Swedish Rhapsody No. 1

Swedish Rhapsody No. 1(Swedish:Svensk rapsodi) is the subtitle ofMidsommarvaka(Swedishfor 'Midsummer Vigil'),^[1]a symphonicrhapsodyby theSwedishcomposerHugo Alfvén(1872–1960). Although it is only the first of three similarly named works, it is often simply called "the Swedish Rhapsody".

The Rhapsody was written in 1903. It is the best-known piece by Alfvén, and also one of the best-known pieces of music in Sweden. The score, published around 1906, describes it as:^[1]

[A] fantasy on popular Swedish folk melodies depicting the moods evoked by an old-timeSwedish Midsummerwake; the dancing and games around theMay-polethrough the magic night of Midsummer Eve. [One theme] is the composer's own invention, while other themes are borrowed from the folk-music of Sweden and elaborated by the composer.

It is scored for an orchestra consisting of threeflutes(third doubling onpiccolo), threeoboes(third doubling oncor anglais), twoclarinetsin A (second doubling onE-flat clarinet),bass clarinetin A, threebassoons,fourhornsin F, twotrumpetsin D, threetrombones(two tenor, one bass), onetuba,timpani,cymbals,triangle,crotales,twoharps,andstrings.^{[citation needed]}

The Rhapsody was adapted as a ballet,La Nuit de St Jean,choreographed byJean Börlin.It was first performed by Ballets Suedois in Paris in October 1920.

In popular culture

The main theme of "Swedish Rhapsody No. 1" has been used several times inpop culture:

It is played repeatedly in the 1952 short filmThe Stranger Left No Card.
The 1953 recording of the piece byPercy Faithand his orchestra was a US Top 30 hit. The same year,light orchestralBritish cover versions byMantovaniandRay Martinmade theUK Singles Chart,peaking at no. 2 and no. 4 respectively.^[2]^[3]
It was arranged and recorded as afingerstyle guitarsolo in 1957 by American guitaristChet Atkins,and became one of his best-known recordings.^{[citation needed]}
It is played for a few seconds byDeep Purple's guitaristRitchie Blackmoreduring the version of "Lazy"on the group's live albumMade in Japan.^{[citation needed]}
Thenumbers station'Swedish Rhapsody' got its nickname after listeners believed this piece of music was being used as theinterval signal.Documents subsequently released from Polish intelligence revealed that the signal was produced by amusic box(pitched to sound like anice cream truck) playing the song.Agencja Wywiadu(the owners of the station) claimed that the melody wasEmilie Reisdorff's "Luxembourg Polka".^{[citation needed]}
The opening theme is quoted in the verse of "Mah Nà Mah Nà",written byPiero Umilianifor the filmSweden: Heaven and Hell,and later popularized byThe Muppets.^{[citation needed]}
The Rhapsody was used by the external service ofRadio Swedenas a signature tune for international shortwave broadcasts in the 1960s and 1970s. A recording from 1977 can be heard on intervalsignals.net.^{[citation needed]}

References

^^a ^bFull score. Wilhelm Hansen. ca.1906.
^Roberts, David (2006).British Hit Singles & Albums(19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 348.ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
^Roberts, David (2006).British Hit Singles & Albums(19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 352.ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

External links

Swedish Rhapsody No. 1:Scores at theInternational Music Score Library Project
Upne

[score-1] Full score. Wilhelm Hansen. ca.1906.

[British_Hit_Singles_&_Albums-2] Roberts, David (2006).British Hit Singles & Albums(19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 348.ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

[British_Hit_Singles_&_Albums_2-3] Roberts, David (2006).British Hit Singles & Albums(19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 352.ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

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