For your consideration.

I have a question about the Sibelius influences. I found that the Christian Sinding's First Symphony is quite "sibelian", near to "Kullervo" opus 7. Sinding wrote the symphony about 1880-90, it was finished in the same time in which Sibelius and Sinding were close friends and partners in Berlin. All we know the influence of the Piano Quintet in e minor in the Sibelius Piano Quintet (I have the Pihtipudas Kvintetti CD, a good score!) but I don't know scholars opinion about the symphony.

We can hear sibelian features, specially the ones of Kullervo or the early Overture JS.145: major-minor-modal fast exchanges, pedal, obstinati, orchestration... Bruckner is also an influence in the Sinding's symphony (in Sibelius' early works too), but I believe that Sibelius knew the work of the norwegian composer, even the score, not completed yet.

"Sibelian" are, for example, these passages: the end of the development section in the 1st movement (obsinati), a passage with several violins solos in the 2nd movement.

Do you know the Sinding's symphony? Waht do you think about this questions?



Anyway, the symphony is very good and interesting, like a lot of works by this composer. A few of them are too much wagnerian (the 2nd and the 3nd symphonies seems almost a pasticcio with Der Ring quotes!, also the opera "Der heilige Berg"), but the more nordic works are wonderful! I suggest Sinding music for all the Sibelius music fans!

Thanks David for a most interesting post. I am afraid that I am not familier with Sindings symphony. I do have Sindings Violin Concerto No.1 which was written in 1898 and here the influence of Max Bruch is pretty strong.--kp

There are three recordings: Ari Rasilainen, Thomas Dausgaard and Oivin Fjeldstad. I have the one by Rasilainen, it's quite fine. I advise you to know it.

The most original Sinding is the early Sinding, he was too germanophile afterwards.

I will certainly keep a look out for any of those recordings as I have really enjoyed the first violin concerto. At least Sindings reputation now goes a touch beyond 'Rustles of Spring'. With four symphonies, three violin concertos, a piano concerto and an opera, not to mention chamber music and songs, we have much to explore.--kp

I have heard a few pieces by Sinding but not as many as I would like - and not this symphony, I must admit.

I've heard the Pihtipudas recording you mention. I don't remember it well but people have told me that they have 'simplified' some parts of the scores. So maybe it should be treated with some caution!

Andrew B wrote:

I don't remember it well but people have told me that they have 'simplified' some parts of the scores.

Upsss!

They are an amateur ensemble, I know.

Mr. Barnett, listen the symphony, please. It's a very interesanting matter to compare it with Sibelius music.

Yes I shall, as soon as I can