Carl Nielsen - Suite op. 45, live

[fnork]

Had my first live performance of this piece yesterday - hope you'll enjoy this very peculiar piece of music as much as I do. Nielsen's output for piano hasn't gotten the recognition it deserves IMO - it's highly individual and original music. This suite is his most large-scale work, with most performances lasting around 20-25 minutes. It was dedicated to Arthur Schnabel, and as many pieces by Nielsen were written with a particular performer in mind (goes for the concertos, wind quintet etc) then we can perhaps assume that he had Schnabel's characteristics as a performer in mind when writing this suite.


It's not a completely flawless performance, and I should've taken a few things somewhat slower - the last movement in particular was maybe too rushed in some places.

https://soundcloud.com/martin-malmgren-1/nielsen-svit-op-45

1. Allegretto un pochettino
2. Poco moderato
3. Molto adagio e patetico
4. Allegretto innocente
5. Allegretto vivo
6. Allegro non troppo ma vigoroso

[fnork]

Score available here: https://imslp.org/wiki/Suite_for_Piano,_Op.45_(Nielsen,_Carl)

[fnork]

nobody likes Nielsen here, huh? I find his piano music highly original and seriously underrated - Leif-Ove Andsnes and Martin Roscoe would certainly agree...

[gvans]

Hi Martin,
I listened to your Nielsen suite--you're quite right, the composition is highly original, evocative, and beautiful. As to the performance, I'd give it an A+. Great articulation and use of dynamics. You have a wonderful touch. This is a virtuoso work, played by a virtuoso.
Glenn

[j_menz]

nobody likes Nielsen here, huh? I find his piano music highly original and seriously underrated - Leif-Ove Andsnes and Martin Roscoe would certainly agree...

I keep forgetting to listen to this - sorry!!  I'm a fan of your Nielsen Chaconne, so really must tie a string round my finger.

[fnork]

Thanks for the comments, glad the music is being appreciated. It takes a while to get accustomed to Nielsen - it just doesn't quite sound like anything else. He seems to have thought very orchestrally for the piano. Wonderful stuff to work on - but takes time to memorize!

[gvans]

He wrote some chamber music, too, and I hear it's excellent. As he was a fine violinist, his sonatas for violin and piano (there are two) are well worth playing. In fact, my violinist is pestering me to work on them. Do you know them? Any preferences?

[fnork]

If you have a violinist willing to work on them, go for it! The 2nd is a fantastic piece, don't know the first as well. But the 2nd is generally considered the masterpiece of the two, as far as I know.

[gvans]

Ah, that's good advice. I'll have to get the music for #2, Opus 35. I found a fine recording on the net:

This is a great piece, evocative and unique, with much drama and beauty. Carl Nielsen is amazing. Denmark should be proud.

Thanks!

[fnork]

Yeah, i remember that being a very decent recording. There's one by Leif-Ove Andsnes and Tetzlaff too, very good playing - I think they recorded it along with the Janacek sonata and the Ravel. Good 20th century violin sonatas!

[j_menz]

String worked. 

Bravo!!!