Sinding's compositions were well-suited for private concerts in upper-class homes, creating a market for his piano pieces and songs, which his publishers encouraged him to produce more of.
Composer Biography
Late in his career, Sinding, at almost seventy, debuted as a cabaret composer with the song 'Kokain,' revealing his rebellious attitude and willingness to experiment with new forms.
Cultural Impact
Sinding's most famous work, Frühlingsrauschen (The Rustle of Spring), was widely published and performed, but due to the absence of copyright laws, he made little from its success.
Compositional Technique
Despite composing in a late-romantic style, Sinding experimented with forms, as seen in his Sonate im alten Stil, Op. 99, which includes an innovative fourth movement with main and middle parts in 5/4 and 7/4 time signatures, respectively.
Performer Biography
Henning Kraggerud, the Norwegian violinist on this recording, is a professor at the Barratt Due Institute of Music in Oslo and has received prestigious awards including Norway's Grieg Prize, the Ole Bull Prize, and the Sibelius Prize.
Composer Biography
Christian Sinding, a Norwegian composer, was one of the very few composers of his time who subsisted purely from writing music, as his careers as a performer and conductor did not succeed.
Historical Context
Sinding's reputation was unfairly tarnished by claims that he collaborated with occupying German forces during World War II, when in reality, he was suffering from senile dementia and registered as a member of the German National Socialist Party without his conscious assent.
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