Swedish Rhapsody No. 1, for orchestra ("Midsommarvaka"), Op. 19

• Date: 1903
• Composer: Hugo Alfvén
• Period: Modern (1910-1949)

Review

This acclaimed work is a typical Romantic-era folk-based rhapsody. The familiar opening tune for clarinet over pizzicato strings introduces a carefree, almost flippant, mood. As the tempo slows down, a longer section features an English horn solo, eventually leading to a succession of dances which suggest considerable revelry. In Sweden, Midsummer Night, or St. John's Eve, is "midsommar," a celebration fraught with powerful symbolism. Revelers stay up late to celebrate the shortest night -- with virtually no darkness -- of the year. Composed in 1904, this piece became so popular that Alfvén later expanded it into ballet score called St. John's Eve. ~ Joseph Stevenson, Rovi

Albums with Complete Performances of the Work

Title	Date
250 Years of Great Music: From Bach to Bernstein	1992
50 Years of Vox	1995
A Midsummer Night's Dream	1996
A Nordic Festival	1991
Alfvén: Swedish Rhapsodies; A Legend of the Skerries	1994
Alfvén: Three Swedish Rhapsodies; En Skärgardssägen; Suite from Bergakungen	1992
Enescu: Romanian Rhapsodies Op11; Alfven: Swedish Rhapsody No1
Famous Rhapsodies	1998
Fritz Busch conducts Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Wagner, Alfven, Schubert
Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites 1 & 2; Symphonic Dances	2001
Grieg: Peery Gynt Suites 1 & 2	1998
Hugo Alfven: Midsommarvaka/Symphony No.2 in D Major Op.11	1987
Hugo Alfvén conducts Hovkapellet	1994
Hugo Alfvén: Symphonies Nos. 1-5; Swedish Rhapsodies	2004
Hugo Alfvén: Symphonies Nos. 1-5; Swedish Rhapsodies	2004
Hugo Alfvén: The Prodigal Son; Midsummer Vigil; Songs; Violin Sonata	1988
Hugo Alfvén: The Swedish Rhapsodies	1992
Mantovani's Golden Hits/More Mantovani Golden Hits	2010
Nordic Album	2002
One Hit Wonders	2003
Ports of Call	1997
Rhapsodies	1989
Rhapsody
Scandinavian Favourites	1997
Scandinavian Festival	1991
Scandinavian Moods	1992
Sibelius: Finlandia
Stockholm Philharmonic 75th Anniversary	1988
Swedish Highlights
Swedish Orchestral Favourites	1995
The Four Seasons: A Musical Calendar of Favourite Classics	2003
The Music of Scandinavia	1992
The Sound of Scandinavia [Box Set]	2009
The World's Favorite Music	1986
Your Favourite Classics	1995

Albums with Excerpt Performances of the Work

Title	Date
20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Mantovani & Hi	2006
An Evening of Strings and Romance	1997
Best of the Mantovani Orchestra [Madacy 1994]	1994
Brass Band Spectacular: The Best of British Band	1994
Christmas with the Bands
Christmas with the Mantovani Orchestra [Madacy]	1998
Classic Themes	2001
Delicado	2004
International Hits
La Mer	2005
Mantovani Serenade	2005
Mantovani: The Singles Collection	2001
Mantovani: Triple Treasures	2002
Moulin Rouge
On Parade	1988
Scandinavian Moods	1999
The Best Ever Mantovani Collection	2005
The Essential Collection: Mantovani	2007
The Genius of Larry Adler: 15 Harmonica Classics	1999
The Mantovani Orchestra Plays Christmas Favorites	1996
The Originals: Mantovani - Around the world with his orchestra	2008
The Ultimate Collection	2002
The Very Best of Mantovani [Decca]	1998
The World of Mantovani [Decca]	2009

Previous:	Swedish Polka (Springtime in Roslagen)
Next:	Swedish Rhapsody No. 2

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