HUGO ALFVÉN (1872-1960)

 

Synnøve Solbakken (Synnøve of Solbakken), Op. 50 (Suite from the music for the film)

En Bygdesaga (A Country Tale), Op. 53 (Suite from the music for the film Mans kvinna)

Elégie (At Emil Sjögren’s Funeral), Op. 38

 

Norrköping Symphony Orchestra / Niklas Willén

 

 

In his native Sweden Hugo Alfvén’s music ranks as the most significant after that of Berwald. The music on this disc consists of two suites drawn from films that Alfvén scored during the 1930s and 1940s.

 

Both Suites draw on folk-tunes to evoke the countryside with a mix of bucolic devices and sombre pastoral melodies. Although the films were not well received, Alfvén’s music was widely commended.

 

In Elégie, Alfvén pays tribute to fellow countryman and composer Emil Sjögren (1853-1918). This work anticipates his own Fourth Symphony (Naxos 8557284).

 

This is the second symphonic Alfvén offering from the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra following their issue of the composer’s fifth symphony in February 2007.

 

Naxos 8557828