Jongen downloads

[thalbergmad]

And also the Piece Symphonique Op.84, another large scale work for piano and orchestra. I have the sudden urge to fire up the old hard drive for a listen.

Huge thanks to JMW for his upload. It is extra special to hear a fellow forum member playing.

Thal

[petershott@btinternet.com]

Indeed, Gareth. The Piano Concerto is from 1943 (Op. 127). and the Harp Concerto from the following year (Op. 129). Haven't heard the latter for a good number of years.

There is also a Concerto a cinq from 1923, scored for Harp, Violin, Viola, Flute & Cello. Without looking it up I can't remember why Jongen called it a 'Concerto'.

[X. Trapnel]

There is a recording of the piano and harp concertos on the Musique en Wallonie label that may still be available. These were recorded in the early 60s and don't sound like studio recordings (sound is adequate).

[semloh]

minacciosa - are your dates in US or UK mode? Is 2/12/95 (orch. Epithalme) the 2nd of December or the 12th of February? 

[minacciosa]

Yes, there is a harp concerto, and it is terrific. There is one recording that I know of, and it's still in print.

[Alan Howe]

I'm going to repeat my contention here that Jongen's VC is an undiscovered masterpiece - powerful, memorable and beautiful. If friends haven't downloaded it yet, may I encourage you to do so...

[minacciosa]

minacciosa - are your dates in US or UK mode? Is 2/12/95 (orch. Epithalme) the 2nd of December or the 12th of February? 

In the U.S.A. manner.

[Alan Howe]

I should have added that the VC is actually written in quite an advanced idiom for its date. I can't think of any VC of the period that is as harmonically adventurous as the Jongen. Works such as the VCs by the Germans Reger and Schillings come later - in any case I can't think of a comparable work from the wider Franck school. Perhaps someone can correct me? If not, it seems to me that Jongen's VC is unique...

[minacciosa]

Alan, you're right that Jongen's VC is likely one the more advanced works issuing from the Franck school at that time. (That both composers were Belgian is a coincidence whose wider implications has yet to be explored.) It also has some rather un-French characteristics, notably in its aggressive rhetoric and the wide range of its coloristic scoring. It seems that Jongen grew almost literally from work to work, with each successive piece showing absorption of some new compositional element. As he progresses one can hear Jongen experimenting with more abrupt modulations and what would have been considered unusual juxtaposition of chords. What I find interesting is that no matter how passionate the music becomes, the writing maintains a strong sense of classicism in its dedication to very clear architecture.

[Alan Howe]

This is a very interesting story, compositionally speaking, isn't it? Jongen's classicism is, I suppose, reflected in the mere fact that he wrote a violin concerto as opposed to any manner of substitutes, e.g. romances, legends, poems, etc. (translated into French, of course!) I'd certainly like to hear more of your thoughts, minacciosa, on Jongen's idiom here.

[minacciosa]

Looking at my Mediafire folders it seems that no one has downloaded Jongen's Epithalme et Scherzo. I encourage all to do so, for it is a beautiful and exciting work completely successful in all aspects.

[Lionel Harrsion]

Looking at my Mediafire folders it seems that no one has downloaded Jongen's Epithalme et Scherzo. I encourage all to do so, for it is beautiful and exciting work completely successful in all aspects.

Mediafire seems to be giving you unreliable "management information" because I can confirm that I downloaded both versions of the Epithalme et Scherzo on 23 August (and I agree about its beauty).

[minacciosa]

Thanks Lionel, I'll check into that. I must admit that I found it quite surprising.

[semloh]

Looking at my Mediafire folders it seems that no one has downloaded Jongen's Epithalme et Scherzo. I encourage all to do so, for it is beautiful and exciting work completely successful in all aspects.

Mediafire seems to be giving you unreliable "management information" because I can confirm that I downloaded both versions of the Epithalme et Scherzo on 23 August (and I agree about its beauty).

Yes, I also downloaded them immediately - and I also agree, they are fine pieces. 

[Amphissa]

The only piece by Joseph Jongen that I had previously heard is his "Suite for Orchestra and Solo Viola" -- a  beautifully elegiac piece. (Available on Centaur CD)

Was Joseph Jongen related to Leon Jongen, another Belgian composer and his contemporary (1884-1969) who wrote in a more modern idiom?