****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Lars-Erik Larsson (1908-1986), along with Kurt Atterberg, Wilhelm Peterson-Berger and Hugo Alfven, was a Swedish composer who shunned modern trends in music and wrote in an approachable style throughout the twentieth century. His works contain some similarities with the string compositions of Vaughan Williams, and if you enjoy that composer's Oboe Concerto you'll probably enjoy Larsson's concertinos.Each concertino is scored for string orchestra and one solo instrument. These works were written for amateur orchestras in Sweden, so the string accompaniment is not demanding. Likewise, the solo part is not meant to be a virtuosic tour de force. These are pleasant, if not highly enjoyable, compositions which I would consider pastoral in quality. Each concertino has three movements and lasts about 12 minutes (certainly not epic works). The concertinos follow a similar formula, where contrast is provided by alternations between separated/pizzicato passages and legato string writing. The concertinos are scored as follows:No. 1 for FluteNo. 2 for OboeNo. 3 for ClarinetNo. 4 for BassoonNo. 5 for HornNo. 6 for TrumpetNo. 7 for TromboneNo. 8 for ViolinNo. 9 for ViolaNo. 10 for CelloNo. 11 for Double BassNo. 12 for PianoI enjoy the flute, cello, horn, violin, oboe and trombone concertinos the most. The exotic sounding second movement of the flute concertino (Disk 1 - Track 2) is especially lovely, while the third movement of the trombone concertino (Disk 1 - Track 21) really is exciting. You really are a grouchy person if you don't smile during this movement, with its jovial, leaping double-tonguing trombone line.Most of the solo playing is quite lyrical. You'll realize that Concertino No. 5 is not typical French horn concerto, given that you really won't hear any tonguing until the second theme of the first movement (Disk 1 - Track 13). While some movements are marked by arching legato lines, others have a folkdance-like quality. Listen to the swaying theme of the third movement of the viola concertino (Disk 2 - Track 6), for instance. While each of these pieces stands on its own, it is interesting to note that in the final concertino (for piano) Larsson weaves in some of the themes of the other concertinos over top of the piano part (Disk 2 - Track 15). Pretty cool.I find these compositions very enjoyable and I return to them often. Such a collection of concertante works is quite unique in the twentieth century, with the exception of the slightly less conventional, but more extended, Holmboe concertinos (also worth exploring).In conclusion, buy this CD if you enjoy the pastoral music of Vaughan Williams or any of the Swedish composers I mentioned above. My largest reservation is the price, which is really too high for two CD's.143:35
