Svendsen, Johan

Hymne, op. 32

(Hymne ved Festforestillingen i Det kgl. Teater den 28. Maj 1892 i Anledning af Deres Majestæter Kong Christian den Niendes og Dronning Louises Guldbryllup)

(Festkantate til gallaforestillingen i det kgl. Theater i Anledning af Kong Christian IX og Dronning Louises Guldbryllup den 26 Mai 1892. Text af Dr. W. Bergsøe, Musik af Johan S. Svendsen. Op. 32.)

Hymn, Op. 32

JSV 90

In 1892 Johan Svendsen (1840–1911) was commissioned to compose three works for the golden wedding anniversary of the Danish royal couple, King Christian IX (1818–1906) and Queen Louise (1817–1898). The event was to be celebrated with pomp and circumstance in Copenhagen in May of that year.

The first work on the programme of the evening’s gala performance on 26 May at the Royal Danish Theatre was to be a hymn for choir, orchestra and recitation. Hymn, Op. 32, was probably not completed until 24 May 1892, two days before the premiere. The text is by Jørgen Vilhelm Bergsøe (1835–1911): ‘I Maj, da Blomst og Blad sprang ud’ (In May, when flowers and leaves burst forth). Svendsen was also asked to write a festive ballet for the final part of the evening’s gala performance. As acting chief conductor for Denmark’s joint choral societies, Svendsen was furthermore asked to compose a musical ‘morning gift’ for large men’s choir and brass that would be performed outdoors in front of Amalienborg Palace.

After moving to Denmark in 1883, Svendsen barely composed any new works. According to the composer himself, it was due to the pressures of work at the opera. Faced with this major commission, he therefore got leave from the Royal Danish Theatre and temporarily moved to Hotel Constantia in Charlottenlund near Øresund, some 10 kilometres east of central Copenhagen, in order to work in peace and quiet. Svendsen himself reported about the premiere in a letter of 15 July to his father Gulbrand in Norway. Clearly relieved, he proudly told his father that he had been bestowed the title of ‘commander’, and that the gala had been ‘one of the most magnificent events I have taken part in’.

Composition: 1892-05.

Copenhagen

Key: C major

Extent: ca.10 min.

Sources

A: Score, autograph

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

33 pages; 35,5x27,5 cm.

Title page: Festkantate / til / gallaforestillingen i det kgl. Theater / i Anledning af Kong Christian IX og / Dronning Louises Guldbryllup den 26 Mai 1892. / Text af Dr. W. Bergsøe,  / Musik / af / Johan S. Svendsen. / Op. 32. / Kjøbenhavn Mai 1892. / J. Svendsen

Hand ruled music paper, 18 staves
Pagination: 1–33
At the end of the score: Kjøbenhavn 2? Mai 1892 (the date may be 24 May 1892)

Solid red and grey hard cover binding with printed golden letters on the cover: Festkantate / Johan S. Svendsen
Typed on a small sheet of paper placed inside the score: Gave fra Wilhelm Hansen (Gift from Wilhelm Hansen)
There is also an other manuscript under the same Shelfmark.

Written in ink (Johan Svendsen). Additions in pencil.

N-Onm (National Library of Norway, Oslo, Norway) Mus.ms. 20. Facsimile

Provenance: In the protocol of the library: *Wilhelm Hansens musikforlag Dr. O.M. Sandvik. Den økonomiske utnyttelse (utgivelse) forbeholdt giveren (the donor owns the publishing rights).

B: Score, copy

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

38 pages; 26x34 cm.

Title page: Hymne / ved / Festforestillingen i Det kgl. Teater / den 26de Maj 1892 / i Anledning af / Deres Majestæter Kong Christian den Niendes / og Dronning Louises Guldbryllup / Texten af Dr phil Vilhelm Bergsöe Musiken af Joh. Svendsen. / Partitur

Hand ruled music paper, 18 staves
Pagination: 1–38

Black hardbound cover.
On the cover: Hymne / ved / Festforestillingen d. 26 Maj. 1892. / Partitur.

Written in ink (Copyist in Copenhagen).

DK-Kk (National Library of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark) C II, 159b 2° 1933-34.209. Facsimile