Symphonic Movement No. 3, to Wilhelm Furtwängler - Charles Dutoit

On this CD:

1. Symphony No. 1 in C major, H 75
Composed by Arthur Honegger

Conducted by Charles Dutoit

2. Pastorale d'été, symphonic poem, H31
Composed by Arthur Honegger

Conducted by Charles Dutoit

3. Pacific 231 (Mouvement symphonique No. 1) for orchestra, H53
Composed by Arthur Honegger

Conducted by Charles Dutoit

4. Rugby (Mouvement symphonique No. 2), for orchestra, H. 67
Composed by Arthur Honegger

Conducted by Charles Dutoit

5. Symphony No. 3 ("Liturgique"), H186 Allegro marcato-Adagio
Composed by Arthur Honegger

Conducted by Charles Dutoit

Tracks:

I. Dies Irae: Allegro Marcato
II. De Profundis Clamavi: Adagio
III. Dona Nobis Pacem: Andante
'Rugby' Mouvement Symphonique: Allegro
Movement Symphonique No. 3: Allegro Marcato
'Pacific 231' Mouvement Symphonique: Modere
Pastorale D'Ete: Calme

Album Description

In an age of remarkable individuals, Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saints-Georges, son of a French colonial planter and a beautiful Senegalese slave, occupied a unique position as athlete, swordsman, military commander, huntsman, violin virtuoso and conductor. Though written for his own use, the violin concertos are more than vehicles for mere virtuosic display. Lyrical, expressive slow movements are flanked by often highly original outer movements, quite unlike anything written by Viennese composers such as Haydn, Hofmann and Dittersdorf. Had Mozart seen Saint-Georges play the brilliant Concerto No. 10 while he was in Paris in 1778, he would have heard many things in it to admire.

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding!.......2006-07-09

J Scott Morrison pretty much said it all in the previous review but I would just like to reiterate that the performance from the NZSO is truly excellent. The woodwind, brass and percussion, in particular, play their hearts out and have a rollicking good time with these vibrant and occasionally astringent scores. Furthermore, the sound quality of the recording is excellent - the best I've ever heard from Naxos.

If you're not very familiar with Honegger (other than 'Pacific 231'), then this would be a great (and cheap!) place to start.

Note to classical saxophonists: the 'Mouvement symphonique no.3' features a (well-played on this recording) tenor saxophone solo midway through.

Sterling Honegger from New Zealand.......2004-11-16

I'm a latecomer to the appreciation of Honegger's music. With the exception of such things as the Fourth Symphony ('Deliciae Basiliensis,' an urban night-piece the equal of Vaughan Williams's 'London Symphony,' and 'Pastoral d'Été,' in a classic recording by Hermann Scherchen) I've known little of his music until fairly recently. I credit a friend whose judgment I admire and who kept after me about my having called Honegger a 'gray composer' that I've come to value much of his that I've heard in recent years. I've made up for lost time, but I'm far from an expert on his output yet. Still, I've heard the Karajan and Munch recordings of his Third Symphony and was pretty familiar with the work when this new release came my way.

Honegger wrote two war symphonies, the Second (1941) and this one, the Third (1945). Both depict the horror of war and each ends with some hope for the future, although I must admit that Honegger was clear-eyed about the after-war period not being all moonlight and roses. The Third, subtitled 'Liturgique,' is not actually a religious symphony in the usual sense of the word. Rather it uses Latin phrases from the liturgy to describe the feeling of each of its three movements: 'Dies irae,' 'De profundis clamavi' and 'Dona nobis pacem' ('Day of Wrath,' 'Out of the Depths We Cry,' and 'Give Us Peace'). The first movement is a furious allegro that is hard-edged and even ugly at times. This is angry, anguished music. The second, an adagio, is a heartfelt cry of supplication. The third is a bit calmer but still has more than a little resignation and cynicism about it, even though a kind of uneasy quiet is achieved at the end. There is one theme that occurs in all three movement, one that Honegger called 'the bird theme' and it can be thought of as representing the dove of peace. It is quoted in its most serene form at the end of the piece, but there is still the unease of diffidence about it. No wonder; Honegger's Fifth Symphony, the last he wrote, returns to this anguished outcry. Takuo Yuasa and his New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, in superb modern sound, turn in an edgy, committed and richly sonorous performance here. This is not easy music (to play to or to listen to) but it is important music and needs to be heard. I've never seen it in programmed in a live symphony concert but it has been recorded many times by such conductors as Jansons, Järvi, Luisi and Baudo. What a pity it's not often heard, particularly in these days of war.

Honegger wrote four symphonic movements that stand alone: 'Pastorale d'Été' (1920), 'Pacific 231,' (1923), 'Rugby' (1928), and 'Symphony Movement No. 3' (1933). It is supposed that he grew leery of programmatic titles when it came to the last one. 'Pastorale d'Été' is marked 'calme' and is a luscious string-dominated piece that features sensuous solos by various wind solos. 'Pacific 231' depicts a steam train of that name in motion, starting up slowly, gathering speed with much huffing and puffing and then chugging away. An exciting piece, excitingly played here, Honegger's 'Short Ride in a Slow Machine.' 'Rugby' is a scherzo with brilliant orchestration--it reminds me of Dukas in places--that has, among other things, a chorale theme that is stirring. I don't actually hear much here that sounds like a rugby match, but who am I to say? 'Mouvement symphonique No. 3' is rather more astringent than its brothers and features vigorous polytonal chords but also a plaintive tenor sax solo midway along.

If you don't know any of Honegger's orchestral music, this might be a good place to start. Naxos, of course, is a budget label and so it won't cost you much to make Honegger's acquaintance. For those of you have elderly versions of these pieces, you could certainly do worse than get this CD. I hope that the next issue from Yuasa and the New Zealand orchestra will contain the infectious, even light-hearted Symphony No. 4. It still remains my favorite of the four symphonies I know (I don't think I've ever heard Symphony No. 1).

By the way, Honegger was also a prolific composer of movie music back in the 1930s and his score for the 1934 French movie, 'Les Misérables,' is scheduled to come out on Naxos in a month or two; it had previously been released on Naxos's full-priced sister label, Marco Polo, and I can assure you it is a winner. Also on Marco Polo is his music for Abel Gance's legendary silent classic, 'Napoléon.'

Scott Morrison

Average customer rating:

First-class Honegger
Absolutely Brilliant
Great works by a great French composer!
underappreciated piece...
Scrunchily sympathetic, sonically spacious

Honegger: Orchestral Works

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
ASIN: B00000JNPL
Release Date: 1999-07-20

Tracks:

Rugby (Mouvement symphonique No.2)
Symphony No.2: Molto Moderato - Allegro
Symphony No.2: Adagio Mesto
Symphony No.2: Vivace non troppo - Presto
Mouvement Symphonique No.3
Monopartita
Pastorale D'Ete
Pacific 231 (Mouvement symphonique No.1)

Amazon.com

The best word to describe the music of Arthur Honegger would have to be gnarly. His style is restlessly contrapuntal and charged with dissonance, but this isn't a bad thing at all. In fact, his sharply etched instrumental lines and acerbic harmonies add a welcome touch of spice to a somewhat severe idiom, much as a pinch of hot pepper perks up an otherwise bland sauce. They give his fast music the power of a juggernaut, and fill his slower, quieter moments with ear-catching detail. What's needed in performance, and what David Zinman and his Swiss orchestra deliver in abundance, is rhythmic accuracy and clarity. In fact, there hasn't been such a fine Honegger disc since Herbert von Karajan's legendary recordings of the Second and Third Symphonies (currently on DG "Originals"). In the strings-only Second Symphony, the Zurich band hasn't the weight of Karajan's Berliners, but they are just as impassioned and incisive in attack. The other works--including all three Movements symphoniques ("Pacific 231," "Rugby," and No. 3, which has no nickname)--receive what are clearly their finest recorded performances. Pastorale d'été is as charming as ever, and there's a special bonus in the form of the rarely heard Monopartita, whose unfortunate name sounds like a disease but that is actually a vibrant suite of dances gathered in a single movement. Brilliant sonics, too. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

First-class Honegger.......2005-12-13

This is a compendium of the great orchestral works by the French composer Arthur Honegger. His music is hard to describe, but it is all rather interesting. His most famous works include the three Mouvement Symphoniques included on this disk.

The first entitled Pacific 231 is amazing to me. Devoid of any real melodies, or perhaps even form, the music describes with great reality, the sounds, and feels even, of a large, at first lumbering, but later, speedy, train. The music isn't pretty, nor is it repugnant, but instead, it is what it is, a very visual depiction of a train. It begins slow, in the station, with sounds of steam, creaks, and squeals, with eventual emphasis in the lower tessitura instruments and percussion (tuba, contrabassoon, bass clarinet, etc.). As it speeds up, the rhythms divide, slowly increasing the pace of the train, maintaining the tempo of he work, adding instrumental elements; the work eventually ends in a clamor. I find the 6 minute piece to be one of the most fascinating works I have heard in a long time. The second Mouvement Symphonique is entitled after the sport Rugby, and Honegger lets you know how he feels about the game. From the whimsical opening orchestral flourish, sometimes the game is rough, messy, and musically dissonant, other times he shows the gracefulness of team strategy through sweeping melodic lines. I believe his intent is a positive one, and the music conveys that well. The third one has no particular program, but is simply entitled Mouvement Symphonique No. 3. After a short rising introduction, the strings relay a jumpy, nearly heroic theme that comes back later. The music is very aggressive and dissonant, and eventually calms down in the end, featuring an alto saxophone solo. The music of these pieces use dissonance to their advantage and are sparse with melodic material, but the music speaks for itself, one of great visual and musical diversity.

Honegger's Symphony for Strings, or his Second Symphony, is one of great angst and struggle. While there is a peaceful calm and simple melody at the opening, the allegro shortly dispels the peacefulness. The second movement throbs painfully over a soaring melody, a melody of strife. The burly final movement has great industriousness, and not until the trumpet enters at the end, is there any glimmer of hope. Honegger aggressively set the strings in a compound meter with occasional manic duple chords, but in a whirlwind, after the chorale with trumpet, the last movement settles all of a sudden on a chord of bliss. A highly modern sounding piece, it is not a-tonal, but one of great dissonance rooted in the tonal world.

In stark contrast is the Pastorale d'ete, and eight minute work of great radiance and warmth. Written for strings and solo horn, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, and flute, there is a Spanish sumptuousness to the opening, with a slightly exotic dance feeling, along with a radiant oboe/horn melody. Lush, with interjections of nature, this is Honegger not yet heard on the disk, highly pastoral and soothing. The middle section is an upbeat rural feast, but it all goes back to the opening material. A small treasure on the disk.

The Monopartita is almost a fantasy of all the different styles we hear from Honegger on this disk. In six sections, here is a diverse assortment of textures, themes, and orchestrations, it really is a potpourri of ideas, and a great representative of the Honegger "sound".

Rarely does one averagely known composer get a CD to himself (aside from his symphonies), and certainly not such a first-rate performance. David Zinman and the Tonhalle Orchestra of Zurich play the snot out of these pieces (sorry for the highly technical term). The music is approached with such knowledge and rigor, the disk is an immediate success all around. If you are unfamiliar with the works of Arthur Honegger, especially his symphonic literature, this is the one to have. Listen to the examples to make sure you like this sort of music, it is not for everyone, I must admit; I find it entirely interesting. The performances and music are excellent and easily recommendable.

Absolutely Brilliant.......2004-10-21

I have about 7 recordings of Sym 2 and this is probably the
best. Solo cello comes out very strongly at end of 2nd movement.

Other works are all great too: excellent performances and recording.

Great 20th C works which are often dark and dissonant.

Strongly recommended for anyone wanting to try out Honegger.

The Karajan recording which everyone raves about (mentioned in amazon review above) is OK, but this one is heaps better.

Great works by a great French composer!.......2000-12-27

Arthur Honegger's remarkable works sound much more modern than most "modern" Classical music. His "Movements Symphoniques" are superior to anything Darius Milhaud achieved in a lighter vein, and his use of dissonance and 12-tone tonality are pure Bartok. Honegger seems to have shared Bartok's concept of a democratic half-step scale. How else to explain his remarkable, streamlined harmonic texture, which effortlessly veers between harsh note-clusters and smooth, consonant passages?

The performances and sound on this superb CD are beyond criticism, save for a "Pacific 231" that runs out of steam (pun intended) toward the end, and which features a muddy mix totally removed from that of the other tracks. Five stars. Don't deprive your collection of this wonderful recording!

underappreciated piece..........2000-12-10

How is it that everyone knows Honegger's first two "Mouvement Symphonique" pieces ("Pacific 231" and "Rugby"), but nobody has heard of the untitled third? Is it because it has no catchy, after-the-fact-programmatic title? It's an amazing piece, and I think it's better than the other two.

Scrunchily sympathetic, sonically spacious.......1999-08-25

The Zurich Tonhalle has hardly been in general LP or CD circulation, so it's good to see them appearing on a major label. They have always been my favourite Swiss orchestra, and this disc confirms that they are currently in very good shape. The tone of the orchestra is just right for Honegger's scrunchy music, and Zinman conducts sympathetically. The performance of the 3rd Mouvement Symphonique is the best I have heard. The 2nd Symphony also comes over well, with some very fine playing by the Tonhalle strings. Karajan's Berlin version remains my favourite here, but Zinman provides a valid alternative. Perhaps Pacific 231 (rather oversold on the CD's cover, incidentally) is the weakest performance here, but this piece has been given somewhat wider coverage over the years. The sound quality in the difficult Tonhalle acoustic is very good, with clarity mixed in well with the hall's spaciousness. Unlike the Karajan, the trumpet is actually audible at the end of the symphony, without being overbearing. In my view, this is not a world-beating collection, but it is a fine introduction for anyone unfamiliar with the music and contains one piece (Monopartita) not otherwise recorded. For me, this is in the higher level of the 4-star rating.

Arthur Honegger: Symphony No. 1 / Pastorale d'Été / Pacific 231 / Rugby / Symphonic Movement No. 3, to Wilhelm Furtwängler - Charles Dutoit

Average customer rating:

Arthur Honegger: Symphony No. 1 / Pastorale d'Été / Pacific 231 / Rugby / Symphonic Movement No. 3, to Wilhelm Furtwängler - Charles Dutoit
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000005E63
Release Date: 1992-04-09

Average customer rating:

Honest performance of the Concerto da Camera
Upped to five stars
Very nice interpretation of the Concerto da Camera

Honegger: Pacific 231 / Rugby

Manufacturer: Denon Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
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Satie: Orchestral Works

ASIN: B0000034W8
Release Date: 1996-04-09

Tracks:

Rugby, mouvement symphoique
Pacific 231, mouvement symphoique
Concerto Da Camera
Pastorale D'Ete
Symphonie Liturgique

Customer Reviews:

Honest performance of the Concerto da Camera.......2006-10-12

There are recordings of the Concerto da Camera that are classic, in every sense of the word. Maurice Sharp's recording is one such "LP" recording of this work. However, CD is here-n-now, and this recording gives the listener a musical, technically clean and well executed interpretation of this lovely work.

Upped to five stars.......2000-08-23

In listening to this CD again and again, I've come to appreciate Fournet's interpretations much more. Yes, they are slower than the norm, but the details that emerge from Honegger's scoring show the composer's mastery of the orchestra. The Concerto da Camera is still wonderful, but Fournet's interpretation of Pastorale d'ete, and specifically Pacific 231 and Rugby highlight strands of counterpoint I had never heard before. This is really a great disc of Honegger's and I recommend it unreservedly.

Very nice interpretation of the Concerto da Camera.......1999-10-26

This addition to the Honegger discography includes most of his familiar works but is graced by the addition of his late Concerto da Camera, one of Honegger's finest compositions. The interpretation by Fournet and his forces is wonderful. One might want to look elsewhere for better versions of Honegger's Third Symphony, but the Concerto and the Pastorale are very nicely done. Denon's sound is state of the art.

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