Hot and humid summer has come to Japan much earlier than usual! It is very tough season for a dog like me. I need to adjust my body to hot temperature. Japanese people believe eating hot food in the summer help them to stay healthy. I think hot music like Brahms’s symphony would work for the purpose as well. However, too hot food might damage my body. I wonder if any hot but cool music with “Damm taste”… I finally concluded Brahms No.2 is the best choice !
Music
This is the second symphony which Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) composed in 1877. He has commented that No.1 symphony was not his favorite one. This comment might shock many horn players who enjoy playing the symphony, but we should respect composer’s own comment. Brahms composed No.2 Symphony in beautiful town, Pörtschach located in south Austria. I guess he completed this work in very relaxed mood.
By the way, Brahms started wearing his “trade mark”, long mustache shown also on the LP jacket around age of 45. This means No.2 symphony might be composed without mustache. It would be a reason why this Symphony sounds very cool against other 3 symphony works.
Player and Recording
Conductor: Kurt Sanderling
Ochestra：Staatzkapelle Dresden
Recording Engineer：Claus Strüben
Year：1971（Peter Damm 33-34 years old）
Venue：Lukas Kirche, Dresden
I assumed Kurt Sanderling (1912-2011) is a guest conductor from Soviet Union for many years. After I read his short biography, I understood it is totally wrong. I also found reasons why I misunderstood.
Kurt Sanderling was born in an area in current Poland which used to be a part of Germany. The area became teritorial target of 2 big countries at that time, Germany and Soviet Union. He was banished from Germany because his parents were Jewish and escaped to Soviet Union in 1936. After World War 2, he was asked to return to DDR in 1960. He was assigned as principal conductor of SKD from 1964 to 1967, succeeding Otmal Suitner.
His face in the picture remind me of calm old people we sometime encounter in cafe in Europe. I guess such calm face is made only by people who experienced very tough time. I feel like listening more recordings performed by this conductor.
Japan and DDR established diplomatic relation in 1973 and the LP was released in the same year in Japan. It looks interesting that Japanese translation describe Dresden as “Dreeesden”.
My favorite
Beginning of 1st movement
My master says No.2 symphony is the best among 4 symphonies written by Brahms. The reason is simple. Horn Solo begins only after 3 notes. It seems my master listen only Horn…
Both I and my Master do not listen No.4 symphony, because we believe Peter Damm is not there. We think this is good material to compare “with and without” Damm taste.
Peter Damm plays his characteristic sound just 2nd year after he joined SKD. We know other horn players can not fully catch up Peter Damm’s tension in No.1 symphony, but we can confirm “Damm taste” prevailed in whole horn section in this recording. Good job !
2nd movement – middle
Brahms has mentioned that melody of this No.2 movement was his best in all the melody he had composed”. We don’t know many of Brahms fan agree or not, but we should respect composer’s comment. Apart from the argument, I can guarantee Peter Damm in this 2nd movement is one of my best. Peter Damm changes Brahms symphony into Peter Damm recital ! Super ! Maybe I should agree Brahms in the point that this 2nd movement is our best.
One more thing !
Mr.K, who is my master’s elder friend gave him an information that he know LIVE recording of SKD with Blomstedt in Tokyo, 1978. Although the conductor is different, music is the same, Brahms No.2. It is said that Peter Damm played this symphony right after he played Richard Strauss No.2 Concert ! How tough he is ! Now I am confident that Peter Damm works when you loose energy in hot summer.
Reference： Life of composers “Brahms” written by Yukio Miyake
