JSV 71
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Svendsen, Johan

Norsk rapsodi nr. 4, op. 22

Norwegian Rhapsody No. 4, Op. 22

([fr]: Rapsodie norvégienne. (No4).)

JSV 71

 

Dedicatee: Karl Hals

Johan Svendsen (1840–1911) wrote his four Norwegian rhapsodies in the years 1876–1877, toward the end of his first period in Norway while living and working in Christiania(Oslo) as a composer and conductor. The rhapsodies also represent the culmination of his most creative fifteen years as a composer. From here on, no more major orchestral works would flow from Svendsen’s pen. Lindeman’s Older and Newer Norwegian Mountain Melodies was released in three volumes between 1853 and 1867. Svendsen became familiar with these melodies early on. But it was probably not until 1876–1877 that Svendsen explored the material in depth.

The fourth rhapsody includes four songs from Lindeman’s collection – Den siste Laurdags-Kvelden (Lindeman Vol. I/303), Springdans from Surnadalen (Lindeman Vol. II/463), Kjæringa mæ Staven (Lindeman Vol. I/25) and Den bakvende Visa (Lindeman Vol. II/587). The first folk tune in the rhapsody is a halling that can be found in Halfdan Kjerulf’s XXV utvalgte norske folkedanser for piano udsatte (No. 4). Den siste Laurdags-Kvelden is a song that also Grieg used in his 25 Norwegian Folk Songs and Dances, Op. 17 (No. 15). Svendsen’s notebook with folk tunes shows that he was aware of the fact that Den bakvende Visa had also been used by Ole Bull in Et Sæterbesög. In one of the versions of Bull’s composition (for solo violin and string orchestra), the melody is harmonized nearly identically to Svendsen’s version. It is uncertain, however, who has borrowed from whom, since we have little information about this particular version, which is not in Bull’s own handwriting.

Besides the Romance, Op. 26, the rhapsodies were Svendsen’s most frequently performed works during his own lifetime. Warmuth’s new publications quickly made their way out into the world, and the editions were undoubtedly a success for him as well. Even in the first years, numerous performances were given all across the world, many of them conducted by others than Svendsen.

Composition: 1877-12.

Rome

Instrumentation: 2 fl., 2 ob., 2 cl., 2 fg., 4 cor., 2 tr., 3 trb., timp., str.

Andante

Metre: 6/8

Key: D minor

Extent: ca. 12 min

Reproduction (edition or facsimile):
Edited score (JSV)  

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File title:

Norsk rapsodi nr. 4, op. 22

File publication:

Norsk Musikkarv (NM)
Institutt for musikkvitenskap
Postboks 1017
Blindern 0315
Oslo
WWW: http://www.musikkarven.no/
E-mail: mailto://bjar-eng@online.no

Bjarte Engeset (Editor in Chief), Editorial Committee: Morten Christophersen, Bjarte Engeset, Jørn Fossheim, Audun Sannes Jonassen, Jørgen Langdalen, Øyvind Norheim


Last changed 2022-02-19 by bjarte