Johannes Midelfart Rivertz (1908 - 1988) “Spill Og Dans”, piano works / Rune Alver, piano

Recommendation

The discovery of lyrical and interesting music from the middle of the 20th century is always a gratifying one, especially when the composer writes with such a distinctive and alluring style as did Johannes Midelfart Rivertz. The title of this Lawo Classics album, Spill Og Dans, is also the name of Rivertz' most important work for solo piano. Pianist Rune Alver, who has regularly performed this music in recital, has now done much to rescue Rivertz from outright obscurity with the release of the composer's complete collected works for solo piano.

His mother a singer and his first piano lessons coming from his father, Norwegian composer Johannes Midelfart Rivertz (1903-1988) came from a very musical family. A lawyer by profession and later an appellate judge, he composed only exercises for piano for a long time. It was not until he was in his late 40's that he began to devote meaningful time to composition. Still, Rivertz produced a body of music which distinguished himself amply to gain membership in the Norwegian Society of Composers.

Rivertz' music is tonal and quite beautiful. It is not without its own subtle modernity however and it is this that makes it so engaging and interesting. Parallel keys, modal tonalities, melodies and tonal centers that seem to meander yet fall logically and beautifully into place and a certain feeling of spontaneity are all hallmarks of his style. The technical demands he places on the performer are always in the service of musical affect; they are not intended as a display for either the soloist or the composer. There are certainly echoes of Nielsen and Grieg here, but also of composers from the romantic and post-romantic eras, notably Schumann and Debussy.

You can hear all this in the two brief excerpts provided, movements two and three of Three Folk Songs, Op. 3. The music is simply and directly appealing, but can never be described as simplistic. If you're a listener who would enjoy hearing an hour of completely beguiling and original piano music, don't miss this!

Album Overview

Rescued from obscurity - the collected piano music of Johannes M. Rivertz! Johannes Midelfart Rivertz (1908 - 1988) is a very special composer in the history of Norwegian classical music. His style is markedly personal, but like many of his colleagues of the same generation, his music was destined for obscurity. Thanks to pianist Rune Alver's interest and efforts, Rivertz's original piano compositions are once again beginning to receive attention. The pieces are often found in his concert program, and here for the first time ever we have a complete recording of the composer's collected piano works! Rune Alver made his debut as pianist at the age of 20. He was born in Bergen and educated at Bergen Music Conservatory and the Norwegian Academy of Music, where he received his diploma in 1986. Alver is active as soloist and chamber musician and maintains a rigorous concert schedule, with recent performances in Germany, France, Russia, China, and South Africa.

Rune Alver speaking about Johannes M. Rivertz's music: It is a joy to immerse oneself in the piano music of Johannes M. Rivertz, a discerning composer with high standards of excellence. His works have an inner logical structure and, at the same time, a refreshing spontaneity, organically fusing the universal with the personal. This somewhat unique synthesis occasionally reminds me of the Danish composer, Carl Nielsen. I am delighted to be able to help introduce the music of Johannes M. Rivertz to a wider audience.

Source: LAWO Classics

Johannes Midelfart Rivertz, composer Johannes Midelfart Rivertz (1908-1988) is a very special composer in the history of Norwegian classical music. His style is markedly personal, but like many of his colleagues of the same generation, his music was, in part, destined for obscurity. Thanks to pianist Rune Alver’s interest and efforts, however, Rivertz’s original piano compositions are once again beginning to receive attention.

Rune Alver, piano

Rune Alver, piano Rune Alver made his debut as pianist at the age of twenty.  He was born in Bergen and educated at Bergen Music Conservatory and the Norwegian Academy of Music, where he received his diploma in 1986. Alver is active as soloist and chamber musician and maintains a rigorous concert schedule, with recent performances in Germany, France, Russia, China and South Africa. www.runealver.net

 

 

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