Englund: The Great Wall of China, Symphonies 4 & 5

Einar Englund (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Einar Englund
• Audio CD (May 22, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ondine
• ASIN: B000056BZF
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #112,701 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars On a Virgin Voyage with Einar Englund, September 15, 2008

By 

Moldyoldie (Motown, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Englund: The Great Wall of China, Symphonies 4 & 5 (Audio CD)

Finnish composer Einar Englund's Symphony No. 4 (1976) is in four movements, only one of which can be described as uptempo, which takes the listener on an emotional ride on orchestral strings with occasional respites emanating from a colorful plethora of percussion. This one presents some fascinating sounds and aural pictures evocative of time and remembrance. Englund quotes Sibelius's Tapiola in the movement labeled "Nostalgia" whence the symphony derives its sobriquet.

The single-movement Symphony No. 5 (1977) utilizes a full orchestra in evoking the composer's terrible WWII experiences in an alternating fast/slow/fast/slow sequence which is very reminiscent of Shostakovich's most harrowing and powerful symphonic utterances.

The eight-part The Great Wall of China (1949) is music for an obviously parodistic play which includes a rumba, a tango, jazz, gongs, and a "March a la Shostakovich" -- great fun!

The 24-bit recording is incredibly vivid and one can't imagine performances more committed or convincing. This is a composer definitely worth exploring further.