Emil Reesen composed Grønlandsk Folketone (Greenlandic Folk Music) for a memorial concert in 1934, honoring Knud Rasmussen, a pioneer in the discovery of Greenland and Eskimo culture, who died after contracting food poisoning.
Composer Biography
Emil Reesen's piano teacher, Siegfried Langgaard, was a former pupil of Franz Liszt, a renowned Hungarian composer and virtuoso pianist.
Compositional Technique
Emil Reesen's 'Danish Rhapsody' Himmerland, named after a region in North Jutland, uses light orchestral textures for local fiddler tunes, similar to the style of H.C. Lumbye, a Danish composer.
Composition History
Emil Reesen's Fantasy on South Jutland Melodies is a subtly political work, using Danish melodies to assert Danish identity against the backdrop of a troubled history with Germany in the border region.
Composer Biography
Emil Reesen, the composer, conductor, and arranger featured on this album, made his concert debut as a pianist in 1911.
Composition History
The operetta Farinelli, by Emil Reesen, was written for the great Danish tenor Aksel Schiøtz, as castrati were in short supply by the 1940s.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Emil Reesen's music often borrowed material, such as native and foreign melodies, and showcased his talent for orchestration.
