Thursday, March 09, 2006

Support Freedom: Listen to Carl Nielsen!

Lee Harris of TCS Daily has a wonderful way to show support for the beleagered little land of Denmark: buy Carl Nielsen CDs! (See link above.)

Okay, it doesn't exactly hit intolerant Islamism where it hurts, but the great Dane is my favorite composer, at least since the death of Dvorak in 1904, so I am seconding his motion anyway.

If you don't know Nielsen's stuff you are in for a real treat. One Nielsen symphony contains more different rhythms, and more real excitement, than a whole shelf of rock CDs. The three greatest are numbers 3, 4 and 5.

Start with 3, the "Sinfonia espansiva," especially if you can find the classic Leonard Bernstein recording, with the Royal Danish Orchestra. It's impossible to imagine a better recording of that explosively joyous work. Music will never sound the same again.

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