Scandinavian songs in general don’t seem to have had very much
international response. True, the output of Grieg and Sibelius
is fairly well known. Some Swedish songs have also achieved
an occasional airing through famous singers like Björling, Nilsson,
Gedda and Söderström. That said, I doubt that the treasury of
Danish songs has reached far beyond the specialist collectors.
Aksel Schiøtz recorded a number of Carl Nielsen’s songs some
seventy years ago and they have no doubt reached legendary status
but besides that very little is heard, I’m afraid; so much more
the pity since there is a lot to admire. On this disc Dacapo
present love songs by three important composers, representing
three consecutive periods of the 19th century.
Chronological order of the composers would had been even more
enlightening but as it is we get a fair picture of the best
of Danish song writing from the period before Carl Nielsen.
Heise’s Tannhäuser settings – the lyrics by the highly accomplished
Holger Drachmann – are attractive. I skoven er der så stille
(The forest is so silent), the fifth, is a true gem, serene
and beautiful – just as the title says – but the various songs
from some of Heise’s other collections are even more charming
in their Schumannesque dress. Christian Winther’s Vårsang
I host (Spring Song in Autumn) is fresh but agitated. Til
en veninde (To a lady friend) is lyric and simple. The through-composed
Skønne fru Beatriz (The Lovely Lady Beatriz) is expressive
and Skovensomhed (Forest Solitude) is calm and beautiful,
sung with fine legato.
Weyse, born in Germany but a Danish citizen from the age of
fifteen, is best remembered for his symphonies. He was greatly
admired by Mozart’s widow Constanze, who lived in Copenhagen
for a number of years. Most of the songs represented here are
from various Singspiele and plays. They are quite charming,
simple, mostly strophic songs. Born four years after Beethoven
he was steeped in the Classicism of Haydn and Mozart.
Lange-Müller was probably the most accomplished song-writer
in his time and is highly regarded in Denmark. Most of his creations
are rather melancholy but they are harmonically thrilling and
there are touches of impressionism. Tre sange ved havet (Three
Songs by the Sea) possibly represent Lange-Müller at his best.
They strike an ideal balance between the voice and the expressive
piano accompaniments.
Mathias Hedegaard has a light lyric tenor, very agreeable and
he makes the most of these songs. Occasionally, under pressure,
his tone becomes rather hard and strident, but most of the time
he is well suited to the music and he obviously loves the music.
He is well assisted by Tove Lønskov and the recording is out
of Dacapo’s top drawer. Danish readers probably don’t need any
encouragement to rush to the nearest record store – if there
is one – and buy this issue. This should be an enticing eye
(or rather ear) opener for other readers as well.
Göran Forsling
Full track listing:
Peter Arnold HEISE (1830 – 1879)
Farlige Drømme
from the story Tannhäuser (1878) [9:59]
1. Du laegger dig ned en aftenstund [2:15]
2. Hvor engen har foldet ved mosens bred [1:16]
3. Det blinker med perler [1:03]
4. Så lad sangen i salene bruse [1:03]
5. I skoven er der så stille [2:15]
6. Den blomstrende sommer blev kaedet til høst [2:08]
7. Vårsang i høst (No. 1 in Kaerlighedssange)(1855) [2:51]
8. Til en veninde (No. 1 in Erotiske Digte)(1878) [2:19]
9. Når svanen drømmende (No. 2 in Lauras Sange af Robert
Fultom)(1853) [3:12]
10. Skønne fru Beatriz (No. 7 in Digte fra Middelalderen)(1875)
[3:02]
11. Skovensomhed (No. 4 in Erotiske Digte)(1878) [3:05]
Christoph Ernst Friedrich WEYSE (1774 – 1842)
12. Skøn jomfru, luk dit vindue op (from the singspiel
Sovedrikken)(1809) [2:01]
13. Dubt skoven bruser (from the play Sankt Hansaften-spil)(1803)
[1:34]
14. Mit elskte barn (c. 1829) [2:33]
15. Man siger, hjertet har wj rum (from the singspiel
Et Eventyr i Rosenborg Have) (1827) [3:03]
16. Det var ridder hr. Åge (from the play Axel og Valborg)(c.
1811) [4:40]
17. Der er en ø i livet (from the singspiel Ludlams Hule)
(1816) [3:03]
18. Signelil (1817) [3:28]
Peter Erasmus LANGE-MÜLLER (1850 – 1926)
19. Skin du, du klare solskin (No. 4 in Seks Folkeviser,
Op. 18)(1882) [1:08]
20. Himlen ulmer svagt i flammerødt (No. 1 in ’Når sol
går ned’, Stemninger fra Rusland, Op. 19) (1883) [2:52]
21. Silde den aften (No. 3 in Otte Folkeviser, Op. 34)
(1888) [1:33]
22. Lille røde rønnebaer (No. 3 in Seks Folkeviser, Op.
18)(1882) [0:50]
23. Ved løvfaldstid (No. 2 in Fire Digte, Op. 31)(1886)
[3:34]
24. I Würzburg ringe de klokker (No. 6 in Otte Folkeviser,
Op. 34)(1888) [1:49]
25. Åkande (No. 2 in Tre Digte, Op. 4) (1875) [1:57]
Tre Sange ved Havet, Op. 54 (1896) [7:56]
26. Snart er de lyse naetters tid forbi [2:10]
27. Og da jeg sejled dit hus forbi [2:33]
28. Jeg sejled en nat over havet [3:13]
29. Genboens første vise (No. 1 in Op. 13, songs from
the play I Mester Sebalds Have)(1881) [2:18]
Mathias Hedegaard (tenor), Tove Lønskov (piano) 
