Halvorsen, Nielsen & Svendson: Music for Violin & Orchestra

Featuring

Bjarte Engeset
Henning Kraggerud
Malmö SymfoniOrkester
Johan Halvorsen
Carl August Nielsen
Johan Svendsen

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Composition History

Johan Svendsen, a Norwegian composer, wrote his Romance for violin in just two days, sketching the expressive and melodic piece when a student failed to show up for a lesson.

Composer Biography

Carl Nielsen, a Danish composer, began composing his Violin Concerto in Edvard Grieg's composer's hut at Troldhaugen, which was made available by Grieg's widow, Nina.

Compositional Technique

Carl Nielsen's Violin Concerto features a pastoral character, achieved through folk-style dance rhythms, modal scales, and solo violin and wind motifs reminiscent of bird chirping.

Composition History

Johan Halvorsen's Violin Concerto was considered lost until its score and parts were rediscovered in 2015 in the archive of its original soloist, Kathleen Parlow, a Canadian violinist.

Composer Biography

Johan Halvorsen, a Norwegian composer, conductor, and violinist, directed Norway's largest professional symphony orchestra for 20 years, which numbered 43 musicians.

Compositional Technique

Halvorsen's Violin Concerto incorporates elements of Norwegian folk music, including the augmented fourth in a motto-motif and bouncy dance rhythms inspired by the halling, a Norwegian folk dance.

Performer Biography

Henning Kraggerud, the violinist on this recording, is also a composer, premiering his own work Equinox: 24 Postludes in All Keys for Violin and String Orchestra in 2014.