Description: | Otto Valdemar Malling (1 June 1848 – 5 October 1915) was a Danish composer, from 1900 the cathedral organist in Copenhagen and from 1889 professor, then from 1899 Director of the Royal Danish Academy of Music, Copenhagen. He was born in Copenhagen, and became a pupil of Niels Gade and Johan Peter Emilius Hartmann. in his later career he mainly composed organ works and vocal music, but he also wrote a significant amount of orchestral music, as well a substantial cantata "Der hellige Land", and a symphony in D minor. He was a co-founder and vice-conductor of The Concert Society, Copenhagen (1874), supporting himself as organist at various Copenhagen churches. His scores of organ music brought Malling some reputation abroad, but after his death he was soon forgotten in his native country.
The three movements of "Der Tod und die Auferstehung Christi", Op.54 make up a sort of "Holy Week Suite", as they begin with the events in the garden of Gethsemane, move (in a most agonizing manner) to the journey and arrival at Golgatha, and the innocent and still-unknown events that were yet to take place. The third movement, "Ostermorgen" (Alegretto - F major) is not at all what you'd expect after the first two pieces! It is a light-hearted, almost playfully "swinging" movement, that seems so innocent, as the great events of Easter have yet to be revealed! The piece starts with two soft solo reeds echoing the watchmans' calls the night is over. The joyful movement, which is based upon a theme from Malling's own cantata, "Das heilige Land" serves as thematic material, which passes through a number of keys, with the intensity building until the final conclusion on full organ. |