Classical 12 Tracks 55m 31s "If Valen (1887-1952) had not been such a shy, self-effacing person, he would have won fame throughout Europe." So said Issay Dobrowen, a prominent conductor in the inter-war period, and chief conductor from 1927 to 1931 of Oslo's Filharmonisk Selskaps Orkester (predecessor of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra). The path to fame was indeed uphill for Norway's leading modernist. However, Valen's diffidence was not the only reason for this - another was his chosen musical language, which grew out of the twelve-tone method of composition associated with Arnold Schönberg, Alban Berg and Anton Webern. By writing this sort of music, albeit with his own highly personal stamp, he was asking for trouble in the conservative world of Norwegian music.
The beauty and profundity of Valen's subdued but expressive music is being discovered by more and more listeners. Valen's reputation as one of Norway's foremost composers and as a pioneer of new music in the 20th century is now secure. The legendary pianist Glenn Gould recognized the importance of Valen's music, saying "For the first time in many years I have found a looming personality in the 20th century's music".
01-04 String Quartet No.1, Op.10 [21'40]
弦乐四重奏第1号,Op10
I. Moderato 8:43
中庸的快板
II. Adagio 4:36
柔板
III. Scherzo 3:12
谐谑曲
IV. Rondo 5:09
回旋曲
05-07 String Quartet No.2, Op.13 [16'07]
弦乐四重奏第2号,Op13
I. Fuga (Andante con moto) 5:12
赋格(生动的行板)
II. Tempo di Menuetto, grazioso 4:13
优雅的小步舞曲速度
III. Finale (Allegro assai) 6:42
终曲(极快板)
08-09 String Quartet, Op.0 [12'43]
弦乐四重奏,Op0
I. Andante più tosto allegretto 6:05
近乎小快板的行板
II. Scherzo (Allegro molto vivace) 6:38
谐谑曲(十分活泼的快板)
10-12 Three poems by Goethe, Op.6 [05'01]
歌德诗谱曲3首,Op6
I. Sakontola 1:32
莎昆塔拉
II. Weiss wie Lilien 1:41
洁白如百合
III. Suleika 1:48
苏莱卡
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