LUDVIG IRGENS-JENSEN (1894-1969): Symphony in D Minor (original version), Air, Passacaglia.

Description: Composed in 1942 during the Nazi occupation of Norway, the symphony also won a secret competition associated with the 25th anniversary of the Norwegian Composers Association. Lasting 44 minutes, its three movements are accompanied by a poem by Irgens-Jensen about the dark forces of nature and of human nature with the second poem (and slow movement) a dream of peace. Dark, pessimistic and dramatic, it's one of the finest symphonies ever to come out of Norway and this is the world premiere recording of its original, three-movement version. The fugue and chorale in the slow movement recall the much differently felt Passacaglia of 1928 (entered into the Schubert centenary competition won by Atterberg), whose 20-minute length contains a wide range of musical material aiming at the chorale which goes through 16 variations, including a complex triple fugue, before ending in a radiant G major which leads to an elysian epilogue. Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra; Bjarte Engeset.