JULIUS RONTGEN: Symphonies Nos. 8 and 15, Variations on a Norwegian Folk Song– NDR Radiophilharmonie/ Carmin Fuggiss, soprano/David Porcelijn – CPO 777 307-2, 69:29 [Distr. by Naxos] ****:
Julius Röntgen (1855-1932) was born a German and started composing at a very young age; his first compositions were published in 1871. In 1877, Julius Röntgen moved to Holland. He accepted a position as a piano teacher in Amsterdam, and became an esteemed conductor and composer. Röntgen was close friends with Johannes Brahms, and it was thanks to Röntgen’s initiative that several concerts introducing Brahms’ works in Holland took place between 1878 and 1885. He also established a close personal and artistic friendship with Edvard Grieg. These influences as well as Rontgen’s own views and experiences of his culture reflect in his music, including the works on this disc.
The Symphony 8, a relative short work, begins quietly, with an oscillating minor second in the strings. This small detail is used to create some superb solo passages for the winds and strings which are a joy to listen to. Rontgen described the two connected movements to this single movement work as “episodes”. They are distinguished in their stylistic allegiance to Brahms and also in the unique orchestration. The first episode uses a piano as well as full orchestra and the second begins with a wordless soprano (here sung clearly and texturally by Ms. Fuggiss). The vocalese in this case is actually a “lokk”, a kind of Norwegian peasant herding song. This is a beautiful little (18’) work that actually sounds more like a tone poem than a symphony. In particular, the woodwinds and upper strings solos are wonderful and dominate the aural landscape.While Rontgen sounds in places like others – Brahms and Grieg to be sure; even as a precedent to Nielsen – his voice is unique and deserves to be more often heard.
The Symphony 15 is a very different piece and pairs nicely on this disc for contrast. This is written in a typical four movement structure, a wholly different approach from the relative free form of the Symphony 8. The first movement, Poco allegro sostenuto, is dominated by a motive created by a descending fifth preceded by the sixth in f# minor (fa-mi-la) and all its permutations. Some fugue like passages occur leading to the second movement, poco allegretto piacevole. Written in three, this contains some lovely wind writing suggesting a pastorale. The third, lento, centers around a beautiful cello solo and the work concludes boldly, andante, animato, allegro vivace, utilizing some restating of the work’s principle theme.
The Variations on a Norwegian Folk Song (based on a melody originally borrowed by Grieg) is a pleasant piece, fancily orchestrated. It is a fairly long work for its genre. At twenty-eight minutes, the source material (the song “The Greatest Folly”) stretches the limits of utility a bit but is an engaging work. Kudos are due to the National Dutch Radio Philharmonic and maestro Porcelijn as well as to CPO for excellent performances, great recording, and for bringing the Julius Rontgen Edition to the market. Rontgen is a fascinating figure, worthy of performing and not just of historical context.
— Daniel Coombs
