Stöhr, Richard (1874 - 1967) Symphony No.1, Op.18 (1909)

[John Boyer]

Guilty as charged in advance!

No charge intended!  Like you, hyperbole praising the composer you are listening to puts me into a sour mood, too.  Just present the music in the best light, point out its strong points, and let it go at that.  Just now I am listening to the works of a 20th century Turkish composer on a CPO disc whose notes subject us to effusive praise not only for the composer and performers, but even a full page of the same for the glorious leadership of Kemal Atatürk.  I like the music, but really...

Returning to the composer at hand, I think the quality of Stöhr's music speaks for itself. 

(Now, while waiting for my Stöhr disc to arrive, back I go to a composer who was on speaking terms with "the victorious hero of the Battle of Gallipoli and the architect of a new nation" who created "the foundations for the mighty state of present-day Turkey.")

[Alan Howe]

He's a fine composer, no doubt. Not sure whether he's anything more than that. Personally, I'd be very careful about any comparison with Schmidt. As I said, I'd be looking at Schumann (G.), Volbach or Straesser.

[John Boyer]

He's a fine composer, no doubt. Not sure whether he's anything more than that. Personally, I'd be very careful about any comparison with Schmidt. As I said, I'd be looking at Schumann (G.), Volbach or Straesser.

Oof!  "Perhaps on the level of Georg Schumann, but he's no Schmidt"?  Talk about a back-handed compliment!  For me, his early work suggests and is on the level of Robert Fuchs.  The later work, based on the volume of orchestral music from the late 30s/early 40s, moves more in Schmidt's world, both in style and quality.  Yes, Schmidt has the edge on him, but that volume of late orchestral work took me by surprise. 

[Alan Howe]

Apologies, John, for my lack of clarity: I was speaking only of possible comparisons (by contemporaries) with Stöhr's 1st Symphony, not with his oeuvre as a whole (because that's what this thread is about). Therefore Volbach, Schumann (G.) or Straesser seem perfectly reasonable candidates, as I suggested in an earlier post. - as follows:

G. Schumann Symphony in F minor:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k28Y3hBMox2QStwahaE760TUsFjHFrD78

Volbach Symphony in B minor:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aFZQgGzQbE&list=OLAK5uy_mO7cEA9LzOJWK1ythEi1oO6lzKSMmSe-0&index=5

Straesser Symphony No.1 in G major: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmh3ubvJTaY&t=76s

Stöhr Symphony No.1 (computer realisation):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJg8FWKNnTs

I wouldn't compare Stöhr with Fuchs as their respective symphonies are from different eras and in different styles.

So, my overall point is that the best way of positioning Stöhr 1 is to place him in the context of contemporary symphonies comparable in terms of idiom that we know about from recordings. Then we can decide how it stacks up.

Also: we simply don't know enough about Stöhr's later symphonies to make any sort of judgment.

[eschiss1]

that's a link to no.2 in D minor (no.1 in G is more contemporary, though both are within a few years. (I'm aware there's an earlier symphony but didn't think it had been included in the numbering.))

[Alan Howe]

Thanks, Eric. Link duly corrected. The Schumann, by the way, is a terrific piece.

[Reverie]

This symphony is a fine work and I never tire of listening to it. But yes, it's not a landmark composition.

Interestingly his later symphonies seem to be in just piano reductions. I don't know if orchestral scores were even made? If they were goodness knows where they are. I've played the piano scores and they seem in a very different idiom to this first symphony - like a world apart.

Plenty of other composers of this time to explore .... like Heinrich Zöllner for example who is very much an unsung of this period; hardly anything recorded. More to follow ..... 

[Alan Howe]

Thanks, Martin. Looking forward to your next contribution, as ever.

I've added an umlaut to Zöllner's surname - hope that's OK.

This symphony is a fine work and I never tire of listening to it. But yes, it's not a landmark composition.

That's my sense too. Hence my chosen comparisons - and my reluctance to compare the work with, say, Schmidt's 2nd.

[Alan Howe]

Please note: the discussion of Symphonies 2 to 7 is now to be found in this new separate thread:
https://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,9155.0.html

[Ilja]

I just downloaded the Toccata recording this morning. This was one I had been eagerly waiting for, and I'm happy to say that it didn't disappoint. These are some impressions after the first two listens, and before reading the booklet.

The big difference in the length of the first movement between the recordings we knew (the old St. Olaf mono recording and Martin Walsh's synthetic version) is explained by a substantial, three-minute repeat that these omitted and Hobson includes (1:43 / 4:56). I was initially put on the wrong foot by the samples because Hobson does start out with a fairly relaxed tempo, but it picks up after that and I find that he maintains tension throughout this long and potentially rambling movement. I would not have complained had he also decided to take the cut, though.

The symphony is played well, I think, with exactly the right combination (if I'm allowed the cliché) of Viennese schmaltz and attention to Stöhr's little harmonic "jabs". You can clearly notice everyone having fun dancing through the scherzo, and the andante receives the gravitas it deserves. Here, Hobson allows the music more breathing time than the other "recordings" but I think that is a sound choice as it really brings the movement to life and grants it its proper significance. The finale, which starts out with a Witches' Sabbath-like section which reminded me of the one in Rimsky-Korsakov's Christmas Eve, offers an engaging and fitting end to a symphony that deserved a proper recording for a long time.

Which brings us to the Suite. This is an obviously more lightweight affair, but with some hidden dephts in its very beautiful middle movement. It presents Stöhr's "lighter" and perhaps more humorous side, which is also in show in pieces such as his chamber symphony or (predictably) the second suite. Also predictably, it is not quite as sophisticated or individual as that much later work.

If I were to level an overall point of criticism on this recording, it would be that the percussion section isn't particularly well served. Not only is it placed way to the back to the point of being barely audible at times, but a comparison to the other versions suggests that some percussion parts were cut as well.

Still, this will be a recording that I shall play many a time over the coming months.

[Mark Thomas]

Thanks Ilja for such an early review. I'm having trouble with logging into the Toccata site this morning but look forward to downloading the recording and giving it a hearing as soon as the digital gremlins relent.

[Alan Howe]

Release of the physical CD has been delayed - grrrr!

[John Boyer]

Curious. JPC indicates they have shipped my order. Are they being over enthusiastic?

[Alan Howe]

Depends where the supplies are supposed to be. Mine's coming from Amazon UK.

[Ilja]

The whole symphony and suite can now be listened to on YouTube (posted there on behalf of the Sinfonia Varsovia)

P.s. if you want to experience it (and the rest of YouTube) without the ads, this is the way to go.