Rued Langgaard: Violin Sonatas, Vol. 2

Rued Langgaard (Composer), Anne Øland (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Anne Øland
• Composer: Rued Langgaard
• Audio CD (January 20, 2004)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Da Capo [Naxos]
• ASIN: B0000DJELU
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #371,425 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Discover Langgaard at his most seductive., December 22, 2011

By 

J. F. Laurson (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rued Langgaard: Violin Sonatas, Vol. 2 (Audio CD)

Rued Langgaard (1893 - 1952) was someone who turned away from the style of composition that was `demanded' in the 20th century. He was an oddball of a composer I helplessly adore. Terribly backwards for his time, exploring sounds worlds that his predecessor Nielsen had already left behind in his later works, Langgaard goes looking for Wagnerian sounds, coupled with some of the colorful strangeness of Scriabin, and occasional lushness of Richard Strauss. But he is never quite so obviously old-fashioned. If you imagine a straight line between Sibelius and Einojuhani Rautavaara and put down your fist (not your finger) in the middle, you'll have more or less arrived slightly north of Langgaard's idiom. At least now you should know whether you might like him, or not. The Symphonies are the main fare, but if you are new to Langgaard it's better still to check out Volume 2 of his Violin Sonatas.

Especially the shorter pieces on this disc (Écrasez l'infâme, Aubade for Violin and Piano, Andante religioso for Violin and Organ) are marvelous examples of just how beautiful music can be. To know that you will enjoy this particular disc, all you need to know is that you like classical music. Sonatas Nos. 3 & 4, too, are worthwhile, though I would have wished the conciseness and brevity of some of his symphonies upon them.

The works are superbly played which helps make this a favorite disc of mine.