Henk Badings - Symphonies Nos. 2, 7 & 12 (David Porcelijn)

Information

Composer: Henk Badings

• Symphony No. 2
• Symphony No. 7 "Louisville-Symphony"
• Symphony No. 12 "Symphonische Klangfiguren"

Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra

David Porcelijn, conductor

Date: 2007

Label: CPO

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Review

On evidence here, Henk Badings (1907-87) was a composer of considerable substance. His Second Symphony, in three movements, has the feel of Honegger/Hindemith in its purposeful seriousness and compact form. The frequent use of march-rhythms points to the music’s inter-War-period origins and highlights the work’s affinity with pieces such as Honegger’s Third Symphony, Vaughan Williams’ Fourth, and Walton’s First. The Seventh Symphony, commissioned by Robert Whitney and his Louisville orchestra in 1954, is a flat-out masterpiece. Here the French influence is even stronger, particularly in the theme for muted trumpet in the first movement. Markedly less grim than the Second Symphony, the music manages to be tonal but also remarkably fresh in its harmonic language, and its four short movements are gorgeously scored.

The Twelfth Symphony, in one movement, incorporates aleatoric (that is, “chance”) elements, but as in Lutoslawski it does so within a finely judged structure containing ideas of striking color and, yes, melodic beauty. I certainly hope that this disc is the first in a complete cycle, for Badings is a composer whose music really deserves to be revived. David Porcelijn leads remarkably confident performances of this challenging music, and the orchestra, aside from some understandably stressed moments in the trumpets, responds with vigor and sensitivity. CPO’s sonics, typically, are rich and solid. If you want to hear some really good contemporary orchestral music, treat yourself to these three symphonies without delay. [12/21/2007]

— David Hurwitz

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Henk Badings (17 January 1907 – 26 June 1987) was a Dutch composer born in Bandung, Java, Dutch East Indies. Initially trained as a mining engineer and palaeontologist, he turned to music full-time in 1937. He held several academic positions, including director of the Royal Conservatory at The Hague during World War II. A prolific composer, Badings created over a thousand works, including fifteen symphonies, four string quartets, and numerous other orchestral and chamber pieces. His legacy has seen renewed interest in the 21st century, with recordings by the German label CPO and a dedicated festival in Rotterdam in 2007.

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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.

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