KNUDÅGE RIISAGER (1897-1974): The Symphonic Edition, Vol. 1 - Symphony No. 1, Op. 8, Overture for Erasmus Montanus, Op. 1, Klod Hans, Op. 18, Carnival, Op. 20, Comoedie, Op. 21.

Description: Riisager's post 1921 music, of which everything here but his Erasmus Montanus, is an example, after a study period in Paris with Rousell and Paul Le Flem, became "French", more in their ignoring or tweaking of time-honored sonata-form and expectations of tonal modulation, than in, say, orchestration per se. The four shorter pieces, all between nine and ten minutes in length, were originally seen by the composer as constituting a series of Danish Pictures, a title which he later withdrew. Carnival (1930) is practically a mini-Concerto for Orchestra while the middle two (1929 and 1930) are rather like the English genre of the "Comedy Overture", full of fun, wit and sparkling use of the entire orchestra. Likewise in the three-movement, 25-minute symphony of 1925 whose sections are closely connected by themes which, however, are presented and worked-out in a very non-Germanic style. Fresh, bright, ebullient, its simplification of texture and structure looks toward Les Six. Aarhus Symphony Orchestra; Bo Holten.