Joseph Lauber Symphonies Nos. 3 & 6

[adcsound]

Recording the Lauber third symphony:



Picture took yesterday. Tuba and Kontrafagott are missing because they only play in the final of the 3rd..
The 3rd is already finished and we recorded the 2 first mouvements of the 6th.
Same team but not the same place. Nevertheless I'm happy with this new place.

I really hope we'll record "Die Alpen" suite saturday, it depends on the confederation and canton announcements tonight regarding the covid...

Cheers from Bern,

Fred.

[Mark Thomas]

Thanks, Fred, that's really good news - and fingers crossed for Saturday.

[Alan Howe]

Can you describe Symphony No.3, please, Fred? And when was it written?

[eschiss1]

also at least key, etc Thanks!! Though one will wait!

[adcsound]

Dear friends,

You'll find below a link to download my scores (3rd and 6th), before my own editing marks of course.
I shall delete the file on the beginning of January.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas.

Fred.

http://www.adcsound.ch/Temp/Lauber_Sympho3_6.zip

[Alan Howe]

No.3, titled "Dramatique", is in B minor and dates from July-August 1896.

No.6 seems to begin in D and end in C - or have I got that wrong? No date is mentioned.

Conductor Kaspar Zehnder writes:
Within a short time-span (1895-6) Lauber wrote the First, Second and Third Symphonies, then the significantly more heavily scored/impressionistic 4th and 5th Symphonies followed in 1913 and 1918. The undated 6th Symphony, recorded by the Suisse Romande Orchestra under Ernest Ansermet in 1952, was written for a small orchestra in the classical style. (translated)
https://www.kasparzehnder.com/en/news-and-press/news/

[eschiss1]

Thanks!!

Symphony no.6 judging from the score that's been kindly provided by Fred @ adcsound: 1. Allegro ma non troppo in D major (pp.1-35) ; 2. Scherzo in A minor (pp.36-67); 3. Adagio (in D?) (pp.68-89) ; 4. Allegro (in C) (pp.90-140, starts with a trumpet melody...)

[adcsound]

The recording from Ansermet and the OSR is a live from 1950, not 1952.

Here is what is written in the "catalogue des oeuvres" regarding the 6th:
"Cette oeuvre est non datée.Elle a été déclarée à la SUISA en 1949".

Not a big fan of the last movement from this symphony that I find not so inspired...

But I have to say that the third one is a masterpiece. The second movement is a bit "Bruckner inspired" and sounds wonderful.

Kaspar and the orchestra were really involved and the sessions had been really focused and full of music. To me, the takes sound better than the symphonies 1&2. Not the same room.
We also recorded "Die Alpen" which is a really swiss attitude...

[Alan Howe]

Appetite duly whetted...

[Mark Thomas]

That's all very good news, thanks.

[adcsound]

Dear friends,

I have begun the editing of our last December sessions with the Lauber symphonies n°3 and n°6.

We also recorded a symphonic cycle called « Die Alpen » (1896).

The label allows me to post here - as a premiere - an excerpt from the last movement of this cycle called « Journée d'été dans la haute montagne ».

I allow myself to post this link as a present for you all, with a special thought to the British members of this forum.
This is an edit, not the final version.
http://www.adcsound.ch/VideosPhotosDocuments/UnsungComposer/LauberDieAlpen3ex.mp3

Regards, Fred.

[Alan Howe]

Thanks from us here in Britain - an uplifting use of our national anthem!

[Justin]

Sounds great so far, Fred! Looking forward to purchasing the album.

[Mark Thomas]

Thanks very much, Fred. I'm really looking forward to the new release.

[Justin]

I was asking myself why Lauber quoted "God Save the Queen" for a composition about the Alps, but it appears that in the 19th century, this anthem was used for many German-speaking countries, including Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, and Lauber's Switzerland: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oben_am_jungen_Rhein