Sunday, 24 August 2025

Fortner: Symphony

Day 236

Wolfgang Fortner: Symphony

West German Radio Symphony Orchestra

Günter Wand

Fortner is another of those German composers who were active in the years up to, during, and after the Second World War. Although he was for a time conductor of the orchestra of the Hitler Youth in Heidelberg, he seems to have escaped the taint of Nazism and he became one of the leaders of the German musical revival after the war.

This symphony dates from 1947 and is as far as I can see the only one he wrote. It is a fairly compact 4-movement piece which I have so say I found completely underwhelming. Indeed a few hours after I had listened to it I had completely forgotten almost everything about it. The style is best described as being in the style of Hindemith or perhaps neo classical Stravinsky - it was competent and professional but nothing more than that. I can’t say that I am tempted to listen to any more of his music.

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