The Cantatas of Stenhammar

 

My main point of comparison here is Vaughan Williams.

Stenhammar's Romanticism bears wafts of VW's Sea Symphony, even if neither of these 20-30 minute cantatas rise to those heights.

Perhaps it is the lengthy baritone solos that bookend the five-movement Ett Folk cantata which remind me of that work. There is also a poetic seriousness in those outer movements which raises the work way above a flag-waving Nationalistic cantata.

Instead, it is the inner movements which bear those properties. The Sverige second movement is mostly a cappella, featuring the rare bit of intimacy afforded its runtime. Otherwise, the Citizen's and Soldier's Songs which make up the 3rd and 4th movements are unabashed patriotic choral pieces, unfortunately laying on the treacly side of Stenhammar's music making, reminding me of Shostakovich at his most accommodating Soviet worst.

Similarly, the Stockholm Exhibition Cantata has more musical worth than its title purports. Only in its final portion do the flags come out, ready to celebrate the contributions of the Swedish peoples. Like the outer movements of Ett Folk, the first three movements of the Exhibition cantata bear more musical worth than one would expect, featuring minor-keyed moodiness and weighty drama, along with another fine baritone solo spotlight. Still, the fanfares of the finale are rather exciting when combined with chorus.

I really had no expectation for this music, nor its recording, but both are of high quality, aside from my nitpickery laid out above. Texts are provided in Sterling's physical media, although they are not high quality words. The Stockholm Radio Symphony Orchestra and Choir are fine performers here, much more than I would have expected for this rare music on a regional label.

 

Listen on YouTube

 

Work
Ett Folk (One People) (32.08)
Stockholm Exhibition Cantata (23.21)

Soloists
Birgitta Rydholm, soprano
Annika Hudak, alto
Johan Christensson, tenor
Mats Persson, baritone
Karl-Magnus Fredriksson, baritone

Ensembles
Storkyrkan Choir
Swedish Radio Choir
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Gustaf Sjökvist, conductor
Thomas Dausgaard, conductor

Label: Sterling
Year: 1997
Timing: 55.39

 

 

 

On Amazon, I give this a full five stars. I really liked this recording more than I expected.

However, this music is not somewhere to begin with Stenhammar, nor is it essential listening.

For me, though, I am surprised with how little Stenhammar composed, yet he has a wealth of music which surprises me of their quality.

This is one of those.

 

 

Find more Stenhammar recordings HERE!