Søffren Degen (1816-1885)

Notes on the pieces

by Jens Bang-Rasmussen

SOLO GUITAR

Funeral March

This is a strange and very interesting composition. The attempt to break new barriers on the guitar can be seen in his imitation of church bells. The long passage near the end with only one voice makes one think of the organ. Sor’s Marche Funèbre op. 59 seems to have been a source of inspiration for this piece. Like all Degen’s compositions, the Funeral March is written for the seven-string guitar.

Pièce facile pour la guitare

This is the only work by Degen which was published in his lifetime.  It was published in a collection of seven pieces (sept morceaux), this one by Degen and the rest by Sor and Giuliani. It is a wonderful piece, very inspired by the Danish national style of composing. Like all Degen’s compositions, it is written for the seven-string guitar.

Lied ohne Worte no. 9 (Mendelssohn)

This transcription is very well crafted for the seven-string guitar, and may have been inspired by J. K. Mertz and his transcriptions of Schubert songs.

DUETS FOR TWO GUITARS

March

This duet is typical of Degen’s way of composing, with strong demands on the performer’s skill as a guitarist, and always with a Danish touch. Like all Degen’s compositions, it is written for the seven-string guitar.

Le Passage des Alpes (Coste)

Degen composed a second guitar part to three of Coste’s major concert works, of which this is one. The second guitar part was sold along with the first edition of these works by Coste. This shows how close Degen and Coste were related. I have changed the e-flat in bar 185 to an e-natural, because I felt that the e-flat was a bit out of style. As in all Degen’s transcriptions, the second part composed by Degen is written for the seven-string guitar.

Einsiedlers Waldglöcklein (Mertz)

This work was originally written for guitar and pianoforte, and Degen made a second guitar part out of the piano part. It is not certain that he was in contact with Mertz. It may be that it was Coste, a close friend of Degen’s, who introduced him to Mertz and his music. Like all Degen’s transcriptions, it is written for the seven-string guitar.

VIOLONCELLO AND GUITAR

Meditation (Gounod/J. S. Bach)

This is a very fine transcription of the Ave Maria. Degen’s fingering for the guitar is very interesting and unorthodox and tells us how developed his guitar playing must have been. Even though this is written for the seven-string guitar, it is not a problem to play the transcription on the six-string guitar.

Ständchen (Schubert)

A popular piece for guitar and violoncello. Degen transcribes music very freely, as did most of the romantic composers. He transcribes the original music into a style of his own. As in all Degen’s transcriptions, the guitar part is for the seven-string guitar.

Andante (Haydn)

An unbelievably fine and sophisticated transcription of the second movement of Haydn’s  string quartet op. 33 no 6.  Degen transcribes music very freely, as did most of the romantic composers. He transcribes the original music into a style of his own. As in all Degen’s transcriptions, the guitar part is for the seven-string guitar.

Larghetto (Mozart)

An unbelievably fine and sophisticated transcription of the second movement of Mozart’s clarinet quintet no. 1, K 581.  Degen transcribes music very freely, as did most of the romantic composers. He transcribes the original music into a style of his own. As in all Degen’s transcriptions, the guitar part is for the seven-string guitar.

Melodic waltz, op. 16

A relatively small piece for cello and guitar, very romantic and written with a true sense of the sonority of the cello and the wonderful melodies it can produce.  As in all Degen’s compositions, the guitar part is for the seven-string guitar.

Blandt bjergene, op. 19 ("among the mountains")

This is an outstanding composition for cello and guitar. Truly romantic program music, very inspired by the program music of  Coste, and always with a touch of his teacher J. P. E. Hartmann. As in all Degen’s compositions, the guitar part is for the seven-string guitar.

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