Symphony No. 5 in D minor Op. 20
[orch] duration: 30' 3.3.3.2 – 4.3.3.1 – timp.perc – pno – str
„aus einem Guss, organisch und absolut packend“
(Michael Blümke, Rondo)
Description
Kurt Atterberg’s fifth symphony is nicknamed “Sinfonia funebre”. While the composer’s first four symphonies had come easily to him, the creative process of his fifth symphony was accompanied by intense doubts about his own abilities. He himself writes that the “Fifth ‘Funebre’ resembles a kind of lament to my hopes [of] shaping life ‘en gros et en detail’ [in large and small ways].” He goes on to note, however, that his intense study of the subject matter had paid off, and that the work’s “concentration of form and more effective shaping of instrumentation” showed that he was well versed in his craft. The success of the premiere in Berlin proved him right in this respect. Further performances followed in Germany (e. g. under Wilhelm Furtwängler) and in Sweden. At one of these performances, a representative of Breitkopf & Härtel was present, and so it happened that Atterberg had three of his symphonies published there. A whole series of other works was to follow.
MM 2301321
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Description
Description
Kurt Atterberg’s fifth symphony is nicknamed “Sinfonia funebre”. While the composer’s first four symphonies had come easily to him, the creative process of his fifth symphony was accompanied by intense doubts about his own abilities. He himself writes that the “Fifth ‘Funebre’ resembles a kind of lament to my hopes [of] shaping life ‘en gros et en detail’ [in large and small ways].” He goes on to note, however, that his intense study of the subject matter had paid off, and that the work’s “concentration of form and more effective shaping of instrumentation” showed that he was well versed in his craft. The success of the premiere in Berlin proved him right in this respect. Further performances followed in Germany (e. g. under Wilhelm Furtwängler) and in Sweden. At one of these performances, a representative of Breitkopf & Härtel was present, and so it happened that Atterberg had three of his symphonies published there. A whole series of other works was to follow.
Table of contents
| 1. | Pesante Allegro |
| 2. | Lento |
| 3. | Allegro molto – Tempo di Valse |
Discography
Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Frankfurt, cond. Ari Rasilainen
CD cpo 999 565-2