Erdmann, Eduard

[Sydney Grew]

Eduard Erdmann was born at Wenden, Livonia [now Cēsis] of German-speakng parents in 1896.

Erdmann came to critical notice with the sensational success of his First Symphony (dedicated to Alban Berg) in 1920. He very soon became one of Germany's leading composers, and wrote four grand symphonies, (opus 10 1920, opus 13 1924, opus 19 1947 and opus 20 1951). He also gave us a piano concerto (1930 opus 15), a Konzertstück (1946) for piano and orchestra, and two string quartettes (opus 17 from 1937, and a second from 1952).

He was deeply impressed by Schönbergian and Bergian Expressionism but wisely did not adopt the twelve-note method, preferring a freely and often totally chromatic vocabulary with little or no sense of key.

Youtube offers to the general public performances of all the above-mentioned
works with the exception of the second string quartet.

further details

symphony 1 opus 10 1920

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGj2obdZ3gI

symphony 2 opus 13 1924

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w85Cwr0BQ-c

symphony 3 opus 19 1947

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4mVVEICvhs

symphony 4 opus 20 1951

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FskQW0PMYI

piano concerto 1930 opus 15

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2SqkMRUH5w

Konzertstück (1946) for piano and orchestra

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOFMZtJ5WGc

first string quartet opus 17 1937

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0YtOokjaLM

second string quartet 1952

[Serial_Apologist]

Then, once again, how come we've never got to hear of him? - sounds from the description as though his music would be right up my street, as well as quite a few other regular listeners! A case of BBC Radio 3 neglect - just like the French composers I drew attention to a few months back.

[Sydney Grew]

like the French composers I drew attention to a few months back.

Which thread or threads are these in, please?

Erdmann's opus 17 is a difficult work, but very rewarding:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0YtOokjaLM

[LMcD]

The BBC Genome has a few entries relating to Eduard Erdmann as pianist, mainly in the 1930s and sometimes in the London Region only. The most recent entry dates from 2008, the penultimate year covered by the Genome. There are also 3 entries, all in the mid-1930s, for an Edward Erdmann, again as pianist.

[Serial_Apologist]

Which thread or threads are these in, please?

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?8481-Neglected-20th-Century-French-composers&highlight=Neglected+20th+century+French+composers