Niels Gade

[Ferretfancy]

At my local Oxfam,I picked up a BIS recording of Gade's 3rd and 4th symphonies with the Stockholm Sinfonietta and Jarvi. The 3rd in particular is an attractive work. I notice that he wrote 8 symphonies, and wonder if others have more experience of them and Gade's other compositions. There's a set going cheap on Amazon, and I'm tempted -- any comments ?

[Suffolkcoastal]

The symphonies are all attractive works, somewhat Mendelssohnian, but with an element of distinct personality that adds a sunny open freshness to the music. If its the BIS set, then I thoroughly recommend it and the set also includes the Violin Concerto, which is an absolute gem of a piece and which I prefer to many better known violin concertos of the period. Gade was friendly with both Mendelssohn & Schumann, and briefly took over from Mendelssohn as conductor of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, after the latter's death.

[Roehre]

I concur with SC, and like to mention one specific work similar to the violin concerto, his piano concerto in all but name, namely the 5th symphony, a Sinfonia concertante for piano and orchestra. IMO its in the same league at least as the Mendelssohn piano concertos (the numbered ones or otherwise).
As far as his stylistic development is concerned, the mendelssohnian orchestral piece Efterklänge af Ossian opus 1 (c.1840) shows where he came from, his string quartet in e (1877) shows subtly his own style.

[Cockney Sparrow]

Note - talking about downloads here. So if you are open to them.....

The eclassical site (run by BIS, I'm certain) has the 8 Symphonies on download, on offer at $20.30 for lossless download. The page doesn't say its a time limited offer, but a banner this week did say the same. OTOH other offers often remain available for a couple of months or so.

http://www.eclassical.com/labels/bis/gade-the-eight-symphonies-1.html

[Ferretfancy]

Thanks for all your favourable comments on the symphonies, the Violin Concerto sounds interesting too. Oh dear! It's so easy to do a one click order! I've decided to invest in the Jarvi, even though I have one of the discs in the set. I know that the Mendelssohn influence is strong, but I'm looking forward to hearing all these works.

Cockney Sparrow, I'm a bit old fashioned and so far haven't decided to download, I like having a solid item in my collection, and the placing of my computer is a bit awkward for a connection to my sound system. If I run out of shelf space I might yet succumb.

[MickyD]

I collected the excellent series of the symphonies recorded by the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and conducted by the late Christopher Hogwood. They were released on Chandos, and I suppose are still available? Very nice performances and recordings.

[Ferretfancy]

Thanks for all your favourable comments on the symphonies, the Violin Concerto sounds interesting too. Oh dear! It's so easy to do a one click order! I've decided to invest in the Jarvi, even though I have one of the discs in the set. I know that the Mendelssohn influence is strong, but I'm looking forward to hearing all these works.

Cockney Sparrow, I'm a bit old fashioned and so far haven't decided to download, I like having a solid item in my collection, and the placing of my computer is a bit awkward for a connection to my sound system. If I run out of shelf space I might yet succumb.

I decided to order the Jarvi set at about 6.30 yesterday evening. At about half past ten I went down to put out our recycling, and found the Amazon package already through the letter box. How's that for speedy delivery ! Not quite as fast as a download, maybe, but very impressive.

[Keraulophone]

Once learnt a clarinet piece by him, but hadn't a clue how to pronounce his name.

Now with the interweb, we can both see it - neelz gah-thuh (last syllable as in the word "the"), and hear it - http://www.pronunciationguide.info/sounds/gade.mp3

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I decided to order the Jarvi set at about 6.30 yesterday evening. At about half past ten I went down to put out our recycling, and found the Amazon package already through the letter box. How's that for speedy delivery ! Not quite as fast as a download, maybe, but very impressive.

Delivered within four hours on a Sunday evening is very impressive! How much extra does this service put on the "P&P" costs, Ff? (Enjoy the discs, too, by the way! )

[BBMmk2]

At my local Oxfam,I picked up a BIS recording of Gade's 3rd and 4th symphonies with the Stockholm Sinfonietta and Jarvi. The 3rd in particular is an attractive work. I notice that he wrote 8 symphonies, and wonder if others have more experience of them and Gade's other compositions. There's a set going cheap on Amazon, and I'm tempted -- any comments ?

Must have a gander with these. Sounds good and heard at the Proms, a few years ago now.