Octet opus 34

Item details

• Description +

  • Edited by Dustin Barr
    Duration: 20 min.
    
    Performing artists: University of Michigan, Dustin Barr, conductor
    
    Asger Lund Christiansen (1927-1998) was through his entire life an active chamber musician. He was the cellist in the Copenhagen String Quartet and the principal cello professor at the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus. As a composer he belongs to the generation of Danish composers like Niels Viggo Bentzon, Herman D. Koppel and his friend Vagn Holmboe. The main part of Christiansen’s compositions are written as chamber music in a variety of different instrumental combinations, like his Adagio and Allegro for brass quintet, opus 16, Quintet for oboe and String Quartet, opus 19 and his Sonata for Flute and piano, opus 11B (published by Edition Svitzer). But Christiansen also composed a number of Concerti for solo instruments with orchestra, such as the Concertino for trombone and orchestra, opus 1 (published by Edition Svitzer).
    
    Octet for eight winds, opus 34, was composed in 1992. The work was commissioned by The Danish Wind Octet, a remarkable ensemble who also in 1994 recorded the Octet for DaCapo records (Cat. Nr. 8.224.002).
    
    In the style and spirit of the Octet one might find reminiscences of the music by Carl Nielsen, but Asger Lund Christiansen was, according to his own words, also inspired by French composers and there elegant treatment of woodwinds, like Francis Poulenc and Albert Roussel.
    
    The three movements are based on the classical schemes of form, Sonata, Lied and Rondo. The thematically works is lively, a playing together which invites all four wind pairs (oboes, clarinets, horns and bassoons) to perform as soloists as well as in inspired dialogs. Duration is approximately 20 minutes.
    
    This project was supported financially by DMFF through KODA’s Funds for cultural and social purposes.

• Instrumentation +

  • Wind Octet (2 oboes, clarinets, horns & bassoons)

• About the composer +

  • Asger Lund Christiansen (1927–1998) was a Danish cellist and composer.
    
    He trained at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, graduating in 1946. Alongside Bløndal Erling Bengtsson, he was his generation's most recognized Danish cellist. In 1957-1995 he played with musicians such as Tutter Givskov, Mogens Ludolph and Mogens Bruun in Copenhagen and also as a soloist, teacher and organizer, he has had a major influence. From 1965-1987, he was a teacher and later professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Music. 
    
    Asger Lund Christiansen wrote a significant number of compositions. He has written chamber music, instrumental music and orchestral works in a mostly neo-classical style. One of his flute sonatas was premiered by Jean-Pierre Rampal.His son is the flautist and composer Toke Lund Christiansen.

• Credits +

  • Front Cover graphics and layout: Gaia Rodrigues
    English translation: Toke Lund Christiansen
    Editor: Dustin Barr
    Engraving: Dustin Barr
    Printed in Copenhagen, Denmark
    Copyright © Edition SVITZER

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