Commotio (Nielsen)

Last updated

Carl Nielsen's Commotio or Commotio for Organ, Opus 58, was composed between June 1930 and February 1931. The composer's last major work, it was first performed privately on 24 April 1931 in the chapel at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen.

Contents

Background

Commotio was considered by Nielsen to be a particularly important work. In a letter to his son-in-law Emil Telmányi on 24 February 1931 he wrote: "None of my other works has demanded such great concentration as this: an attempt to reconstitute what is truly the only valid organ style, the polyphonic music that is especially suited to this instrument, which for a long time has been regarded as a kind of orchestra, which it absolutely is not." Nielsen also commented on the length of the piece: at 22 to 24 minutes, it was longer than any of Bach's organ works. [1]

There was great interest in the piece by Danish organists, resulting in several private performances. In addition to that at the Christiansborg Palace Chapel, there were two performances by Peter Thomsen, two by Finn Viderø on 14 June on the Marcussen organ in St Nikolai's Church, Copenhagen, one a week later by Emilius Bangert in Roskilde Cathedral and yet one more by Peter Thomsen in July. [1]

Reception

The first public performance was in Aarhus Cathedral on 14 August 1931 where the organist was Emilius Bangert. Despite poor health due to heart problems, Nielsen was present. There do not appear to be any reviews of this performance. [1]

After news of the new organ work reached Germany, Erwin Zillinger, an organist from Schleswig, asked Bangert and Nielsen whether Commotio could be played at the Nordic-German Organ Week to be held in Lübeck that October. Nielsen had hoped to be present but weakness resulting from poor health prevented him from travelling. Bangert, who had been selected as the organist, travelled alone to Lübeck where, a day or two later, he heard of Nielsen's death. The concert therefore suddenly became a valedictory performance.

The review by Svend-Ove Møller in Dansk Kirkemusiker-Tidende conveyed the emotional experience: “Mixed with the melancholy feelings that fill us on the death of Nielsen, is gratitude that it was granted him to complete this work, which we may designate without exaggeration as the most significant production in recent organ literature. Nielsen understood as few others did how to deploy the resources of his time such that they do not appear modern in the negative sense. His mode of expression, peculiar and distinctive as it may be, feels quite natural; not for an instant does one get the impression that he sought out new paths simply to get away from the well known roads; the affectation which so often characterizes modern music is not to be found in Carl Nielsen; his thoroughly wholesome musical idiom and his ability to create living music has produced here an organ work of enduring value. Emilius Bangert gave Nielsen’s work a masterly performance..." [1]

Music

In connection with the Lübeck performance, Nielsen was invited to provide programme notes. First explaining in a footnote that Commotio meant "Movement, also spiritual", he continued (translated from Nielsen's German): "The Latin word Commotio really applies to all music, but the word is used more specifically here as an expression of self-objectification. In a major work for the mighty instrument that is called the organ, whose sound is determined by the natural element we call air, the composer must attempt to suppress all personal, lyrical feelings. The expression becomes great and rigorous and demands a kind of dryness instead of the emotional, and must rather be gazed at with the ear than embraced by the heart. The work is borne up by two fugues, to which an introduction, intervening movements and coda cling like climbing plants to the tree-trunks of the forest; however, the composer thinks that further analysis is superfluous." [1]

Discography

The table below lists commercially available recordings of Commotio:

No.OrganistTimeRec. [a] Recording venueLabelRef.
1 Finn Viderø 21:121960 Battell Chapel Danacord
[2]
2 Elisabeth Westenholz 21:001979 Grundtvig's Church BIS
[3]
3 Ulrik Spang-Hanssen  [ cs ]22:421987 Church of Our Lady, Assens Paula
[4]
4Paul Trepte?1992 Ely Cathedral Heritage
[5]
5 Christopher Herrick 20:471993 Turku Cathedral Hyperion
[6]
6 Kevin Bowyer 21:071996 Odense Cathedral Nimbus
[7]
7 Knud Vad  [ da ]25:131996 Sorø Abbey Church Danacord
[8]
8 Grethe Krogh 23:50? Holmens Kirke Danacord
[9]
9 David Goode 21:171998 Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford Herald
10 Friedhelm Flamme 20:152008 Stiftskirche, Bad Gandersheim  [ de ] cpo
11Philip Schmidt-Madsen23:442012 Christiansborg Slotskirke Naxos
12Keith John22:20?2012 Gloucester Cathedral Willowhayne
13Anders Eidsten Dahl23:05? Bragernes Church LAWO
14Søren Johannsen21:442015 Christian's Church, Copenhagen Naxos
15 Bine Katrine Bryndorf  [ nl ]23:272016 Nikolaj Kunsthal Dacapo
16Inge Bønnerup22:53? Vartov Church  [ da ]CDKlassisk
17Kevin Duggan25:132019 Dunblane Cathedral Odradek
18Egor Kolesov21:00??Base2 Music
19James Hicks???Pro Organo
20Marko Kupari??? Pilfink  [ fi ]

Orchestrations

Two orchestral versions of Commotio were made in recent years, by Bo Holten, who conducted the Odense Symphony Orchestra himself in 2007, [22] as well as Hans Abrahamsen, [23] whose version was performed by conductor Fabio Luisi and the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra in 2016.

Notes

  1. Refers to the year in which the performers recorded the work; this may not be the same as the year in which the recording was first released to the general public.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Nielsen</span> Danish composer (1865–1931)

Carl August Nielsen was a Danish composer, conductor, and violinist, widely recognized as his country's most prominent composer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music of Denmark</span>

The earliest traces of Danish music go back to the many twisting Bronze-Age horns or lurs which some experts have identified as musical instruments. They have been discovered in various parts of Scandinavia, mostly Denmark, since the end of the 18th century. Denmark's most famous classical composer is Carl Nielsen, especially remembered for his six symphonies, while the Royal Danish Ballet specializes in the work of Danish choreographer August Bournonville. Danes have distinguished themselves as jazz musicians, and the Copenhagen Jazz Festival has acquired an international reputation. The modern pop and rock scene has produced a few names of note, including MØ, Dizzy Mizz Lizzy, Lukas Graham, D-A-D, Tina Dico, Aqua, The Raveonettes, Michael Learns to Rock, Volbeat, Alphabeat, Safri Duo, Medina, Oh Land, Kashmir, King Diamond, Outlandish, and Mew. Lars Ulrich is the first Danish musician to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niels Gade</span> Danish composer, conductor, and music teacher (1817–1890)

Niels Wilhelm Gade was a Danish composer, conductor, violinist, organist and teacher. Together with Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann, he was the leading Danish musician of his day, in the period known as the Danish Golden Age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rued Langgaard</span> Danish composer (1893–1952)

Rued Langgaard was a late-Romantic Danish composer and organist. His then-unconventional music was at odds with that of his Danish contemporaries but was recognized 16 years after his death.

Symphony No. 4, Op. 29, FS 76, also known as "The Inextinguishable", was completed by Danish composer Carl Nielsen in 1916. Composed against the backdrop of World War I, this symphony is among the most dramatic that Nielsen wrote, featuring a "battle" between two sets of timpani.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otto Malling</span> Danish composer

Otto Valdemar Malling was a Danish composer, from 1900 the cathedral organist in Copenhagen and from 1889 professor, then from 1899 Director of the Royal Danish Academy of Music, Copenhagen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Symphony No. 3 (Nielsen)</span> Symphony by the Danish composer Carl Nielsen

The Danish composer Carl Nielsen wrote his Symphony No. 3 "Sinfonia Espansiva", Op. 27, FS 60, between 1910 and 1911. Around 35 minutes in length, it is unique in his symphonic output for having vocal parts, specifically wordless solos for soprano and baritone in the second movement.

Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op. 7, FS 16, is the first symphony of Danish composer Carl Nielsen. Written between 1891 and 1892, it was dedicated to his wife, Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen. The work's première, on 14 March 1894, was performed by Johan Svendsen conducting the Chapel Royal Orchestra, with Nielsen himself among the second violins. It is one of two symphonies by Nielsen without a subtitle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann</span> Danish composer (1805–1900)

Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann was, together with his son-in-law Niels W. Gade, the leading Danish composer of the 19th century, a period known as the Danish Golden Age. According to Alfred Einstein, he was "the real founder of the Romantic movement in Denmark and even in all Scandinavia". J.P.E. Hartmann was the third generation of composers in the Danish musical Hartmann family.

Franz Adolf Syberg was a Danish composer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mogens Wöldike</span> Danish conductor and choirmaster

Mogens Wöldike was a Danish conductor, choirmaster, organist, and scholar known for his interpretation of music from the Baroque and Classical periods, was born and died in Copenhagen. His son-in-law was the Haydn scholar Jens Peter Larsen. He studied under Carl Nielsen and Thomas Laub and graduated from Copenhagen University in 1920. He was organist at the Marine church in 1924 and the Christiansborg Palace Church from 1931; from 1959 to 1972 he was organist at Copenhagen Cathedral.

<i>Helios Overture</i>

Carl Nielsen's Helios Overture, Opus 17, is a concert overture which was first performed by the Royal Danish Orchestra, conducted by Johan Svendsen, on 8 October 1903 in the large hall of the Odd Fellows Mansion in Copenhagen.

Emilius Bangert was a Danish composer, organist, and professor. He played the organ at Roskilde Cathedral and also composed orchestral and chamber music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johann Hartmann</span> Danish composer

Johann Ernst Hartmann was a Danish classical composer and violinist. He is remembered in particular for his two operas on texts by Johannes Ewald in which he helped creating a national musical style. The first of these, Balders død, builds on the old Nordic mythology and uses dark colours when depicting the old Gods and Valkyries. The second, Fiskerne, describes contemporary fishermen’s lives, and uses melodies inspired by the Scandinavian folk style.

Jakob Lorentzen is a Danish organ soloist and chamber musician. He is organist and choir master of the Holmen Church and Master of the music at Christiansborg Palace Chapel, both principal churches in the Copenhagen city.

Carl Nielsen's Chaconne, Op. 32, is among the composer's most frequently played compositions for piano.

Pan and Syrinx, Op. 49, is a symphonic poem for orchestra written in 1918 by the Danish composer Carl Nielsen. The piece received its premiere in Copenhagen on 11 February 1918.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Musikforeningen</span>

Musikforeningen in Copenhagen was Denmark's most important concert venue in the 19th century. It operated from 1838 to 1931 but it was especially under the leadership of Niels Gade (1850–90) that it became a meeting place for the city's music life with its own symphony orchestra and choir. Carl Nielsen was director from 1915–27. Other leaders included Franz Gläser, Emil Hartmann and Franz Neruda.

Events from the year 1883 in Denmark.

References