Not a Brahms Clone
Kenneth Gilman | Miami Fla | 03/06/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Many German / Austrian composers who were contemporaries of Brahms were accused of immitating the master. Not something many composers would want to do considering that many people had little use for Brahms at the time (Tchaikovsky, the New German school of Liszt & Wagner, an audience in Boston that almost rioted when told they were going to have to sit thru a Brahms symphony). These symphonies of Herzogenberg (like those of Gernsheim) were also denigrated as immitations of Brahms. They aren't. The first symphony is so so, made up of material from an earlier work, it seems to be something of a trial run. Not bad, just not inspired. The second symphony, however, is worth the price of the whole cd. It is a remarkable mix of slightly Eastern European sounding folk like melodies, gentle Joachim Raff type melodies, a touch of what sounds like Oriental - Turkish - Jannisary music & shades of Aaron Copeland (long before Copeland's day). A unique mix you'll agree. I hope more of his symphonies will be forthcoming from CPO."
A new favorite
S. Hansen | Palo Alto,CA | 02/09/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've lately enjoyed exploring CPO Records catalogue that includes a great many Romantic and Modern era composers that I wasn't familiar with. This recording has almost instantly become a favorite symphony that I simply can't get enough of. Certainly there is a resemblance to Brahms, but it is only that, a resemblance. Herzogenberg has a truly original style that, while being a part of the "classic" romantic school, is one that is completely his own. What I simply don't understand is how Herzogenberg has become completely overlooked in todays music world. I can only assume that this composer's obscurity is a reflection of the current critical preference for composers like Mahler and Strauss rather that Brahms or other "classic" Romantic composers.
Sadly, right now we can only imagine what his other 6 symphonies sound like. I certainly hope that CPO has the rest scheduled to be recorded. Soon.
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