For the Record, Op. 48: Eldbjørg Hemsing Debut Album; Eybler Quartet's Early Beethoven

March 8, 2018, 4:12 PM · Welcome to "For the Record," Violinist.com's weekly roundup of new releases of recordings by violinists, violists, cellists and other classical musicians. We hope it helps you keep track of your favorite artists, as well as find some new ones to add to your listening!

If you have a new recording you would like us to consider for inclusion in our Thursday "For the Record" feature, please e-mail Editor Laurie Niles. Be sure to include the name of your album, a link to it and a short description of what it includes.

Eldbjørg Hemsing. Photo by Nikolaj Lund.

Borgström & Shostakovich Violin Concertos
Eldbjørg Hemsing, violin
Vienna Symphony, Olari Elts conducting

For her debut CD, Norwegian violinist Eldbjørg Hemsing performs a long-forgotten work by the fellow Norwegian composer Hjalmar Borgström. His Violin Concerto in G major was first performed in 1914 as part of a celebration of the centenary of the Norwegian constitution, and though it was well received, it did not become established in the repertoire. "Opening the score of his first violin concerto for the first time I was immediately intrigued," Hemsing said. "This concerto...is incredibly beautiful, full of Norwegian nationalist sentiment so typical of its time but also worthy of international attention. It reminds me of where I come from – the rugged landscape of Valdres and Jotunheimen, where the surrounding mountains rise dramatically over the valleys – and the music makes me yearn for my roots." The Borgström is paired with Dmitri Shostakovich’s First Violin Concerto. BELOW: Eldbjørg Hemsing talks about discovering the long-forgotten Borgström Violin Concerto, with excerpts from the piece:

Beethoven: String Quartets Op. 18 1-3
Eybler Quartet
Aisslinn Nosky, violin
Julia Wedman, violin
Patrick Jordan, viola
Margaret Gay, cello

The early quartets of Beethoven are like "new music" to the Toronto-based Eybler Quartet, which specializes in the two or three generations of quartet music before the time of Beethoven, playing on period-appropriate instruments. "Beethoven's work immediately stands apart from that of those working around him: articulations and dynamics are more frequent, detailed and specific, and we find more special instructions," said Eybler violist Patrick Jordan. "Beethoven represents a sudden step up in complexity, rather than a smooth point along the curve." BELOW: From the album, String Quartet in F Major, Op. 18, No. 1: I. Allegro con brio:

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Replies

Erik Williams

March 9, 2018 at 09:47 PM · Anyone know what type of shoulder rest she is using here? Looks like something I could be interested in.

Laurie Niles

March 10, 2018 at 08:38 PM · Erik, let me see if I can find out..

85.180.1.80

March 11, 2018 at 10:14 PM · Just for the records: The "long-forgotten" Borgström violin concerto was released just 2010 on a Simax CD with Jonas Batstrand and that recording also made its way (unfortunately) to youtube.

Laurie Niles

March 12, 2018 at 12:26 AM · Sounds like it's making a comeback!

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