Tonny Landy (tenor)
Danish Songs
Friedrich Gürtler, Kaja Bundegaard (piano)
Ingolf Olsen (guitar)
rec. 1966-69
No Danish texts but English translations
Reviewed as downloaded from press preview
DANACORD DACOCD938 [65]
Danacord have chosen to list these 25 songs only by title, not by composer on the back cover, presumably because they believe that many of the composers will be unknown to non-Scandinavian listeners. I have followed their example but want to point out that there are a couple of important composers hidden here, even though many Danish listeners will recognise the song titles but regard them as folk songs. At least one composer here is one of the great ones: Carl Nielsen. His six symphonies have acquired standard status but have been overshadowed by his contemporaneous Nordic neighbour Sibelius. But while Nielsen in his instrumental works was a relative modernist – more so than Sibelius – his songs were mild and folk song influenced. There are four of them here: Min pige er så lys som rav (tr. 3), Senk kun dit hoved (tr. 6), Den milde dag (tr. 9) and the Holstein setting Sommersang (tr. 11). Readers with an interest in historical recordings may have heard them with the incomparable Aksel Schiǿtz. Tonny Landy is however not far behind his legendary compatriot; he has much of the same stylishness, warmth and elegance.
Another important Nordic symphonist is also represented here, Niels W Gade (1817 – 1890), Nielsen’s immediate predecessor. There are four songs with him too, tracks 16, 17, 22 and 23. They are agreeable but not sensational. On the other hand the arguably greatest Danish song composer, Peter Heise (1830 – 1879), who is practically unknown outside Denmark, is represented here with five songs: tracks 4, 5, 12, 21 and 24. His songs are well worth exploring further.
The great Danish author of fairy tales, Hans Christian Andersen, was also an important poet and he is represented here with three poems, including the folk melody I skovens dybe stille ro (tr. 13), which is one of the best known Danish songs, often sung in the other Nordic countries as well.
The best way of enjoying this disc is probably to play 5 or 6 at a time. There are no texts printed in the booklet, but there are English translations, so you get the gist of the contents. Tonny Landy, who had an uncommonly long career – also internationally – was at the height of his powers in the late sixties and early seventies, when I also had the great fortune to hear him in the flesh. These recordings, for RCA, were made during that period, and he is a safe guide to these melodious gems. On some of the tracks he is accompanied by guitar, which lends a lighter tone to the readings.
I derived a lot of pleasure from the disc, and I am sure others will do so too. Undemanding but agreeable songs, sung with taste and warmth.
Göran Forsling
Contents:
1. Majnat [3:01]
2. Laer mig nattens stjerne [3:12]
3. Min pige er så lys som rav [1:55]
4. Du gav mig den røde rose [1:54]
5. Husker du I høst [2:42]
6. Saenk kun dit hoved, du blomst [2:08]
7. Til en ung moder [2:42]
8. En vårnat [3:44]
9. Den milde dag er lys og lang [1:52]
10. Stille hjerte, sol går ned [2:30]
11. Sommersang [2:24]
12. Når dagen er bortgangen [4:58]
13. I skovens dybe stille ro [1:52]
14. Avsked med sommeren [1:39]
15. Det er hvidt herude [2:47]
16. Birken [2:37]
17. Martsvioler [1:22]
18. Hvor Nilen vander Aegypternes jord [4:17]
19. Moders navn er en himmelsk lyd [3:50]
20. I din ånd jeg en engel tilbeder [1:12]
21. Ingen blomst I verdens lande [1:55]
22. Farvel, lille Grethe [1:53]
23. Prinsesse Gloriant [1:42]
24. Arme hjerte, er du traet [2:13]
25. Min skat [1:28]
Recording detail details
Rec. 1966 (1 – 7), 1968 (8 – 17), 1969 (18 – 25) from RCA LPs
Friedrich Gürtler (piano) (1 – 17), Ingolf Olsen (guitar) (18 - 20, 22 – 23, 25), Kaja Bundegaard (piano) (21, 24)
Published: November 15, 2022
