Denmark’s mourns leading symphonist, 88
mainThe composer Ib Norholm, who died yesterday, stood on a continuum that stretched back through his teacher, Vagn Holmboe, to the national symphonist, Carl Nielsen.
Norholm wrote 13 symphonies, the last in 2013. He also lefr concertos for cello and violin.
I’ll always be grateful to Edward Serov and the KontraPunkt label for their recordings of his symphonies, which I found to be fascinating works. RIP, Ib Nørholm.
Listened to his 4th symphony and – though well played by Odense and Serov – I didn’t really enjoy it.
Any recommendations (prefer large ensemble works but I’m not averse to chamber or solo)?
Second symphony, Isola Bella.
Oh, no… RIP. Lovely man and really fine composer. I got to know him a bit in the late 90’s/early 00’s through his pupil Mogens Christensen. He wrote a piece for my old ensemble Euterpe, and we did a CD of his chamber music. I have very fond memories of him.
True, troubled music….. There is a whole world of 20C music which is as contemporary and modern as the modernist kind, but considered ‘irrelevant’ by brainwashed ‘trend makers’ and historiography because it still is defined by tonal and expressive values, the only values which count in art music.