Classical Editor: Rob Barnett
 

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JACOB AXEL JOSEPHSON
(1818-1880)
1. Festive March (1850) 6.05
2. Symphony (1846-47) 38.25
3. Songs:-
Serenad 2.26
Tro ej gladjen (1842) 1.23
Sjung, sjung, underbara sang (1857) 0.57
Stjernklang (1842) 2.45
4. Islossningen for bar, ten, male voices andorchetsra (1844-51) 8.52
1. and 2.: Kungliga Akademiska kapellet/Per Ake Andersson 3-8 March 1998 Uppsala University
3 (songs 1-3 Elisabeth Soderstrom/Jan Eyron; song 4 AErik Saeden/Stig Westerberg) rec 1964; May 1957 Stockholm;
4. Rolf Leanderson (bar) ChristerSolen (ten) Orphei Drangar Gavle Radio Orch/Eric Ericson rec 25 Apr 1964 Uppsala University
STERLING CDS-1003-2 [61.39]

 

As I read through the list of items and sources for the tracks on this disc I could almost see Bo Hyttner sifting through the record catalogues and making the phone calls to assemble this disc. However I would not want to give the impression that most of this disc is not newly recorded. The first five tracks are recent (1998); not that any of the recording quality on the other tracks is poor.

The first item is a bluff little march full of pomp and pride (and slightly vacuous) recalling one of Wagner's rare concert marches.

The symphony is Josephson's only work in this genre. It is a work reflective of the early romantic tradition: in keeping with Schumann's Spring Symphony and Mendelssohn. Handicapped a little by a lack of distinction in the themes it is nevertheless a work of sunny inclination.

The first three songs listed above are taken by no less than Elisabeth Söderström and Jan Eyron. Erik Saeden and Stig Westerberg take the last song which might easily be seen as ancestors of the straightforward folkish settings of Carl Nielsen and, further back in time, Brahms' own settings of German folk songs. Both singer and accompanists are masterly.

Islossningen is of the tradition of male voice brotherhood singing - solid and bouncy - closer to 'good company in the alehouse' than to straight-laced concert halls.

The orchestral playing is very decent but with the occasional creak or lack of fluency e.g. in the first movement of the symphony.

There is much unassuming pleasure to be had here. Would that issues like this would pour out so profusely from Lyrita.

Again thanks to Sterling and the Swedish National Council for Cultural Affairs for making this possible.

Reviewer

Rob Barnett



Reviewer

Rob Barnett


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