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(Hugo Emil Alfven)
Alfven's first symphony was the first one to be
successful in Sweden, even though there were others in existence by
composers such as Lindblad and Berwald. It was premiered in 1897 by the Hovkapellet, the Royal
National Opera orchestra, and gained immediate acclaim. The work is said to have been
inspired by Johan Svendsen, as well as showing touches of Wagner and
Berlioz, but this was changed seven years later when he re-orchestrated the
work. The performance of this
symphony in 1897, coupled with his Symphony No. 2 in 1899, made such an
impact to the musical audience in Sweden that it was surely a huge factor
in the eventual establishment of a symphony orchestra in Stockholm in
1914. The piece lasts in the
order of 35 minutes and begins with a drum-roll followed by a cello solo in
the Grave section with a bridge into the second part of the first movement
that has been likened to Brahms.
The second movement has been described as "sentimental" and the
third picks the up the tempo and brings in a lively mood. The final section begins lightly
with a piccolo leading a woodwind background in a march and leads into an
exciting climax that reflects the beginning of that movement. The four
movements are listed as:
(i)
Grave: Allegro con brio
(ii)
Andante
(iii)
Allegro molto scherzando
(iv)
Allegro ma non troppo
Royal Scottish National Orchestra recordings
Naxos 8.553962
Conductor - Niklas
Willen
Sources:
- http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.553962
- http://inkpot.com/classical/alfvenorch1.html
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