Hägg, Jakob Adolf: Nordic Symphony and other pieces

CDS 1007-2 Jakob Adolf Hägg: Nordic Symphony, Overtures, American Festival Music. Gävleborg Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mats Liljefors and Göran W. Nilson

The first of the pieces reminds of the Swedish folksong Little Spider climbs the wall It is all great fun, also the Ouverture based on the American national anthem. Just hear the wonderful songlike second theme in track 2. well, worth the whole disc. Even Gade comes to mind. Hägg is a tragic case. He started off as one of the most promising Swedish composer talents of all times. But it came to a standstill. He seemed unable to take in more modern style in his compositions. The symphony is a significant in this respect. It just stays being a well written Schumann symphony. The composer did suffer from mental disorder and ended his life in an asylum. No an unusual destiny also for so many contemporaries who never know how to obtain recognition in their lifetime..