Svendsen, Johan

Farvel

(”Farvel” Fantasie for Violin)

Farewell

JSV 8

Svendsen was 19 years old when he composed Farewell in Christiania in 1859, a musical leave-taking of Norway before commencing his studies on the European continent.

There are two autograph versions of the work, one for solo violin and string quartet and one for solo violin and piano. In terms of genre, the work thus stands out among the many waltzes, gallops and polkas Svendsen composed around this time.

The work may well have been a farewell greeting to its dedicatee, Svendsen’s friend and colleague Gudbrand Bøhn (1839–1906). That autumn, Bøhn was leaving for Brussels to study with the Belgian virtuoso and pedagogue Hubert Léonard (1819–1890) who had taught Fredrik Ursin (1825–1890), Gudbrand and Johan’s violin teacher in Norway.

Whether Farewell was ever performed in public is uncertain. Although the piece is kept in a fairly simple melodic style, it also includes virtuosic elements such as double stops and other technical effects, thus leaning more closely toward the Franco-Belgian violin school than the more German-oriented Violin Concerto in A major, Op. 6, written a few years later in Paris and Leipzig. Farewell ends in the spirit of Ole Bull with a traditional Norwegian cow call scored with the use of harmonics.

Composition: Between 1859-07 and 1859-08.

Christiania

Version for violin and string quartet

JSV 8a

Tempo: Andantino

Key: D major

Extent: ca. 5:30 min.

Sources

A^PTS: Parts, autograph

[Classification: notated music, manuscript, autograph, parts, fair copy]

34x27 cm.

There is also a Violin part for Abendlied JSV 47 under this Shelfmark

Grey hard cover binding
On the cover: Johan Svendsen til G. Böhn 

Written in ink (Johan Svendsen).

N-Onm (National Library of Norway, Oslo, Norway) Mus.ms.a 5183. Facsimile

[Solo Violin] 2 pages. Title page: ”Farvel” / Fantasie for Violin / Componeret & Tilegnet / G. Böhn. / af / Johan Svendsen. / Op. 10. Above the part: Farvel At the end of the part: Chr: 20de juli 1859 / JSvendsen

Violino 1mo 2 pages. Above the part: Farvel

Violino 2do 2 pages. Above the part: Farvel

Viola 2 pages. Above the part: Farvel One rehearsal marking in pencil

Violincello 2 pages. Above the part: Farvel One rehearsal marking in pencil

Piano-Forte-Stemme 7 pages. Above the part: "Farvel" Fantasie for Violin Op. 10. / Componeret & Tilegnet G. Böhn. af Johan Svendsen At the end of the part: Christiania d. 28/8-1859 / JSvendsen

Version for violin and piano

JSV 8b

Tempo: Andantino

Key: D major

Extent: ca. 5:30 min.

Sources

A: Parts, autograph

[Classification: notated music, manuscript, autograph, parts, fair copy]

34x27 cm.

There is also a Violin part for Abendlied JSV 47 under this Shelfmark

Grey hard cover binding
On the cover: Johan Svendsen til G. Böhn 

Written in ink (Johan Svendsen).

N-Onm (National Library of Norway, Oslo, Norway) Mus.ms.a 5183. Facsimile

[Solo Violin] 2 pages. Title page: ”Farvel” / Fantasie for Violin / Componeret & Tilegnet / G. Böhn. / af / Johan Svendsen. / Op. 10. Above the part: Farvel After the part: Chr: 20de juli 1859 / JSvendsen

Violino 1mo 2 pages. Above the part: Farvel

Violino 2do 2 pages. Above the part: Farvel

Viola 2 pages. Above the part: Farvel

Violincello 2 pages. Above the part: Farvel

Piano-Forte-Stemme 7 pages. Above the part: "Farvel" Fantasie for Violin Op. 10. / Componeret & Tilegnet G. Böhn. af Johan Svendsen After the part: Christiania d. 28/8-1859 / JSvendsen