Hendrik Andriessen - Symphonic Works, Vol. 1 (David Porcelijn)

Information

Composer: Hendrik Andriessen

• Symphony No. 1
• Ballet Suite
• Symphonische Etude
• Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Kuhnau

Netherlands Symphony Orchestra

David Porcelijn, conductor

Date: 2012

Label: CPO

-----------------------------------------------------------

Review

David Porcelijn, the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra and CPO have already put us much in their debt by exploring some hitherto unknown or little-known Dutch composers such as Jan van Gilse and Julius Röntgen. Now they turn their attention to one of the forefathers of Dutch contemporary music Hendrik Andriessen who did much to open up Dutch music by broadening its outlook, particularly towards France. Andriessen, however, always remained true to well-established tradition while not ignoring other aspects of contemporary music, at least that of his time.

 

The First Symphony is his first substantial work for orchestra. It was composed over a fairly long period, having been sketched as far back as the early 1920s. It is a succinct and compact work in three closely linked movements, expertly scored. It may at times remind one of Albert Roussel whose music Andriessen much admired; none the worse for that. Incidentally, Andriessen's music is very often quite concise with no note wasted. The First Symphony is no exception in this respect.

 

The Ballet Suite, which is new to the catalogue if I am not mistaken, was composed shortly after the Second World War. As the title has it, it is an abstract piece written without any plot but providing food for thought for any choreographer willing to consider it. The music is lighter in mood and brightly scored - full of memorable thematic material. It again suggests the admitted kinship with French music that was so important to Andriessen. This is an attractive and most welcome addition to the catalogue.

 

As with so many other composers of his generation, Andriessen toyed with atonal and serial music although he never strictly adhered to it. The Symphonic Etude is one such work in which the composer used a twelve-tone theme freely handled horizontally (melodically) rather than vertically. Although the composer described the piece as a “laboratory work”, there is nothing truly experimental about it. Once again, the work is in four sections played without a break. It is laid-out as yet another compact symphony roughly cast as a theme and variations. One might think of Sibelius' Seventh Symphony that started its life as “Fantasia Sinfonica”. Symphonic Etude is to my mind one of Andriessen's finest achievements.

 

The Kuhnau Variations (or more exactly Variations and Fugue on a theme of Johann Kuhnau) scored for strings is probably Andriessen's most popular work. Undoubtedly it is the one that put his name firmly on the musical map of his time. It has already been repeatedly recorded and I seem to remember a recording of it way back into the LP era. The composer heard one of his daughters practising the Kuhnau tune and this triggered the writing of the piece. Its lay-out is fairly straightforward: theme, five contrasted variations and a concluding double fugue ending with a short recollection of the original theme. The whole is brilliantly written for the strings.

 

I would also mention Leo Samama's detailed and well-informed notes.

 

I enjoyed this excellently played and very well recorded release.

— Hubert Culot

-----------------------------------------------------------

Hendrik Andriessen (17 September 1892 – 12 April 1981) was a Dutch composer and organist. Born in Haarlem, he studied at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and became organist at Utrecht Cathedral in 1934. He taught also composition in Amsterdam and Utrecht and served as director of the Utrecht Conservatory (1937–1949). During World War II, he resisted cooperating with the Nazis and was held hostage in 1942. After the war, he led the Royal Conservatory in The Hague (1949–1957) and taught at the Catholic University in Nijmegen. His compositions include symphonies, masses, chamber music, and organ works.

***

David Porcelijn (born 7 January 1947) is a Dutch composer and conductor. He studied flute, composition, and conducting at the Royal Conservatoire of Music in The Hague. Porcelijn has conducted major orchestras worldwide, including the London Philharmonic and the BBC Symphony. He held leading roles with ensembles such as the Adelaide and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras, and the RTS Symphony Orchestra in Belgrade. A co-founder of Ensemble M, he promoted contemporary music from 1974 to 1978. Porcelijn has recorded extensively and taught conducting in both the Netherlands and Australia.

-----------------------------------------------------------