Wilhelm Stenhammar - Symphony No.2 in G-minor, Op.34 (1915)

Wilhelm Stenhammar
Work: Symphony No.2 in G-minor (1915)
Mov.I: Allegro energico
Mov.II: Andante
Mov.III: Scherzo: Allegro, ma non troppo presto
Mov.IV: Finale: Sostenuto - Allegro vivace - Tranquillamente - Allegro ma non troppo
Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic
Conductor: Vassily Sinaisky

[@gerardbegni2806]

This symphony is a masterwork. It isperfectly balanced, well orchestrated, very expressive.

[@abrahamlinc3412]

Perfectly balanced, as all things should be.

[@gerardbegni2806]

Died at 56, Stenhammar was a Swedish pianist, conductor and composer. At his beginning in Germany, he was greatly influenced by Wagner and Bruckner, but found a new way when he discovered Nielsen and the 2nd symphony of Sibelius. He rejected then his first symphony, considered as too brucknerian and wrote a powerful music of his own. As a result, the present symphony is the only one completed and acknowledged by the composer.This symphony is clear but full of intense and tragic beauty. Stenhammar wrote this symphony in 1915. He avoided any influence of his prominent contempories: no trace of Debussy, Ravel, Stravinski. The tonal language is very clear and even classical. No "blurring" effect. There is even the major cadenza in the first minor movement ! All in all, the language is personal but quite conservative. The present symphony can be considered as the highlight of the sweedish symphonic art. It is clear, very interesting, powerful, perfectly constructed and balanced, the orchestration is magistral.The orchestra is normal: winds by two, no basstuba. Stenhammar wrote also quality choral and chamber music. In short, it is not only the masterpiece of the swedish orchestral music, but a masterpiece of postromantic music. Thx for posting.

[@ruramikael]

Many excellent symphonies in Sweden during that period!

[@LiZmichelea]

No, thank *you* for taking the time to write this comment and teaching us something. This is most gracious.

[@hectorbarrionuevo6034]

I've discovered a great many symphonies by late 19th-C or early 20th-C. composers: along with Stenhammar, I'd mention Atterberg, Lars-Erik Larson, Wiren, Alfven, Skold, Fernstrom, and Hanson (born in U.S.A. to Swedish parents). All these composers wrote substantial, profound orchestral works, while continuing to develop tonality in ways that admitted triads and consonance. Also, many of these symphonies, I think, were influential -not only to Scandinavian composers of concert music who followed- but probably to many film composers of the 20th century.

[@dennisbirchall6152]

This is one of the finest symphonies of the early 20th century highly original!

[@robertberger4203]

I still like the his first symphony very much even if he more or less rejected it . It's still very much worth hearing .

[@geoffreyjohnston6483]

Another mystery work, I'd heard this before, in less desirable circumstances. It was used to numb the minds of passengers on a Northwest Orient flight that stopped in Hawaii, Clark AFB, P.I., Ton Son Not, RVN, finalling in Bangkok. Ioved the music, other selections were played, and helped me sleep a better part of this incarceration. I remember this in particular due its wild mood swings and near combative themes.Thank you for another radius added to my horizon.

[@LiZmichelea]

This is my all time favorite symphony.

[@jboushka]

The 16-minute fugal finale is something else -- close to the finale of the Bruckner #5 or even Beethove Grosse Fugue.

[@wademanix8801]

Amen!

[@charlynelamy4651]

C'est magnifique, très original avec les variations de rythme et de style "sombres" et "gaies". Merci.

[@Glinkaism1]

+Charlyne Lamy Indeed and forsooth.

[@giannidellea]

0:00 Mov.I: Allegro energico 12:26 Mov.II: Andante 22:50 Mov.III: Scherzo: Allegro, ma non troppo presto 30:40 Mov.IV: Finale: Sostenuto - Allegro vivace - Tranquillamente - Allegro ma non troppo

[@bowerdw]

A steady work that I enjoyed listening to.

[@cycloptical26]

What an opening!

[@ClassicalRaritiesChannel]

22:50-23:32 is sooo catchy. Top quality scherzo music!

[@ericmoninpianocomposer5454]

Wonderful symphony! Thanks for sharing!

[@atsushi2101]

i am very looking forward to be at live concert in Tokyo Blomstedt and NHK so playing this symphony！

[@Glinkaism1]

Rather sprightly dance-like and charming.

[@martahochman8825]

Really good.

[@TheOboeCrack]

36:11 lovely part

[@user-deevt]

Kestu iek kanerum plēnium somāt. Em amwō mahilent.

[@TheOboeCrack]

what language is this?

[@marsaeolus9248]

@@TheOboeCrack It's incredible. I did some research, it looks like Marshallese, which has only 50'000 native speakers!!! It's from an archipelago in the middle of the pacific. Update: It's not Marshallese, GPT4 doesn't know what it is either. This remains a mystery! There's something eerie about it, I don't know...

[@johncourneil7826]

Sinaisky's is pretty good, but nothing comes close to Westerberg's, not even Blomstedt with the Gothenburg S.O.. The Stockholm Phil ''gets it'' quite a bit more than any other, IMHO, in terms of atmosphere and feeling.

[@TheVaughan5]

Totally agree - Westerberg is outstanding, by far the best recording!

[@ruramikael]

@@TheVaughan5 This one is great too!

[@user-ep6so2wp5c]

Vcソロより始まり、ob,flへ。vla等が繋がる

[@12corners]

Oh this guy knows what he's doing. Nothing experimental here. (in contrast to all the symphonies by G. Mahler!)

[@misterb5073]

Keith Gifford so you are saying Mahler didn’t know what he was doing?

[@wademanix8801]

When you say something positive that seems insightful and then follow it with a negative ignorant opinion it negates the first thing.

[@robertberger4203]

The Nielsen symphonies, particularly 4,5 and 6 are really experimental symphonies !

[@andrewpetersen5272]

Are you a putz?

[@1dblackpete]

No sound