NIELSEN Carl Nielsen sung by the Danish National Choirs
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Carl Nielsen
Genre:
Vocal
Label: Dacapo
Magazine Review Date: 04/2016
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 63
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: 8 226112
Tracks:
| Composition | Artist Credit |
|---|---|
| Der er et yndigt land (A fair and lovely land) |
Carl Nielsen, Composer
Carl Nielsen, Composer Danish National Choirs |
| Hjemve (Underlige aftenlufte!) (Homesickness: ‘Odd and unknown evening breezes’) |
Carl Nielsen, Composer
Carl Nielsen, Composer Danish National Choirs |
| Blomsterstøv fra blomsterbæger (Flower pollen from profusion) |
Carl Nielsen, Composer
Carl Nielsen, Composer Danish National Choirs |
| Sidskensang (Du er, min tro, en underlig pog) (Siskin Song: ’You are, in truth, a curious pet’) |
Carl Nielsen, Composer
Carl Nielsen, Composer Danish National Choirs |
| Serenade (Gerne vi lytter, når strængene bringer) (Serenade: ’Gladly we listen when music may carry’) |
Carl Nielsen, Composer
Carl Nielsen, Composer Danish National Choirs |
| Jeg bærer med smil min byrde (I take with a smile my burden) |
Carl Nielsen, Composer
Carl Nielsen, Composer Danish National Choirs |
| Kom, Gudsengel, stille død (Come, God’s angel, silent Death) |
Carl Nielsen, Composer
Carl Nielsen, Composer Danish National Choirs |
| Nu er for stakket tid forbi (It’s over for a short respite) |
Carl Nielsen, Composer
Carl Nielsen, Composer Danish National Choirs |
| Det bødes der for i lange år (You suffer throughout an age of pain) |
Carl Nielsen, Composer
Carl Nielsen, Composer Danish National Choirs |
| Aftenstemning (Alt skoven sig fordunkler) (Evening: The woods are dimly listening) |
Carl Nielsen, Composer
Carl Nielsen, Composer Danish National Choirs |
| Påskeliljen (Påskeblomst! en dråbe stærk) (The Daffodil: ‘Easter bloom! A potent drink’) |
Carl Nielsen, Composer
Carl Nielsen, Composer Danish National Choirs |
| Barnets sang (Kom, i dag må alle synge) (Children’s Song: ‘Come today and join the chorus’) |
Carl Nielsen, Composer
Carl Nielsen, Composer Danish National Choirs |
| Grøn er vårens hæk (Springtime hedge is green) |
Carl Nielsen, Composer
Carl Nielsen, Composer Danish National Choirs |
| Jeg ved en lærkerede (Two larks in love have nested) |
Carl Nielsen, Composer
Carl Nielsen, Composer Danish National Choirs |
| Solen er så rød, mor (Look! the sun is red, mum) |
Carl Nielsen, Composer
Carl Nielsen, Composer Danish National Choirs |
| Sangen til Danmark (The Song to Denmark: ’There’s a fleet of floating islands’) |
Carl Nielsen, Composer
Carl Nielsen, Composer Danish National Choirs |
| Danmark, du kornblonde datter (Denmark, ye corn-golden daughter) |
Carl Nielsen, Composer
Carl Nielsen, Composer Danish National Choirs |
| Skummende lå havet (Foaming high, the waters rushed heavily ashore) |
Carl Nielsen, Composer
Carl Nielsen, Composer Danish National Choirs |
| Fædrelandssang (Danish Patriotic Song: ’Sing, Danish man! With all your might’) |
Carl Nielsen, Composer
Carl Nielsen, Composer Danish National Choirs |
| Til snapsen i “Bel Canto” (To the Schnapps in ‘Bel Canto’) |
Carl Nielsen, Composer
Carl Nielsen, Composer Danish National Choirs |
| Den danske sang er en ung, blond pige (The Danish song is a fair young maiden) |
Carl Nielsen, Composer
Carl Nielsen, Composer Danish National Choirs |
| Nu sol i øst oprinder mild (Now sun arises in the East) |
Carl Nielsen, Composer
Carl Nielsen, Composer Danish National Choirs |
| Jeg lægger mig så trygt til ro (In peace, I lay me down to sleep) |
Carl Nielsen, Composer
Carl Nielsen, Composer Danish National Choirs |
Author: Andrew Mellor
Still, hats off to Michael Schønwandt for taking care of 17 of the 25 numbers recorded, and for making so much of every little nuance in Nielsen’s often simple writing as only he can. In the largely (but not completely) homophonic works sung by the Danish National Vocal Ensemble, the permanent radio choir, Schønwandt finds that bit more shape and shade than Michael Bojesen’s more direct performances with Ars Nova Copenhagen (6/15). It all comes from Schønwandt’s feeling for text, which itself takes care of occasionally more tricky contrapuntal textures in such pieces as Sidskensang. To be churlish, there are some slight wobbles in tuning in Kom, Gudsengel, stille død and, later on, some of the nationalistic songs can bristle in rumbustious performances from the Concert Choir’s men’s voices (the effect of Nielsen’s drinking song Til snapsen i ‘Bel Canto’ spilling over, perhaps).
Which is precisely why the children’s voices prove such a tonic. Like the Vocal Ensemble, the Girls’ Choir (ages 16 21) has a regular TV slot in Denmark, and if it doesn’t quite engage with its text like its adult counterpart, it is bright-sounding, alert and technically bang-on under its charismatic guiding light Philip Faber. Next to their seniors, all clipped like English cathedral girl choristers but with a touch more body, the Childrens’ (ages 9 11) and Junior (ages 12 16) choirs sound thrillingly open, a joyousness in their voices that suits Nielsen’s musical intentions down to the ground. Denmark is singing very well indeed, and with a system like this, will continue to do so.
NIESLEN Carl Nielsen sung by the Danish National Choirs
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