Hugo Alfvén, the composer, was 24 years old when he completed his First Symphony in January 1897.
Compositional Technique
The 'Upsala Rhapsody' incorporates numerous Swedish student and drinking songs, including melodies by Adolf Fredrik Lindblad, Prince Gustaf, Gunnar Wennerberg, and Bellman quotations.
Composition History
Alfvén revised his First Symphony twice, first extensively in 1903-04, and again before its publication in 1951, re-orchestrating it for smaller forces.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Alfvén aimed to introduce a 'Swedish language' into his music, creating a darker, more melancholy orchestral color, distinct from German or Danish influences.
Composition History
Alfvén's First Symphony was a pioneering work in Swedish symphonic literature, as nothing comparable had been written since Franz Berwald's death in 1868.
Composition History
The Swedish Rhapsody No.2, 'Upsala Rhapsody,' was commissioned for a 1907 festival celebrating the 200th anniversary of Carl von Linné's birth at Uppsala University.
Instruments
Alfvén's 'Drapa' (an ancient Scandinavian ballad) requires an extremely large orchestra, with the composer specifically requesting six harpists to manage two extensive harp parts.
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