Jongen downloads

[Alan Howe]

A very special vote of thanks to minacciosa for uploading the various Jongen works in the Downloads section. We feel privileged to have them.

[Alan Howe]

Posted by minacciosa elsewhere and moved to this thread - with apologies for cross-posting!
Alan Howe

Since I've just placed files for Jongen's Violin Concerto, Epithalme et Scherzo and String Trio, it seems appropriate to open a forum for discussion of this master's work. There's been an aircheck of the Epithalme floating around for some time, but it is truncated; now we have the complete work, and it is an impressive one. In my opinion the Violin Concerto and Epithalme are among the true gems of Jongen's early work, along with the Piano Trio for Violin and Viola, 1st String Quartet, Piano Quartet and Fantasie on Two Walloon Christmas Carols. So much of Jongen's music remains unrecorded, and that is a shame. Let's enjoy what we have.

[JimL]

Pray, good sir, what is the tempo of the finale of the Jongen concerto?

[minacciosa]

Pray, good sir, what is the tempo of the finale of the Jongen concerto?

It is Animé. Thanks for alerting me to this; I've amended the post.

[Alan Howe]

The Violin Concerto is an incredibly beautiful early work by Jongen (it dates from 1897) - can't say it reminds of any other VC, although its chromaticism does put me in mind somewhat of Chausson's Poème. I'd say this was a prime candidate for recording - e.g. in Hyperion's RVC series. It's also a major work on a large-ish scale (35 minutes) - quite how it's failed to be recorded is anyone's guess.

[minacciosa]

The work shows Jongen's early influences clearly. His early style could be described as Saint Saens on steroids. There's also a good dollop of Wagner; check out the scoring in the second movement.

I should hit up Chandos about this.

[Alan Howe]

There's a fairly big dollop of Wagner in Chausson, of course...

[minacciosa]

Oh yes, much mere than there ever was in Jongen. Chausson did manage to make it his own. It's always amazed me that there were so many who learn from Wagner and create something new and original from it. Such are the riches of Wagnerism.

[Alan Howe]

Absolutely!

[petershott@btinternet.com]

Jongen deserves a thread of his own - and more! I've got the impression that his music has become less well known and represented in recent years. If the impression is right that's a considerable pity because I don't think I've ever heard a Jongen work that hasn't seriously impressed me. It is also remarkable that he could work - in my view equally effectively - in the widest range of forms: chamber, orchestral, vocal and choral, piano and organ. A true master!

Yes, odd that Cypres, who have recorded a lot of the orchestral music, have neglected works like the Vn Concerto. But do try the earlyish Cello Concerto (Op. 18 of 1900) coupled with the Impressions d'Ardennes (Op. 44 of 1913).

But for me the most prized Jongen is some of the chamber music. There are two splendid discs (on Pavane) by the Gong Quartet of the String Quartets. Lovely works and excellent performances.

Likewise a Talent disc of the two Violin Sonatas.

Perhaps best of all a Cypres disc of the Piano Quartet Op. 23 (1902) and the Piano Trio Op. 30 (1906-07). The latter is an unusual work written for piano, violin and viola (not many for that combination!), and is an exceptionally beautiful and deeply moving work.

I'm also quite often dipping into two CD sets (Pavane again) of the piano music played by Diane Andersen who seems quite a Jongen specialist.

And I suppose about once a year I dispense with the need for a chimney sweep by listening to the renowned Symphonie Concertante. I don't normally go in for such things - but this is an imposing and quite magnificent work. Turn up the volume a trifle and the very chimney pots shake and the soot descends. Wonderful.

[X. Trapnel]

A thousand thanks to Minacciosa for these. Jongen's exquisite music is to my ears an elegant synthesis of Franckian passion, Faureen intimism, and the symbolist mysteres of Debussy but drawing on a rich vein of melody that is immediately recognizable as the composer's own. It is civilized (never merely gentlemanly) music that has its painterly analogues in the work of Signac, Vuillard, and Jongen's compatriots Theo van Rysselbergh and Henry van de Velde (Unseen Painters whose pictures would make perfect cd booklet covers).

[semloh]

Totally agree with these comments, although I am not especially familiar with Chausson's music.

The link to the String Trio seems to have vanished 

[minacciosa]

Link fixed.

[semloh]

Excellent! Thank you

[JimL]

The key of the concerto is B minor, yes?