielsen, there are photos of them together ~ it's possible there was even a friendly rivalry involved in the genesis of these parallel symphonies.
As far as I know, Melartin actually conducted the first Mahler performance in the Nordic countries: the first movement of the Second Symphony in a concert by the Viipuri City Orchestra, which was part of Finland at that time, in the early years of the 20th century. It's interesting how Melartin managed to avoid the influence of Sibelius in early 20th-century Finland. In Melartin's symphonies, one can see some influence from Mahler and Bruckner, even though he did not aim for the megalomania characteristic of Mahler, in particular.
Astonishing. The power in this work is just beyond words
A powerful, primal, archetypal work.
Thanks for making this wonderful music available. Uplifting, interesting, chthonic adventure!
Wil be looking for more from Melartin
mysterious and magnificent
What a magnificent piece!!
Superbe.
I am going with marvelous on this one.
YES I WOULD EVEN SAY AN EXCELLENT DEMONSTRATION OF HIS OUSTANDING INTELLECUAL ABILITIES !!!. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS ON EBAY BEFORE TODAY 24 DEC 2919 !!!!.
Fabulous graphic!
nice
The song "Pan" is clearly very closely related to the Sixth Symphony... see comparative video; th-cam.com/video/FDlvA_eGqFE/w-d-xo.html ~ but which came first?
Melartin finished the Symphony in 1925 having been working
on it for several years. The song is said to date from no later than
1920 ~ at this time Melartin set a number of poems by Finland's then
most famous poet Veikko Antero Koskenniemi (1885-1962), "Pan" is from
his "Runoja" published in 1906. translate.google.co.uk/transl...
The 3rd Movement, "Air" which is certainly the best movement has always struck me as distinctly Chinese in feel! Incidentally he shared the same dates as Ravel, with whom I think he may have studied.
Many thanks for this priceless recording. Do you detect any influence by Carl Nielsen?
There are broad parallels with Nielsen's Sixth which appeared at much the same time, in the sense that both represent bold and somewhat unexpected leaps towards modernism. But whereas Melartin (who may have started work on his significantly earlier) respects and embraces modernism in a serious way, Nielsen cannot resist outrageously satirising the genre. They certainly knew each other, Melartin conducted works by Nielsen, there are photos of them together ~ it's possible there was even a friendly rivalry involved in the genesis of these parallel symphonies.
Julian Arculus
Very interesting. Thanks for your insight.
More than a touch of Mahler 3 in the first movement, methinks. Great work though,
As far as I know, Melartin actually conducted the first Mahler performance in the Nordic countries: the first movement of the Second Symphony in a concert by the Viipuri City Orchestra, which was part of Finland at that time, in the early years of the 20th century. It's interesting how Melartin managed to avoid the influence of Sibelius in early 20th-century Finland. In Melartin's symphonies, one can see some influence from Mahler and Bruckner, even though he did not aim for the megalomania characteristic of Mahler, in particular.