If you like the music of Carl Nielsen, Sibelius and Debussy then
you’re in for a real treat with this disk. Born in Copenhagen,
Gram studied at the Leipzig Conservatory, then in Dresden, in
the early years of the century, before settling in his home town.
Alongside his composition he undertook much work for many musical
organizations in Denmark, the Danish Composers’ Society, the Arts
Committee of the Danish Olympic Committee -imagine any government
even considering having such an organization today! - and many
more before embarking on his final position, Head of the Music
Department of what is now Danish Radio. Because of all these commitments,
Gram’s works are few in number, only 35 opus numbers, but on the
strength of this disk they are well worth hearing.
Although it is obviously
in five sections, Gram thought of his Second Symphony as
a single span, and so it is. Staring in a declamatory manner
with a large gesture for the orchestra, the music becomes contemplative,
only slightly raising its voice, moving effortlessly into a
ridiculously short, but very beautiful, oboe solo. The heart
of the work is a similarly short movement, a setting of a poem
by Erik Stokkebye for mezzo. Delicately scored, with a prominent
part for celesta, this is very impressionistic, but none the
worse for that. A tersely argued fast movement breaks the spell
to be succeeded by a short epilogue which winds down the music,
bar one climax, and brings everything to a most beautiful and
serene close.
There is a lovely
story accompanying the creation of Gram’s Third Symphony.
When he retired from Danish Radio, in 1951, the Danish Radio
Orchestra presented Gram with a finely bound music book. It
contained the inscription Peder Gram: Symphony No.3 and the
pages of the book were empty, the idea being that the composer
would write a new work for what had, effectively, been his orchestra
for 14 years. He readily obliged and the work was completed
two years before his death. It’s a more traditional work compared
to the Second Symphony, in three tightly knit movements, and
there’s more than a passing nod in the direction of Sibelius
and Carl Nielsen, but in the main the voice is Gram’s own. The
orchestration is slimmer than that of the earlier work, more
neo-classical in feel, with clean, taut, lines, and is very
colourful. The working out of the material is sometimes a bit
stolid, the material being not quite as memorable as in the
earlier work. It’s unfortunate that these two Symphonies were
placed side by side for it has done the later work some disservice,
but if you don’t listen to one immediately after the other there
will be no problems.
For me, the prize
is the short song Avalon which opens the disk. Impressionistic
and very restrained, beautifully laid out for the orchestra
and voice, it makes a big impression in such a short time.
The performances
are excellent. A lot of time has obviously been put into the
making of this disk. I cannot praise Andrea Pellegrini too highly
for her brief appearances are a real highlight and she sings
with a pure voice, free of wobble or affectation. The orchestra
is on top form and obviously relishes playing this music. There
is some confusion over who is exactly playing the music – the
cover (front and back) of the beautifully produce gatefold sleeve,
and the disk itself, credits the Danish Philharmonic Orchestra,
but the biography credits the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra
(Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester). Some time ago, when touring
abroad, it used a slightly different name but it is properly
known as the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra. Remember the
correct name – it’s a good orchestra.
The booklet gives
full and very informative notes on the music and performers,
in English, German and Danish, but is lacking a photo of the
composer, which is a shame.
Perhaps Peder Gram
isn’t up there with Carl Nielsen and Rued Langgaard, and there’s
nothing here which will make the Little Mermaid jump up and
dance with joy, but this is well written music, tuneful and
easily approachable and how often do we need that today?
Bob Briggs
see also Review
by Rob Barnett and Review
of Volume 1
Andrea Pellegrini
(mezzo) 
