Hans Koessler (1853-1926) Symphony in B minor/Violin Concerto

[eschiss1]

btw: Mr. Schlüren in the MPH notes to the Symphonic Variations in C-sharp minor -does- think the violin concerto in A minor from 1898 is a separate work...

[Wheesht]

Thanks! That would appear to clinch it.

[Gareth Vaughan]

Not necessarily. I have found the occasional error, especially of this sort, in MPH prefaces.

[Wheesht]

We may have to wait for the booklet notes – and hope they provide clarification.
It may be a clue be that none of the newspaper articles about the 1898 performance refer to the Passacaglia in the title.

[eschiss1]

Unfortunately both of you have a point. I've written two MPH prefaces and made glaring errors in them myself, I'm sorry to say!! (Yes, that sounds like a humblebrag, but the second half is the point.)

(Slightly tangentially, I've found some very fixable and much more obvious errors in the data parts of a lot of other places, the moreso when they are -not- fixable- I don't mean fixable by anyone without mediation, but like IMSLP or Wikipedia (or Reelgood!) or elsewhere, fixable either (in some cases) through a maintainer, or fixable directly but revertable if one hasn't provided some evidence for one's change...)

[Wheesht]

Speaking of errors, I meant to write

It may be a clue be that none of the newspaper articles about the 1898 performance that I have seen refer to the Passacaglia in the title.

[Alan Howe]

Toskey only mentions a 'Concerto in the form of a Passacaglia', noting that it was published by Simrock in 1914 (which is confirmed by the works list at IMSLP).

[eschiss1]

I decided to have a look at the manuscripts at SBB to see if that produced any enlightenment.

There's a cello concerto in D minor there by Koessler that I don't recall -anyone- mentioning? To be fair, it may be incomplete...) , and a violin concerto in reduced score that is apparently an early version of the Passacaglia-Konzert with a different opening. (Compare the piano reduction at IMSLP to that at SBB. Similar works, not the same.)

[Ilja]

I was able to download this recording today, and after a first listen I was quite bowled over by it. The symphony is a very attractive, dramatic, big-boned, late romantic work. It's a bit eclectic in its influences I'd say (Wagner-Liszt-Mahler, and was that a bit of orientalism?), but without losing its inner consistency. If you like stuff like the Volbach or Berger (No. 2) symphonies (also in B minor), you're really going to enjoy this. It contains some good themes, is well-constructed, and the Mahler-esque use of snare drums and the use of muted brass in the more lyrical passages illustrate a thoughtful orchestration. A surprise, surely, but a very nice one.

Now, on to the Violin Concerto...

[Mark Thomas]

Ilja has characterised Koessler's Symphony very well. It's an attractive, approachable and memorable example of the sort of music which was "in the air" at the turn of the century. The Mahler influence, for me, was most clear in the substantial finale, but even then confined to the orchestration. All in all, a very welcome release from cpo.

[Justin]

The booklet says that the symphony is undated and remained unpublished, and likely composed before 1900. Passacaglia published in 1914.

[eschiss1]

Do the notes mention the  earlier version of the concerto (which also has a Passacaglia central section but differs in a number of details)? (See autograph piano reduction- probably linked to it already.)

[Justin]

The only other relevant sentence in the booklet is " Koessler clearly did not give up hope that some of his works would be performed. This includes one concerto each for violin and cello and orchestra, both of which exist in different versions, as well as four symphonies, only two of which were completed."

[eschiss1]

The ms solo part to a D minor cello concerto by him (which may only be a version of the final work) is also downloadable digitized from SBB.

[terry martyn]

Well, I wish I had waited before buying until I had read Ilja's review. I have managed to get through it,but it's the worst buy I have made since purchasing the Stojowski.   Top-heavy,thunderous brass,very Teutonic. It didn't remind me of Volbach at all. There was simply no respite. I am going to have to play Volkmann's Second, to remind myself of how "light and shade" really works.

I am bound to be in a minority,of course, but my partner told me to "turn off that horrible work".