Svendsen, Johan

Fra Fjeld og Fjord, op. 29 (tapt)

(Fire Orchesterstykker til Festforestillingen i Christiania Theater den 13 Februar 1882)

From Mountains and Fjords, Op. 29 (lost)

JSV 82

Johan Svendsen wrote this work for a festive occasion at the Christiania Theater the on 13th of February 1882 where the whole Royal Family were present. The text was written by Lorenz Henrik Segelcke Dietrichson (1834–1917). On the 14th of february 1882 a vivid and colourful review was printed in Morgenbladet. But in the paper Verdens Gang Dietrichson’s text was harshly critizised in two editorial articles, for political reasons. Unfortunatley the score and parts are today lost. The work is mentioned twice in Svendsen’s Almanac of 1882, both times stating that this is music written especially for the occasion. Maybe some of the pieces are works existing now, with other or similar titles, but this cannot surely be defined. The work is listed in Svendsen's latest handwritten opus list as Op. 29. The newpapers in Christiania had advertisments for five further dates of performances, after the 13th of February. On these occasions Fra Fjeld og Fjord was each time followed by something different.

Composition: 4 Feb. 1882.

Christiania
According to the poster the performance had three parts: I. Fra Fjeld og Fjord. Tableauer af Hr. K. Bergslien, med Text af Hr. Prof. Dr. Dietrichson og Musik af Hr. Johan Svendsen. II. Intermezzo (Orchester) af Edv. Grieg. III. 2den Akt af Hærmændene paa Helgeland.
The poster also lists some further details: a) Prolog, fremsiges af Hr. Brun b) Forspil (Orchester) c) Fra Vinterfisket, fremsiges af Hr. Reimers Storm (Allegro) Tableau d) Jagt paa Høifjeldet, fremsiges af Hr. Reimers Stille (Andantino) Tableau e) Tømmerfløderens Bryllup, fremsiges af Fru Gundersen Springdands Tableau f) Epilog, fremsiges af Hr. Reimers.
In Svendsen's Almanac of 1882 he wrote the following on the 4th of February: Fuldfört den til Festforestillingen d. 13de bestemte Musik.

On the 13th of February he wrote: Festforestilling i Christiania Theater hvor mine fire til denne Leilighed componerede Orkesternummer opförtes.