Audio Samples

Kurt Hessenberg (1908 - 1994)

Concerto No. 1 for Orchestra (Concerto grosso) , Op. 18 (1938) [21’40”]

1. Allegro ma non troppo. [6’55”]

Opening [0’39”; 0.71 MB|0.26 MB|0.15 MB]
One early concertante episode [0’56”; 0.90 MB|0.37 MB|0.21 MB]
An amalgamation of previously distinct themes [0’45”; 0.82 MB| 0.30 MB|0.17 MB]
Final climax [0’44”; 0.85 MB|0.29 MB|0.17 MB]

2. Adagio. [6’05”]

Opening - main theme in its simplest form [0’51”; 0.83 MB|0.34 MB|0.19 MB]
Middle section [0’44”; 0.76 MB|0.29 MB|0.17 MB]
Climax of the middle section - a synthesis of various thematic ideas [0’49”; 0.87 MB|0.33 MB|0.18 MB]
(continuation) A haunting restatement of the main theme [0’43”; 0.75 MB|0.29 MB|0.16 MB]

3. Allegro moderato. [8’40”]

The declamatory & festive opening [1’10”; 1.27 MB|0.46 MB|0.26 MB]
End of the first main section and the following interlude [0’53”; 0.91 MB|0.35 MB |0.20 MB]
Final statement of the main theme, followed by the start of the fugato section [0’42”; 0.78 MB|0.28 MB|0.16 MB]
Conclusion [1’18”; 1.44 MB|0.52 MB|0.30 MB]

Symphony No. 2 in A minor, Op. 29 (1943) [42’20”]

1. Poco lento. Allegro moderato – Allegro con fuoco. [13’40”]

Second half of the poco lento introduction [1’15”; 1.33 MB|0.50 MB|0.28 MB]
Establishing the first tonal center in the Allegro con fuoco [1’00”; 1.10 MB|0.40 MB|0.23 MB]
Conclusion of the Exposition [1’03”; 1.06 MB|0.42 MB|0.24 MB]
From the Development [0’55”; 0.99 MB|0.37 MB|0.21 MB]
Sense of renewed conflict even in the Recapitulation [1’22”; 1.56 MB|0.55 MB|0.31 MB]
The movement fades away, leaving the drama to be resolved in the thematically related Finale [1’08”; 1.10 MB|0.45 MB|0.26 MB]

2. Largo. [8’00”]

Opening of the movement [1’27”; 1.51 MB|0.58 MB|0.33 MB]
A contrasting theme [0’48”; 0.84 MB|0.32 MB|0.18 MB]
Going through a series of variations [1’15”; 1.29 MB|0.50 MB|0.28 MB]
The main theme returns and grows [1’10”; 1.30 MB|0.46 MB|0.26 MB]

3. Allegro impetuoso. [6’35”]

Movement opening [1’00”; 1.18 MB|0.40 MB|0.23 MB]
From the contrasting middle section [0’56”; 0.98 MB|0.37 MB|0.21 MB]
Start of the coda [0’56”; 1.00 MB|0.38 MB|0.21 MB]
(continuation) Conclusion of the movement [0’47”; 0.83 MB|0.31 MB|0.18 MB]

4. Poco lento. Allegro. Allegro ma non troppo. Moderato e maestoso. [14’05”]

Transition from the first to the second subject [1’00”; 1.06 MB|0.40 MB|0.23 MB]
Pathos and despair [1’05”; 1.15 MB|0.43 MB|0.25 MB]
Closing of the Development [0’55”; 1.01 MB|0.36 MB|0.21 MB]
(continuation) Recapitulation of the main subject [0’47”; 0.83 MB|0.31 MB|0.18 MB]
Final contention, only to be dispelled by a humorous outlook on life, as represented by the jocular coda [1’20”; 1.47 MB|0.53 MB|0.30 MB]
Triumph of the human spirit over adversities [1’17”; 1.44 MB|0.51 MB|0.29 MB]