Willem Pijper - Symphony No. 1 "Pan" (1917)

Symphony No. 1 by Willem Pijper. Conducted by Roelof van Driesten with the Roterdam Philharmonic Orchestra.

Willem Pijper was a Dutch composer, music critic and music teacher..

Pijper was born at Zeist, near Utrecht, on 8 September 1894 of strict Calvinist working-class parents. His father, who sometimes played psalm accompaniments on the harmonium, taught him the names of the notes of the treble clef when he was five. Willem subsequently discovered the use of sharps and flats and began composing simple melodies. His fascination with symmetrical musical structures was evident even at this early age. At ten he began formal piano lessons and made rapid progress.

Pijper occasionally gave piano recitals, but his activity as a critic was of greater importance. At the end of the First World War, he became a critic for the Utrechtsch Dagblad, and in that capacity was at least partly responsible for the departure of Jan van Gilse, then chief conductor of the Utrechts Stedelijk Orkest. Pijpers constant vitriolic (and often ad hominem) attacks upon Van Gilse forced the latter to demand the orchestra board to refuse Pijper at concerts; after the board had stalled the issue for some time, Van Gilse resigned in 1921. Pijper has since been criticised for his role in the affair, also because his combined functions of critic and advisor for the Tivoli concert hall at least suggested a conflict of interest

Pijper quickly chose his own path as a composer. The difference in style between his First Symphony ( Pan ) (in which Mahler's influence is evident) and the Second is significant, and between 1918 and 1922 he grew into one of the more advanced composers in Europe. In each successive work he went a step further, starting from his conception that every work of art arises out of a number of "germ cells" (somewhat akin to Igor Stravinsky's early 'cell technique').

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Willem
• Pijper
• Symphony
• No
• 1
• Pan
• 1917

[gaivotaman1]

Very happy to hear this lovely piece of music for the first time in my life. Have been searching for it a long time though! It is beautiful, and even when there is an obvious influence by Mahler (and even Ravel from time to time, who wasn't influenced by these geniuses??) for dutch classical music in particular this symphony is of high importance! The registration is sublime. Thank you very much!

[Phateep]

it sounds like a Mahler symphony

[Dionysosable]

Why Is this Symphony of Pijper never recorded on Cd ?? Nr. 2 and 3 of his 3 Symphonies are available but this symphony is not?? I got it on vinyl, but a little pray to Chandos , hyperion or Naxos please record it !! It is beautiful, although it sounds like a Mahler symphony, but so what it is an important symphony in the 20th Century.