Hugo Alfvén (1872-1960), Sverige / Suède / Sweden Swedish Rhapsody No. 1, Op. 19: "Midsommarvaka" Iceland Symphony Orchestra Petri Sakari ---------------
Hugo Alfven levde och bodde i det vackra samhället Leksand vid den vackra sjön Siljan i Dalarna i Sverige. Inte långt från där jag nu bor. Han gjorde mycket gott för musikkulturen här. Lite stolt är jag nog. 😊
I am Russian and have lived more than half of my life in Sweden, soon 27 years. Hugo Alvfén is the Swedish greatest composer. Dalarna region, Silja lake area are very beautiful. It is own special spirit there.
I had the great privilege of being allowed to play a minute on his piano, at his Home Museum near Falun in Sweden back in 2018. So grateful! Silvia Escobar. Madrid
Half of my family came from Sweden two centuries ago. Back in my youth I had an opportunity to live and study there. The first time I heard Midsommarvaka I was over whelmed at how much the piece truly represents the country. Hugo Alfvén masterfully captured the country's spirit. Every time I listen to it I am transported back to the place where I once spent a memorable chapter of my youth.
Nicolas Messina : It translates to English as "Midsummer's Vigil". Midsommarvaka is (very roughly) an annual Swedish festival somewhat equivalent to the American Fourth of July and Mardi Gras rolled into one. I am not Swedish, and apologize to any Swedes who take offense, but as I understand it, that would be the best interpretation to modern day Americans. PS: Midsummer is, or is approximately, June 20th. Yes, what we would call "the first day of summer".
That is in fact a traditional Dalecarlia folk song, "Vindarna sucka uti skogarna". Also beatifully captured by singer Monica Zetterlund on her jazz album "Waltz for Debbie" with Bill Evans.
Underbar musik! Min japanska mor berättade att denna användes som signaturmelodi i japansk radio under 1940 & 50-talet så hon kände igen den när hon kom till Sverige i slutet av 1950-talet och blev mäkta förvånad över att den var svensk, det visste hon inte.
Dallas Hays in Kansas. I'm 20% swedish but somehow 0.3% japanese. I am sure the only one on my block. I was listening to swedish symphony favorites and heard something famiiar. I found it. I likely remember the Percy Faith or Montovani version. I have to have my S&B curry bars on hand, ordered on line, Hot not mild please.
This rhapsody is immensely popular and deserves it. it is very well composed and orchestrated with some touchs of humour without any banality. I love it quite especially.
Like a few thousand other folks, I'd never heard this beyond the first movement. It is so beautiful, Iove the recurring theme. This was used as the opening music for a TV program in the early'60s hosted by Don Ameche covering circuses worldwide, I was about 9 then, now I'm 69. How time has flown but it been fun now and again. Thanks for this beautiful post.
8:08 Lost for words, no way to describe the feeling of my home country! It puts me in a 1,000 places with a 1,000 emotions. From the article summers to the long shores my Malmö, and from the thousands of islands off the west coast to the millions of lakes in the inlaid all hoping to tell their story all the way to the magical east. gosh I have a love/hate relationship with Sweden but I will always love it!
Une interprétation dynamique et lumineuse de cette belle rhapsodie, d'un compositeur longtemps (et injustement) méconnu en France. Merci pour ce partage !
eu tinha um lp antigo meu pai tinha uma coleção destes discos eu adorava ouvir minha mãe colocava pra mim dormir o lp chamava musicas pra ouvir e sonhar estou muito feliz em rever esta melodia thank you!!!!!
my most favourate Hugo Alfven piece. NOT TOO long but perfect balance of light and heavy sequences, some you want to spring to your feet and take all the strain of the day away (2.30) and then at (4.30 onwards ) a huge change into something very thought prevoking.
The beginning is played by Ritchie Blackmoore briefly on Deep Purple's live version of 'Lazy' from the Made in Japan album, 08:50 into the track. Pretty cool as a Swedish Deep Purple fan!
@@adamblaha9838 Yes haha, and it's also funny that it's in Japan in 1971 or whatever it was. Can't have been too many in the audience knowing what piece it is, that's my guess anyway 😂
I knew this music since I was a child, but only recently found out who the composer was and how to find it on RU-vid. What an excellent addition to my collection of wonderul classical music.
Just when you thought Sweden was bland, then Alfven creates this masterpiece that captures a flight of Monarch butterflies careening through heaven’s abode.
Found it! Way back in the 70's I got the Deep Purple Made in Japan album, and Richie Blackmore used this in a guitar solo. I have always wondered where it came from, here it is.
He plays the melody during "Lazy". I always knew it as "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?", but thanks to youtube I now know of "Swedish Rhapsody" as well.
The main theme of the beginning of this rhapsody is very popular, but modt people do not know the entire rhapsody and are unable to give the name of the composer. Alfven has a rather conservative musical language, but he uses it in a very convincing way. His mastery of the orchestra is awesome.
En vacker komposition av Hugo Alfvén! Det är mycket intressant att lyssna på svenska rapsodi. Det är en stark svensk anda! Tack för ladda upp! Hälsningar från Brasilien!!!
Tack så mycket! Detta år spelar den filharmoniska orkestern av min stad ( filarmonica.art.br/concertos/agenda-de-concertos/expedicoes-paises-nordicos/ ) den svenska rapsodi. =D
What the Romanian rhapsody is to that country the midsummer rhapsody is to Sweden. Both are very attractive orchestral showpieces, deservedly popular, lovely melodies and loving homages to their countries by their respective composers.
best bit 6.00 to 9.23 AND then the change at 9.46 to the very end - great all the way to the end. make a great exit to a wedding ceremony in some country manor or perhaps in southern Ireland (11.39) somewhere
Compositeur suédois méconnu que j'aime beaucoup. L'intégral de cette magnifique Symphonie est très peu joué sauf le thème qui est très connu. Cette symphonie est superbe !
11:20 The grand feast is at long last ready. Be seated, esteemed guests, and merrily savour the fruits of this blessed land of summer. Raise your glasses up at the bright blue sky, and toast to the splendour of life. This is one of my favourite pieces of music ever created. Every second sublime. ♥
How come we al know the opening theme to this Rhapsody; but not the composer? It must have featured prominently somewhere throughout the Western World, for so many to recognise it: but, where?
Piero Umiliani quoted it in the verse of his song Mah Nà, Mah Nà... It started out in a soft porn film (“Sweden: Heaven or Hell?“) , then made famous by the Muppets, first on Ed Sullivan, then Sesame Street, and finally on the Muppet Show itself.
PERCY FAITH MADE A POPULAR RECORDING IN THE USA DURING THE NINETEEN-FIFTIES. IT WAS A VERY GOOD AND A VERY POPULAR RECORD LIKE HIS "DELICADO" AND ALSO HIS "PERFIDIA".
Never heard of Hugo Alfven but this was a very popular song on the radio in the 1950's in North America. May they got tired of Sinatra, Boone, Patti Page. Who knows?
