Rued Langgaard - Piano Music (Peter Froundjian)

Information

Composer: Rued Langgaard

• (01) Blumenvignetten, BVN 56
• (05) Stambogsblad, BVN 38
• (06) Sommerferie i Blekinge, BVN 123
• (08) Gitanjali-Hymner, BVN 149: No. 7, Den hvileløse Vind
• (09) Flammekamrene, BVN 221
• (10) Smaa Sommerminder, BVN 254
• (14) Sonate No. 3 "Minder fra Høstens Tid", BVN 268
• (19) Skyggeliv, BVN 307
• (20) Blomstervignetter, BVN 424

Peter Froundjian, piano

Date: 1995

Label: Dacacord

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Review

Peter Froundjian's 1995 selection from the shoals of Langgaard piano works overlaps with the same company's Johnsson disc (DACOCD 369) in Smaa Sommerminder (only the Engang movement), Blomstervignetter, Flammekamrene and Skyggeliv representing about half an hour of the playing time. Movements from Gitanjali-Hymner are on both discs: Nos 3 and 9 on Johnsson's and 7 on Froundjian's.

Langgaard remains a disconcerting musical sprite. He can write music of shuddering horror and violence (as in Afgrundsmusik) or glistening tenderness (as in Sinfonia Interna and Sfærernesmusik). At the same time he throws himself, heart and soul, into music that might almost be pastiche-Schumann though he leaves no aftertaste of showmanship or mere cleverness.

Blumenvignetten and Blomstervignetten are the floral overture and peroration to Froundjian's recital. In the first the range is from Macdowell (To a Wild Rose) to the lunar poise of Beethoven and Chopin and Stambogslad is in a related regretful mood. Froundjian's glycerine-soft misty arpeggiation is a joy to hear. Schumann is a constant presence as also in the Smaa Sommerminder: charmers every one; lissom and not outstaying their welcome. Schumann also casts a fluent spell over the five movement Piano Sonata No 3. More than once Langgaard rises to major climactic statements crossing the divide into Rachmaninov territory. In the Ved Hotel movement one quiet chord rings sombrely - heavy with meaning. Both in this movement and the fifth Langgaard shows himself the master of the felicitous fall, of great tenderness and a sense of basking in the light recalling Delian Summer Gardens.

If this disc has a weakness it is in its concentration on the feminine side of Langgaard's muse. The variety, contrast and generosity of the Johnsson disc is to be preferred. Johnsson set down his versions on analogue tape but the sound is very good indeed.

-- Rob Barnett, MusicWeb International

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Rued Langgaard (28 July 1893 – 10 July 1952) was a late-Romantic Danish composer and organist. Langgaard composed in a late Romantic style which was at odds with that of his Danish contemporaries and was recognized only 16 years after his death. Influenced by Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss, he was a master of orchestration and a prolific composer for the large orchestra, writing 16 symphonies as well as other orchestral works. His total production of over 400 works included more than 150 songs, works for piano, organ, and an opera entitled Antikrist (The Antichrist).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rued_Langgaard

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Peter Froundjian (born 1948 in Berlin) is a German pianist, founder and director of the renowned Rarities of Piano Music Festival. He was one of the first pianists to record piano works by Ignacy Friedman and Rued Langgaard.

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