Search - C.E.F. Weyse :: Sym 1/7

Unknown Gems

Rembrandt Q. Einstein | NY | 05/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Talk about glorying in esoterica. If that is your shtick, then this CD is a must have. And even if it's not, this CD of Weyse's first and seventh symphonies should be in the collection of any serious collector of classical music, (or anyone simply looking to expand their musical pallet beyond the standard repertoire.)



Christoph Ernst Friedrich Weyse (1774-1842) a contemporary of Mozart and Beethoven was one of the foremost composers of Scandinavia. Today though, his name has been largely and unfairly forgotten. All seven of his symphonies were written in the mere four years between 1795 and 1799. Though merely a blip in his early career as a composer, the first and seventh symphonies are mature and complex works. Weyse's symphonies show an acute skill for counterpoint, and overall harmonic construction. It is unfortunate that symphonies 2-6 are somewhat off the radar now.



Weyse's first symphony, I feel the better of the two, is reminiscent of Beethoven. The opening movement is bold and thundering, though lacking in some of the musical ambition that was so characteristic of Beethoven. Nevertheless Weyse still managed to achieve greatness within the confines of the classical medium. One should also not dismiss Weyse as a composer bereft of innovation. This IS NOT wallpaper classical, nor is it the work of a sappy Beethoven imitator. These do not sound like typical classical or early romantic symphonies. Weyse's first symphony has a very grand and cavernous but cold sound to it. Weyse achieved this by using his woodwinds to a great extent. Periodically throughout the symphony, they come in over the music in the form of long protracted blasts of sound. It is glorious in its scope.



Weyse's Seventh symphony, his last and I feel the weaker of the two, has its charm as well. It's really almost exactly comparable to the first except in the sense that it's just not as ambitious, and the melodies, I feel, are not quite as catchy. (Although the 3d movement minuetto is quite charming) Perhaps at the end of his symphonic career, Weyse had grown a little stodgier. I don't know. The seventh symphony is still a very good piece, I feel though its sound is more dated and period confined. Ultimately it boils to personal preference.



The CD itself is great value. The price is cheaper than most budget labels, and the musical and sonic quality is excellent. Lars Mortensen (whoever that is) admirably leads the Concerto Copenhagen to a tremendous triumph.



Highly Recommended



Rembrandt Q. Einstein"