A symphony for Prince Philip
NewsBarely had we reported the rapid response of Paul Hindemith to the death of King George V than a Finnish composer rushed to put notes on paper.
Leif Segerstam has dedicated his latest symphony to the memory of Prince Philip, ‘saluting a royal soul’.
It’s for large orchestra and lasts 14 minutes.
This is Segerstam’s 344th symphony.
Maybe he was inspired by the socially spaced Elgar, Parry and Britten?
Maybe Segerstam has conducted a performance with Prince Philip in the audience, or something. (That is: the two might have actually met each other at some point…)
In the sauna to discuss Rautavaara.
Leif Segerstam is a magnificent conductor; I know nothing about his symphony.
Well, there’s not only one.
I daren’t listen to it in case I like it; I’d then have to order the complete symphonies on Brilliant Classics – a snip at £700.00 – and when it gets delivered to my doorstep (following social distancing regulations) I’d get a hernia trying to lift it into my house.
Let’s face it – he probably achieved the Olympic gold for symphonic production years ago, making Havergal Brian and Miaskovsky non-starters and Hovhaness a mere parvenu. I guess Molter gets silver and Haydn bronze.
Isn’t it time to Segerstam to declare and then enjoy a fruitful retirement – or start on piano concertos or string quartets?
Actually, he has 30 string quartets and a dozen of piano concertos already (as well as a number of other concertos).
Leif Segerstam still needs to record Wagner’s complete Ring before he follows Prince Philip!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StgjI8znxCY
Wagner only wrote one Ring Cycle. I bet Segerstam has written ar least twelve complete cycles by now!
What most people don’t know is that Segerstam never writes his own symphonies – he would not have the time for it. They are produced by a non-stop working angry algorhythmic computer program, as can clearly be heard:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRQNMIpytSA
The scores are sent directly to his publisher where a special department of employees work day & night to produce the separate orchestral parts to keep-up with the production. There is a special building in the woods to store the ever-growing pile of scores and parts, waiting for the musical world to be overflown by a new repertoire which will replace all those outdated, naive symphonies of old.
The Philip symphony has been inspired by the algorhythm’s anti-monarchist convictions, since in 2008 the prince had made some sneering remarks about type-set scores which he found sterile and impersonal.
That’s good. I like his even numbered symphonies.
Has anyone looked at the score? Would be interested to know what people think!
There is a story that Queen Elisabeth had a look at the score and felt rather offended by a chord on page 34.
I know what I think…!
His Sibelius is magnificent.
. . . Yes, but his own compositions are an entirely different matter. Let’s just say they’re not for the faint of heart.
Looks more like Santa Claus than Santa Claus. And can conduct, too!
What most people don’t know is that Mr Segerstam IS Santa, it’s his every winter freelance job, to keep scandinavian depression at bay. The carriage is provided by NASA.
A copyist’s dream!
Any other news from the asylum?
Yes: it’s becoming even more crowded than before. In Schoenberg’s time it was only him, but it’s infectious.
He’s Royal-washing his output.
He’s also a violinist!!!
Not talking quality, but Segerstam makes Myaskovsky look meager in his output.
He must really have put a lot of thought in to all 344 symphonies.