Wilhelm Petersen

[Amphissa]

I'm curious whether anyone is familiar with this composer (1890-1957). Apparently he flirted with modernism early, but then came a redirection of creativity and he committed himself to tonality. He was well known in his lifetime for two compositions, a Grossen Messe and an opera "Der Goldne Topf." But he was pretty much forgotten by the time he died.

http://www.thiasos.de/Komp/petersen_english.htm

The reason I ask is I've been listening to his (IMO) powerful and wholely satisfying Piano Concerto in C minor (posth.). What a fine work it is (to me). Modern, yes, but firmly in the late Romantic idiom.

I'd love to hear more by him, especially his violin concerto and 5 symphonies, but I've not been able to track down anything. If fact, the recording of the piano concerto is from a cassette recording made of a 1977 radio broadcast of a 1962 recording.

Would appreciate any leads.
 

[jimmosk]

I'm afraid I can't be of any real help -- other than that same Piano Concerto recording, I've never heard anything of Petersen's -- but I wanted to at least let you know that even the tireless quester-after-violin-concerti Tobias Bröker hasn't found a recording of WP's violin concerto, according to his website, http://www.violinconcerto.de/. So you'd probably better go searching for his symphonies instead.

Also, I can't help notice the immense confusion-potential created by the existence of three separate composers named Wilhelm Petersen, Wilhelm Berger, *and* Wilhelm Petersen-Berger!

-J

--
Jim Moskowitz
The Unknown Composers Page:  http://kith.org/jimmosk/TOC.html
My latest list of unusual classical CDs for auction:  http://tinyurl.com/527t7

[JimL]

I can't man the welcome wagon as I did on the other Forum, but a belated welcome, Jim, from another Jim!

[jowcol]

Bumping this thread.

  I see that at least his 4th Symphony has been posted.  I should soon post two works of his for string orchestra.