It's a pity the side-drum player was a bit timid in his cadenza. This sounds so effective when the side-drum plays in opposition to the orchestra, rather than with it. Apart from that, it was a great performance. One of the summits of twentieth-century symphonic writing.
First recording I had of Carl Nielsen's 5th was LSO (I think) under Jascha Horenstein. It appeared on Unicorn, a small UK label in the 1970s. The sound quality was magnificent years ahead of its time - the performance had everything.
Anyone out there remember it? A digital remaster wouldn't go amiss!
@GourouxPete - That 1969 recording is one of the most sought-after, of all of Horenstein's recordings. It was reissued on the Arlecchino label, but I don't see it listed, anywhere. BBC Legends has reissued Horenstein's 1971 recording, and it IS available. The BBC also put together a program about Nielsen ... "Expansiva" ... an hour-long film, from around 1972, and I have it. They used a concert film of Horenstein in the Nielsen 5th, throughout.
@GourouxPete - Also, the 1971 Horenstein performance is available on BBC Legends. The BBC made a film ... Espansiva ... about Nielsen, around 1971 or '72. They used a video of Horenstein/BBC, throughout a MOST-thorough documentary about Nielsen.
Carl Nielsen's compositions are creations of wonder. I feel the light of creation's
splendor come into my spirit. Unfortunately he is little known and his works are seldom played in the U.S. on classical music radio stations. I suspect that few
American symphony orchestras play him or most other Scandinavian composers. What a pity.
Interesting thought, shehryshehry1, but apples and oranges, - you know. Personally, I would not put Avatar in the same class with Lord of the Rings and this gloriously humongous conflict. The last two movements of this symphony seem almost anti-climactic after hearing this one.
1953 was the year I first became acquainted with Carl Nielsen, via an LP of the "Inextinguishable," (on British Victor LHMV) and was hooked for life. Nielsen was truly a GREAT DANE.
I own this DVD, of all the Nielsen symphonies... I think they are my favorite, but these performances are FULL of gross intonation, late entrances, and bad balance between lines. I still haven't found a recording of the 5th that I like, so maybe I am just too attached to what I hear in my head when I read the score. I agree that we need more Nielsen in the concert halls, by far one the most underrated symphonist.
Bernstein's version was better. The side drummer was way more active and more anarchic which raised the stakes of the conflict considerably. And even at the end, in that 'deserted battlefield', there was that looming threat of the drummer rising up again and taking over from the tired clarinet. That was a greater epic than all the Lord of the Rings and Avatar put together.
@shehryshehry1 That is still my favorite recording of that piece. Elden Bailey the snare drummer was awesome especially in his pseudo cadenzas answering the trumpet calls. The clarinetist Stanley Drucker was awesome in both the first and second movements.
@geofa Agreed; but I'm not sure that he's THAT underrated. He's played rather often (though I'd like even more) from what I can tell. EVEN more underrated is Rued Langgaard, who lived bassically in the same time and same place - just as great a composer. Check him out if you dont know him.
I first heard this in Manchester in 1959 - by the Halle Orchestra. I was given the Ticket, went under sufferance, some other work, getting it's first performance in Manchester, some Russian Guy called Shostakovich (his 5th Symphony!!) and braced myself for a disctdant evening.
That night altered my whole listening to Music, as little did I know or understand the significance.
I now believe that night to be The best Concert of my life!
Barbirolli conducting I presume? Sir John was a great interpreter of Nielsen as well as Sibelius. Anyone remember Jascha Horenstein's recordings of Nielsen perchance?
I agree . Bernstein's recording with the NY Philharmonic is still in a class by itself. That recording also must have brought some name recognition to Stanley Drucker, the clarinetist in that recording.
The string parts in the 2nd movement sound like something out of a Metallica song. I'm troubled with Nielsen's way of composing. He doesn't give me the impression of a rational composer who knows exactly what he's doing, at least rhytmically speaking. It's more like he feels his way through (read: has to work harder than other composers) and sometimes comes up with a nice tune, but doesn't create a strong impression that the tunes belong together. The first mov. of this symphony is an exception.
On the opposite end of the spectrum we would probably find someone like Gustav Holst. He knows what he's doing, but doesn't know what he should be doing, and so he just keeps repeating the same phrase. But Gustav Holst had much less talent than Nielsen.
It's a pity the side-drum player was a bit timid in his cadenza. This sounds so effective when the side-drum plays in opposition to the orchestra, rather than with it. Apart from that, it was a great performance. One of the summits of twentieth-century symphonic writing.
SeladorCellardoor 2 weeks ago
Anyone else discover this through Mass Effect 2?
emperor0013 1 year ago 25
@emperor0013 Yes. The Lawson sisters bought me here. Miranda and Oriana have good taste in music. :)
anticliche321 8 months ago 2
@anticliche321 I thought I was the only one. Mass Effect FTW!
MissSandychan 8 months ago 2
@jhb134 Thanks so much for all this info. I wonder if anyone anywhere will re-run, or reissue any if these recordings or film.
GourouxPete 1 year ago
First recording I had of Carl Nielsen's 5th was LSO (I think) under Jascha Horenstein. It appeared on Unicorn, a small UK label in the 1970s. The sound quality was magnificent years ahead of its time - the performance had everything.
Anyone out there remember it? A digital remaster wouldn't go amiss!
GourouxPete 1 year ago
@GourouxPete - That 1969 recording is one of the most sought-after, of all of Horenstein's recordings. It was reissued on the Arlecchino label, but I don't see it listed, anywhere. BBC Legends has reissued Horenstein's 1971 recording, and it IS available. The BBC also put together a program about Nielsen ... "Expansiva" ... an hour-long film, from around 1972, and I have it. They used a concert film of Horenstein in the Nielsen 5th, throughout.
jhb134 1 year ago
@GourouxPete - That performance, on Unicorn, is one of the most sought-after of all of Horenstein's output.
jhb134 1 year ago
@GourouxPete - Also, the 1971 Horenstein performance is available on BBC Legends. The BBC made a film ... Espansiva ... about Nielsen, around 1971 or '72. They used a video of Horenstein/BBC, throughout a MOST-thorough documentary about Nielsen.
jhb134 1 year ago
section brass is perfect
wipatpup 1 year ago
Carl Nielsen's compositions are creations of wonder. I feel the light of creation's
splendor come into my spirit. Unfortunately he is little known and his works are seldom played in the U.S. on classical music radio stations. I suspect that few
American symphony orchestras play him or most other Scandinavian composers. What a pity.
23062001805616 1 year ago
Interesting thought, shehryshehry1, but apples and oranges, - you know. Personally, I would not put Avatar in the same class with Lord of the Rings and this gloriously humongous conflict. The last two movements of this symphony seem almost anti-climactic after hearing this one.
1953 was the year I first became acquainted with Carl Nielsen, via an LP of the "Inextinguishable," (on British Victor LHMV) and was hooked for life. Nielsen was truly a GREAT DANE.
mrotwist 1 year ago
Makes me proud of being a dane. (:
TheGrownUpAdult 1 year ago
I own this DVD, of all the Nielsen symphonies... I think they are my favorite, but these performances are FULL of gross intonation, late entrances, and bad balance between lines. I still haven't found a recording of the 5th that I like, so maybe I am just too attached to what I hear in my head when I read the score. I agree that we need more Nielsen in the concert halls, by far one the most underrated symphonist.
usnhorn 2 years ago 2
@usnhorn
Bernstein's version was better. The side drummer was way more active and more anarchic which raised the stakes of the conflict considerably. And even at the end, in that 'deserted battlefield', there was that looming threat of the drummer rising up again and taking over from the tired clarinet. That was a greater epic than all the Lord of the Rings and Avatar put together.
shehryshehry1 1 year ago
@shehryshehry1 That is still my favorite recording of that piece. Elden Bailey the snare drummer was awesome especially in his pseudo cadenzas answering the trumpet calls. The clarinetist Stanley Drucker was awesome in both the first and second movements.
jpcdad 1 year ago
@usnhorn Have you heard the one by Bernstein and the NYPO?
lewars1912 1 year ago
The mournful clarinet solo at the end, coming after three tidal waves of sound, is the desolation of a single eyewitness to the destruction of war.
brojohannes 2 years ago
this sucks
alanstas 2 years ago
Why do you think it sucks?
mdenero 2 years ago
One of the most unique musical interpretations of a World War I battle!
BigEdLB 2 years ago
@BigEdLB
I don't think this is about a battle in a certain war. It's more elemental than that: Order vs Chaos; Hope vs Despair; Creation vs Destruction.
mdenero 2 years ago 2
Where in the symphony is this excerpt from?
plenomaxx 2 years ago
@plenomaxx
It's the second half of the first movement.
violadude0987 2 years ago
One of the masterworks of the 20th century and the most under rated composer of his time-from a symphony musician of 30 years.
geofa 3 years ago 19
agreed
cornonatural 3 years ago 2
I agree. What a wonderful composer.
DenianArcoleo 2 years ago
@geofa Agreed; but I'm not sure that he's THAT underrated. He's played rather often (though I'd like even more) from what I can tell. EVEN more underrated is Rued Langgaard, who lived bassically in the same time and same place - just as great a composer. Check him out if you dont know him.
alexpjp 10 months ago
I first heard this in Manchester in 1959 - by the Halle Orchestra. I was given the Ticket, went under sufferance, some other work, getting it's first performance in Manchester, some Russian Guy called Shostakovich (his 5th Symphony!!) and braced myself for a disctdant evening.
That night altered my whole listening to Music, as little did I know or understand the significance.
I now believe that night to be The best Concert of my life!
Jollychappy.
jollychappy49 3 years ago 5
Barbirolli conducting I presume? Sir John was a great interpreter of Nielsen as well as Sibelius. Anyone remember Jascha Horenstein's recordings of Nielsen perchance?
GourouxPierre 3 years ago 2
I have the Horenstein 3rd and 6th ......and very odd they are!
flumbtosse3 2 years ago
thanks for this posting, but there is NOTHING like leonard bernstein's interpretation.
waxet4saxet 3 years ago
I agree . Bernstein's recording with the NY Philharmonic is still in a class by itself. That recording also must have brought some name recognition to Stanley Drucker, the clarinetist in that recording.
waverly2468 3 years ago
The percussion in Blomstedt's version is much better. The string passages, however, are just as good at least.
MaxxUS08 3 years ago 3
you should hear the string parts in the second movement, they are totally insane
whatthecello42 4 years ago 4
The string parts in the 2nd movement sound like something out of a Metallica song. I'm troubled with Nielsen's way of composing. He doesn't give me the impression of a rational composer who knows exactly what he's doing, at least rhytmically speaking. It's more like he feels his way through (read: has to work harder than other composers) and sometimes comes up with a nice tune, but doesn't create a strong impression that the tunes belong together. The first mov. of this symphony is an exception.
kristopaivinen 4 years ago
On the opposite end of the spectrum we would probably find someone like Gustav Holst. He knows what he's doing, but doesn't know what he should be doing, and so he just keeps repeating the same phrase. But Gustav Holst had much less talent than Nielsen.
kristopaivinen 4 years ago
Too bad Nielsen's music is not so widely acclaimed in the concert hall's as it should be!
Thank you for the video btw!
Facade19 4 years ago 9
sometimes you discover something new and wonderful..today i did just that when i heard this music for the first time..
mikejones1770 4 years ago 7
What an amazing composition. Great performance
fredrickzinos 4 years ago 5
Great. I love it.
doromamire 4 years ago 2