And we're back with some more from Kurt Atterberg - a composer who, as I may have mentioned previously, is probably the reason that this blog exists. I think he's such a great composer and yet so complete underrated. Hopefully delving just a little into this symphony can help explain why...
Atterberg to me is very interesting - he rose to fame after winning a competition for his sixth symphony, which probably remains his most famous composition (although, I'll be honest, I hadn't heard it until I actively searched it out). He is interesting because he existed a time when music was going in all sorts of directions yet he, like Sibelius and Rachmaninov perhaps, decided to stick to a more 'Romantic' style of music. Like Sibelius, Atterberg's music contains a lot of nationalist themes (his 8th symphony is based on a Swedish folk song) as well as the incredible ability to blend harmony, rhythm and instrumentation in such an effective way so as to portray pastoral ideas and landscapes through the music itself. Like Rachmaninov, however, Atterberg manages to create incredibly intense and effective melodies of equally affecting harmonies. His grand, sweeping phrases can be perhaps likened to those of Brahms - long, careful, considered, but immensely powerful. And yet, at times Atterberg displays the charisma and playfulness of Shostakovich or the deceptive, simple lyrical nature of Schubert. In short, Atterberg bears all the hallmarks of the greats, and yet somehow manages, in my opinion, to create something more.
Let's look at this symphony then. The beginning of the first movement instantly grabs you and tells you you're not in for a half-hearted ride. The epic pace at which the music starts is coupled with instantly intense dramatic harmonic movement, soon swelling to present the main melody in a grand instrumentation. This movement then deconstructs these ideas among the instruments as well as exploring more pastoral elements before the second movement begins. For me, Atterberg is the absolute king of second movements. His Rachmaninovian melodies of Sibelius-ish backgrounds (sorry) create incredibly beauty. The music here feels so delicate yet utterly clear, ebbing and flowing expertly. Melodies often move at a slower pace to accompanying instruments to create this amazing shimmery effect (technical term) and when music like this swells to a climax, it's incredibly impactful indeed.
The third movement, let's be honest, is rather short - but it brings the gravity and drama back into proceedings and links rather well with the introduction of the fourth movement. This entire section of the piece could be a transition, a change of scene. We might catch glimpses of different things going on in different places before launching into the finale proper. Here we bring back many ideas from the first movement. The second idea presented in this movement really adds to the symphony's epic feel and in later moments melodies and harmonies are interwoven expertly. The symphony ends with that playfulness that I mentioned, even maybe evoking Offenbach a little. An incredible charismatic build up occurs only to fade away and cheekily end the symphony in an almost camp but very fun and satisfying way.
I really hope you enjoy this music as much as I do - I'll try not to go on about it too much more but expect some more Atterberg to come your way at some point...
Also, while I'm at it, I could really use some suggestions of pieces to do. I might not do everything suggested but all suggestions will be considered! So please do comment if you have any ideas...
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