Symphony No. 1, Op. 26 (Towards the Mountains)
Symphony No. 2, Op. 34 (The Midnight Hour)

Norwegian composer Eivind Groven (1901-1977) stands as a unique figure against the backdrop of 20th century music. He was first and foremost a musicologist and archivist invested in the study and preservation of Norwegian folk music, and apparently highly skilled at playing the willow flute and the Hardanger fiddle. And since folk fiddlers and singers could produce a higher gradation of semitones within the 12-tone scale, he spent most of his life creating and developing a microtonal system, and building justly-tuned organs, where each octave is divided into 36 tones, allowing a musician to play in all keys. Now except for highly folk inspired melodies, none of this seems to have permeated his orchestral music, or at least not the Symphonies showcased in this recording.

Based on the above paragraph, one would assume that atonality would be the overriding force within his music, when actually it's the complete opposite. Innovative tonality through and through, with fresh open intervals and generally bright colors, are prevalent in his writing. His music is highly individual and yet very Nordic in tone and expression. Like the cover image of this CD, it evokes wide open natural vistas. The bold thematic material, usually assigned to brass instruments, is nicely counter-balanced by rich string textures and a rhythmically propulsive undercurrent. Its slow movements are stoic in nature while the outer movements display an upbeat character.

Both these symphonies have been recorded individually before by other orchestras, but it's nice to see them presented together on this Naxos CD. The Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra is one of Norway's top symphony orchestras, and is regularly recorded and broadcast by Norway's national broadcasting service. They and conductor Peter Szilvay who for a while served as assistant conductor to Mariss Jansons, do this music full justice. If you enjoy exploring rarely heard music by neglected composers, the music of Eivind Groven is sure to refresh your listening experience.