Post by Slinger on Apr 30, 2020 22:59:07 GMT
Alfvén was born in Stockholm, Sweden, and studied at the Royal College of Music (Kungliga Musikhögskolan) from 1887 to 1891 with the violin as his main instrument while receiving lessons from Lars Zetterquist. He also took private composition lessons from Johan Lindegren, a leading counterpoint expert. He earned a living by playing the violin at the Royal Opera in Stockholm. He also played the violin in the Royal Swedish Orchestra.
Starting in 1897, Alfvén travelled much of the next ten years in Europe. He studied violin technique in Brussels with César Thomson and learned conducting in Dresden as sub-conductor under Hermann Ludwig Kutzschbach.
In 1903-4 he was professor of composition at the Royal Conservatory, Stockholm.
From 1910 Alfvén was Director musices (music director) at the University of Uppsala (a post he held until 1939). There he also directed the male voice choir Orphei Drängar (or 'O.D.') (until 1947).
He conducted in festivals at Dortmund (1912), Stuttgart (1913), Gothenburg (1915), and Copenhagen (1918–1919).
He toured Europe as a conductor throughout his life. He received a Ph.D. honoris causa from Uppsala in 1917 and became a member of the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm in 1908.
He died on 8 May 1960 in Falun, Sweden just after his 88th birthday. His nephew, Hannes Alfvén, received the 1970 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Right, that's the dry old bio out of the way.
I've chosen this album purely for the fact that it will perhaps give you more insight into Alfven's musical worlds than a single symphony might. The album starts off loud, and a bit "martial" but don't be fooled by that. The second track is completely different, and even if think you've never heard of Alfven you'll more than likely recognise it.
My one complaint about this album is about track 5. It's nominally a polka, and I think it should be treated with a bit more lightness of touch, and a bit more playfully, otherwise I like this album a lot. The last four tracks, Berga-Kungen, or "The Mountain King" Suite just about covers all of Alfven's musical bases. It starts off a bit "Berlioz" and by the fourth movement we're almost in Percy Grainger territory.
That's enough waffle from me. I hope you enjoy it.
Sorry the poll is boring this time, punning in Swedish is not one of my limited number of talents.
open.qobuz.com/album/0747313585229
