Messages

[Sinfonietta Bel Canto]

Thank you to the conductor and members of the Sinfonietta Bel Canto for their spirited performance of the 3 Episodes by the highly under-rated Adolf Weidig. It's quite superb to see a small local orchestra bringing back to life such a vibrant, expertly crafted piece of late romantic music.

*******************

I started work on my realisation quite a while ago and shelved it for a bit. Anyway I decided to get it finished and here it is.

Drei Episoden, Op.38 (1907)

LINK:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj_yt3hfiUI

None of the symphonies no. A few smaller scale works have been performed locally ( see the videos) on that site.

This rendition is just the second movement (so far) from Gaze Cooper's 1st symphony. The score was kindly made available to me via the composer's granddaughter.

LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5jVlX7ICAk

[LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MURxawlyRy0]

I have a PDF copy of the 2nd Symphony (all 655 odd pages!!)

I spent a bit of time looking at parts of the final movement and was drawn to a slower section near the end. It's very lyrical starting down in the basses and cellos and rising to a glorious "Mahlerian" climax for full ensemble.

It's worth a listen - only 4 minutes


LINK:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MURxawlyRy0

[LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMZ-oD9OLPk]

Here is my realisation of Emánuel Moór's 5th symphony in A minor, Op.53B (1901)

The work is unpublished and obviously unperformed.

The movements are as follows:

1. Allegro moderato (Maestoso)

2. Adagio

3. Scherzo - presto

4. Allegro moderato

The last page has this note after the final bar: Hotel Fürstenhof, Frankfurt 10th January 1901


LINK:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMZ-oD9OLPk

Couldn't agree more. This period fascinates me as there is so much to still be discovered. Much of it is mediocre at best (something which could be said of any period I guess) however, from time to time you discover something which surprises you.

Yes, I think the 1st mov is the most appealing. I enjoyed the scherzo too but felt it needed to move a tad quicker - kind of dotted crotchet=70   ??

[Ernst Reiter]

Well done for all that hard work!

This is very interesting - I am currently working (from time to time) on a symphony by Ernst Reiter (also dated 1849).

I will give the Adolph Breuer a listen and report back soon.

Thanks. It's vibrant music isn't it - full of a Franco-Italian energy

Luigini (of Italian descent) was born in Lyon. After studying at the Conservatoire in Paris where he won a second prize for violin, Luigini returned to Lyon and from 1872 played as a violinist in the theater orchestra, which he went on to lead, becoming conductor in 1877.

As resident conductor he was also expected to meet the compositional demands of the theatre, leading to a number of ballets, operas and orchestral suites. In 1879 he was appointed professor of harmony and composition at the Conservatory of Lyon.

In 1897 he left Lyon to take up the conductorship of the Opéra-Comique in Paris, and led a busy life until his sudden death there in 1906.

His compositions reflect his stage-orchestra background, being mostly music for ballet and opera. A love of melody and an assured grasp of bright and sparkling orchestration, often put me in mind of Moszkowski.

Ballet russe, Op.23  (1885)

5 movements:

I.   Czardas
II.  Valse lente
III. Scène
IV.  Mazurka
V.   Marche russe

LINK:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhjlgCzKCFc

Well, that was worth waiting for! The strong melodic lines are there and the clear uncomlicated textures hold true. On a first hearing the 3rd mov comes out strongest for me. That scherzo-like hoe down leading effortlessly into a sumptuous middle section. And talking of endings if this ever gets to a concert hall the last few bars of the finale will catch the audience out every time.

Roll on number three!

Gorgeous music from a very talented composer. (Life just isn't fair sometimes!)

More of an Andante - think it needs to keep moving?

The Serenade for Strings was Emánuel Moór's first score for larger forces outside of chamber music. Composed at the age of 18 it shows maturity and promise for the future.

LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU-6YsLptw4

[Rhapsody for Oboe and Strings (date unknown)]

Rhapsody for Oboe and Strings (date unknown)

LINK:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rko2zgasCpM

Willner was born in Turn in Teplitz-Schönau, Bohemia, Austrian Empire. Having trained in Leipzig with Karl Piutti and Carl Reinecke and Munich with Ludwig Thuille and Josef Rheinberger, he secured his first significant academic post at the young age of twenty-three, when he was appointed deputy director of the Stern Conservatory, Berlin.He worked there from 1902 until 1924, teaching courses in composition, score reading, orchestration, harmony, counterpoint, canon and fugue.

He moved to Vienna in 1923, where he taught at the Volkshochschule and Wiener Neues Konservatorium, and edited music for Universal Edition until his emigration.

On 15 March 1938, Willner left Austria for Paris to escape the German Anschluss of Austria; he moved to England later that year. After arriving in England, Willner received an invitation through the Jewish Centre, Woburn House from Arthur Franklin, director of Routledge & Co, to stay at Chartridge House, Buckinghamshire. Willner stayed for two months, during which time he composed the English Concerto for Chamber Orchestra (Op. 98). This work is one of only three English-themed works in his entire known output (the others being the Hereford Suite (Op. 102) and a handful of English songs).

In September 1939, Willner and his wife, moved to Kington, Herefordshire, to stay at the gardener's cottage at Gravel Hill, residence of English composer E. J. Moeran's family. Willner remained here until 1945, when Cecile became fatally ill and, after a short period in Edgbaston Hospital in Birmingham, she was moved to a nursing home in London. Cecile died later that year. Willner developed a heart condition in 1948, which left him bed-bound, until his own death at 68 Upshoot Hill, Cricklewood in 1959.

Willner composed over well over 100 works. Despite his relatively prominent place in the German musical establishment during the first part of the century, most of his works are now completely unknown and many believed lost. They included orchestral music (including six symphonies, a violin concerto Op. 67, two piano concertos and a concerto for string orchestra, Op. 37), chamber music (much of it with piano, but also five string quartets), choral music and songs.

Rhapsody for Oboe and Strings (date unknown)


LINK:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rko2zgasCpM