February 7 - Wilhelm Stenhammar (The Musical Birthday Series, 3rd Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 7th are here: Eubie Blake (2020) and (2021)

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Wilhelm Stenhammar (7 February 1871 – 20 November 1927) was an important Swedish composer, pianist, and conductor. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thoughts on Wilhelm Stenhammar

Critic R.H.R. Silvertrust opines that Stenhammar's six string quartets are the most important written between those of Johannes Brahms and Béla Bartók.-- adapted from Wikipedia

It has been said his string quartets

Should rank with those of Brahms and Bartók,

But take a breath, sit back, then let’s

Assess the case. Is this bizarre talk?

He’s often played in Nordic regions;

Of course, he’s championed by the Swedes,

And chances are that some Norwegians

Find he meets their Northern needs.

But sometimes, for mysterious reasons,

Fame is fated to be national;

It might be climate or the seasons,

No one says that taste is rational.

 

 

 

 

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