Music of the Abyss, originally a piano piece, is presented on this album in an arrangement for the Esbjerg Ensemble by Allan Gravgaard Madsen.
Compositional Technique
In Scherzo on the Motifs C A and 'Ach, du lieber Augustin', the notes C and A are woven into the music to represent the host, Christian Augustinus, appearing in retrograde at the beginning of the main theme.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Langgaard believed that church music should be atmospheric and that the organ represented the poetry within the church.
Composition History
The works Augustinusiana and Scherzo on the Motifs C A and 'Ach du lieber Augustin' were written for private performances at the home of tobacco manufacturer Christian Augustinus, a patron and relative of Langgaard.
Composition History
Humoreske was originally titled 'Symphony' by Langgaard, but he changed it while awaiting a response from the Royal Danish Theatre regarding his opera Antikrist.
Composer Biography
Rued Langgaard, the composer, experienced his greatest success at 19 when the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra performed his Symphony No. 1, receiving high praise.
Compositional Technique
Humoreske features an unusual instrumentation of a wind quintet with an English horn replacing the horn, and includes a military drum with a destructive role.
