MUSIC
05.12.10
MUSIC, Classical Music, 20th-Century Music, new release, review, orchestral works, unknown composers, new discoveries
This is an interesting new release. It features four orchestral compositions by Norwegian composer Arvid Kleven. Kleven was flautist in, what is now Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. Largely self taught as composer, Kleven penned the title work “Lotusland” in 1922 when he was 23 years old while “The Sleeping Forest” dates from 1923. These two compositions, both amply scored, could be easily called tone poems and the titles seem to reveal some influence from England (Arnold Bax pops to mind). “Lotusland” reveals young Kleven as a master of orchestration, a natural talent for this musical form – one can never feel the lack of formal education in this score. Despite being praised by the contemporary Norwegian critics, the piece disappeared from the
