4/7/2025 - Carl Nielsen: Symphony no. 6 ”Sinfonia Semplice” (1924-25)
Carl Nielsen’s sixth symphony was a pleasure to listen to. I listened to the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra and Michael Schønwandt, which is a really good recording in my opinion. The symphony itself is by far Nielsen‘s best in my opinion, since it’s so different from the other Nielsen symphonies. His orchestration is a bit of a joke in the other symphonies, with them in general being very loud and muddled. But here he manages through the atonality and focus on the more quiet instruments, especially the woodwinds, to control the volume and to not make the symphony feel, muddled together like in many other Nielsen symphonies.
The opening of the symphony is amazing with the glockenspiel, small introduction in the violins, and the preparation for the proper beginning of the symphony by the clarinets. After this, the proper main theme of the movement, which have a distinct cheerful character, a characteristic of Nielsens symphonies and works in general, is introduced.
The 2nd movement is one of the most humorous movements I have ever heard in a symphony. It is apparently supposed to resemble all the instruments waking up in the morning, with the percussion being some form of alarm clock and the other instruments slowly waking from it. I especially like the humorous glissando in the trombone, which really sounds like a yawn. I also really like the melody played by the woodwinds after everyone has woken up.
The 3rd movement is not really anything special in my opinion.
The last movement is spectacular though. In the start of the variation movement the bassoon gets to play the theme all alone, which truly is a rare but appreciated sight. Variation no. 6 is one of the most interesting. It starts with a waltz like theme played by the strings with proper waltz accompaniment. At some point it is completely interrupted by the flutes, which instead of playing 3/8 times like the rest of the orchestra is playing 2/8 time. Not long after, they finish the variation by playing in 4/16 time. The equally hilarious variation no. 7 now features the same waltz like feel but with brass occasionally destroying everything with a weird 4/16 time completely playing over the rest of the orchestra in a hilariously mismatched nature.
The symphony as a whole is quite different from the rest of the Nielsen symphonies. It is quite atonal in nature and is also composed quite late in Nielsen’s life (1924-25), which is perhaps why it sound so weird compared to the other symphonies.
The YouTube channel Richard Atkinson has a great video on the nielsen symphonies, which I highly recommend.
3/7/2025 - Francis Poulenc: Concerto for Organ, Strings and Timpani (1934-38)
Fracis Poulenc’s Organ Concerto (composed between 1934 and 1938) was a very beautiful piece of music. It was both loud at times, especially at the start and at the end, but in between, there were many passages where it was very very nice and quiet. My record was in relatively good condition, so there were not many places during the concert, where I was bothered about the recording quality. The concerto was performed at the church of Saint Étienne du Mont in Paris, and the soloist, as well as the orchestra, was very fantastic, the soloist being Maurice Duruflé.
The harmonies of Poulenc was fantastic and one of my favourite things about him as a composer. While I have mostly listened to his wind music before, it was interesting to listen to his organ music for which he is apparently quite well-known. For good reason if it sounds like the organ concerto.
Maurice Duruflé was among others an influence for Poulenc in the composing of the organ concerto. Other than that, it is apparently the first work Poulenc wrote for organ.
Much for the same reason you can hear clear influences of Bach and Buxtehude. The commission was originally made to Jean Françaix, but he apparently declined, after which Poulenc composed the concerto instead.