Pan and Syrinx (in Danish: ; subtitled "Pastoral Scene for Orchestra"; in Danish: ""), Op. 49 (FS 87; CNW 38), is a symphonic poem for orchestra written from 1917 to 1918 by the Danish composer Carl Nielsen. The piece received its premiere at the Odd Fellows Mansion in Copenhagen on 11 February 1918, with Nielsen conducting Orchestra of the Music Society ().
Background
As late as 23 January 1918, in a letter to Swedish composer Wilhelm Stenhammar, Nielsen explained that although he had included Pan and Syrinx in his concert on 11 February, he had not yet written a single note. It appears, however, that he had been thinking about the piece for some time, ever since he and his wife Anne Marie had discussed Ovid's Metamorphoses the previous year, inspiring him to compose the music. He did however manage to complete the score by 6 February.Peter Hauge, "Pan and Syrinx", Orchestral Works 2, Carl Nielsen Edition , Royal Danish Library. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
In addition to Pan and Syrinx, the concert which was devoted to works by Nielsen over almost 20 years, included the prelude to Act Two of Saul and David, Sleep and the Fourth Symphony, all conducted by Nielsen himself, as well as Chaconne for Piano played by Christian Christiansen.
Reception
Pan and Syrinx was particularly well received. Writing in Politken, Charles Kjerulf first alluded to its "Gallic, quite Debussyesque" quality before praising its feeling of renewal, development and mastery. He ended even more gushingly: "For each note that was added it became more and more sublime. And when in the end the very highest and very lowest notes of the orchestra were sounded right up against each other in the violin harmonics and double-basses... then the rejoicing broke out quite spontaneously." The other reviews were also positive.
The work was frequently played in Scandinavia during Nielsen's lifetime. When the composer planned a concert programme, he often chose to perform Saga Dream and Pan and Syrinx on the same occasion.
Instrumentation Pan and Syrinx is scored for the following instruments, organized by family (woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings):
2 flutes (one doubling piccolo), 2 oboes (one doubling cor anglais), 2 clarinets, and 2 bassoons 4 horns, 2 trumpets, and 2 trombones Timpani, bass drum, snare drum, cymbals, tambourine, triangle, raganella, glockenspiel, and xylophone Violins (I and II), violas, cellos, and double basses
Music
The nine-minute symphonic poem is based on the ancient legend which tells how the amorous god Pan invented the pan flute when following the nymph Syrinx. Syrinx ran to the river's edge and asked for assistance from the river nymphs. In answer, she was transformed into hollow water reeds that made a haunting sound when the god's frustrated breath blew across them. Pan cut the reeds to fashion the first set of pan pipes, which were thenceforth known as syrinx.Ovid, Metamorphoses 1.689ff
As the piece features Syrinx it obviously has major parts for woodwind solos. The music was written at the height of Nielsen's powers as a composer, shortly after he finished the Fourth Symphony. It is a vigorous, pretty, and poetic work.Joseph Stevenson, "Review: Pan og Syrinx (Pan and Syrinx), for orchestra, FS 87 (Op. 49)", Answers.com. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
Discography The table below lists commercially available recordings of Pan and Syrinx: ConductorEnsembleTimeRecording venueLabel1 (1) (1)19567:19Danish Radio Concert HallDanacord2 (2) (2)19597:16Danish Radio Concert HallDanacord3Philadelphia Orchestra19678:14Town Hall, PhiladelphiaSony Classical4 (3)19758:36Danish Radio Concert HallEMI Classics5Scottish National Orchestra19798:43Glasgow City HallChandos6City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra19848:26Warwick Arts CentreEMI Classics7Odense Symphony Orchestra (1)19888:36Regis8Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra19898:30Berwald HallCBS Masterworks9 (4)19938:33Danish Radio Concert HallChandos10Odense Symphony Orchestra (2)19949:24Kontrapunkt1119948:08deSingelHarmonia Mundi12Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra19958:59Gothenburg Concert HallDeutsche Grammophon1320029:10Musikhuset, SønderborgNaxos14Aarhus Symphony Orchestra20048:46Frichsparker, AarhusMSR Classics1520057:28Philharmonie, PardubiceClassico16Lahti Symphony Orchestra20067:49Sibelius HallBIS17 (5)20068:43Danish Radio Concert HallDacapo18Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra20238:29Grieg HallChandos
Notes
References
External links
Pan and Syrinx (Pan og Syrinx), CNW 38: Scores at the Catalogue of Carl Nielsen's Works by the Royal Danish Library