Lodewijk Mortelmans(1868-1952)

[Steve B]

Here is one you, at least. are probably aware of, Ilja.

Lovely late(late!) Romantic.
I have heard 4 pieces:
1. "Myth of Spring" stands out:somewhere betwen mid Wagner(pere) and Wagner fils; very passionate. Reminds of ardent,yearning late Romantic mode of S. Wagner and Clement Harris, running parallel to composers who used a lot of chromatic harmony(this is pretty diatonic)
2. 2 x very simple yet effective elagiac pieces: In Memoriam and Exultation. A little bit of Gorecki, in that there are simple melodies, repeated, with slow(but obviously not as complex) chord changes
3."Morning Mood"- don't know as well yet but promisingly verdant.

These are all the Marco Polo ones, but there is some more on Etcetera.

Mortelmans is a REAL discovery; music that jumps out as special, not (just) fun or enjoyable-NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT

Anyone else a Mortelmans afficiando?

Steve