Valen's original, bold polyphonic technique, combined with his sensitivity to tone, colour, balance, and form, creates a rich atmosphere ranging from tender expression to black humour and harsh outbursts.
Performer Biography
Robert Riefling, the pianist on this recording, made his debut with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra at age 12 and later toured the United States four times, performing with famous conductors.
Critical Reception
Valen's music initially received a cool reception from some critics in the 1920s and '30s, but it became a natural entry point into newer music for many younger musicians and a growing public.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Valen never hid his debt to earlier composers, feeling that Bach's mastery of counterpoint expressed a passion he himself sought with contemporary means.
Composer Biography
Fartein Valen (1887-1952) was the modest and introverted son of a missionary, who profoundly influenced a generation of Norwegian composers.
Cultural Impact
After World War II, Valen's music gained wider international recognition through performances at ISCM festivals and the founding of the Fartein Valen Society in Oslo in 1949.
Historical Context
In 1935, the Norwegian state granted Valen a guaranteed annual income for artists, which allowed him to become financially independent and settle at his family home in Valevig.
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