PETTERSSON: Synphony no. 2

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Francis, Alun

CPO 999281

Certainly eagerly awaited by many: the continuation of our Allan Pettersson cycle with the 2. Symphony and the Symphonic Movement. When Pettersson wrote his first symphony, the fragments of which Peter Ruzicka fragments of which Peter Ruzicka sifted through his estate, was blocked from performance during his lifetime, the 2nd was the first work for large orchestra from his pen Orchestra with which he appeared in public; it had its premiere in Stockholm on May 9, 1945 in Stockholm

With this work, Pettersson did not make a shy symphonic attempt at teaching, but rather came forth with a masterpiece. Unique, for example, is the orchestral treatment, which is we will not find later in a similarly experimental manner. Flutter-tongue effects of the woodwinds and brass, Glissandi of the trombones or the xylophone create colors and sound valleys that clearly show the joy of discovery of the self-confident musician of the self-confidently moving on unknown terrain

Twenty years after this 2nd symphony pettersson wrote the Symphonic Movement. The short piece was commissioned by Swedish Television for an essayistic film directed by Boris Engström. Although the two works coupled here have no direct have no direct inner connection to each other, they do show, especially because of the time separating them the continuity in the musical cosmos of Allan Pettersson

CD x 1

CPO

5/5/06

761203928125