Helios Overture

Developed in 1903 Greece Helios Overture, Op 17 by the Danish composer Carl Nielsen ( 1865-1931 ) is today particularly at New Year Danish standard repertoire.

Formation

Since 1901, Carl Nielsen received an annual state stipend of 800 crowns, and from January 1903 he was under firm contract with the renowned publisher Wilhelm Hansen. So he was able to give up his position as a violinist in the Royal Chapel Copenhagen and to devote himself fully to composition. Even archaeological interest, he undertook in 1903 an extended trip to Greece, where already stayed his wife, Anne Marie, who had been awarded the Ancker Award and permission had to make copies of reliefs and statues of the Acropolis Museum in Athens.

Carl Nielsen was a room at the Athens Conservatory available, and on 23 April 1903, he completed the concert overture began on March 10, Helios, Op 17, in which he, inspired by the lighting conditions over the Aegean Sea to the path of the sun from the dawn to dusk replicating musical.

Instrumentation and Duration

The score includes the following cast before: 3 flutes (3rd flute and piccolo ), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani and strings.

The performance lasts about 10-13 minutes.

Characterization

Nielsen presented his Julius Röntgen dedicated overture following a motto: ". Stilhed above mørke - så stiger sol under frydefuld lovsang - Vandrer sin gyldne vej - sænker sig i hav silent " ( " silence and darkness - then the sun rising among joyous song of praise - migrates their golden road - quiet descends into the sea ").

The work opens with an extended slow introduction (Andante tranquillo ), in sun shades in the lower strings come first horn calls before gradually added enters the full orchestra. Trumpet fanfares lead to the held in sonata form midsection over (Allegro ma non troppo ); a heroic main theme in the violins followed by a lyrical secondary theme that intone the cellos. The focus of the implementation is a spirited fugal. The main theme returns in a full orchestra again before a slow passage suggests the onset of dusk. The composition ends with a brief reminiscence of the introduction and fades away in triple piano in the cellos.

Premiere and reception

The premiere of the work took place on October 8, 1903 Copenhagen Odd Fellow Palæet with the Copenhagen Royal Chapel under the direction of Johan Svendsen. During the concert audience responded with enthusiasm, the judgment of music criticism fell out shared.

Nielsen himself conducted the work during his lifetime more than once, in Gothenburg, Stockholm, Helsinki and Berlin. Today it is one of Nielsen's most performed compositions and is sent as the first music from the Danish Radio today in the New Year's Eve right after the new year.