Hugo Alfvén (1872-1960)

Papillon (Fjärilen)

Rudén no. 143

Print
  • Year of composition: Publishing contract 27 July 1936
  • Work category: Mixed choir a cappella
  • Text author: Gustaf Alexanderson (1880-1937) Lawyer
  • Duration: 3 min
  • Detailed duration: 2,5 minutes

Solo voices/choir

S.A.A.T.

Examples of printed editions

Stockholm 1936, CG 2842. Gehrmans kör-bibliotek, 86
Stora körboken, no. 25. Gehrmans, Stockholm 1951

  • Possible call no. and autograph comment: Autograph missing

Description of work

Allegretto grazioso e rubato D major 3/4


Work comment

Alfvén composed the song about the dancing butterfly, as was his wont, first for men´s choir, and immediately thereafter for mixed choir. It is sung pretty much equally often by both choir types. The song is a good example of how Alfvén carefully works with multiple-verse texts. He gives the verses widely differing features, almost as if the work consisted of various songs joined together, and in addition varies the harmony between major and minor. The last verse, however, takes up the melody and the character of the first verse.


Libretto/text

Papillon dansar i solens ljus
lätt som blommornas älva,
dansar i livslust och glädjerus;
vingarna skimra och skälva.

Papillon kom som ett bud om vår
vintern var tung att bära
vårsolens glans om vingarna står.
Papillon, solbarn, kära.

Blomman knoppas och vecklas ut,
vissnar och frukter sätter.
Papillon dansar var minut,
fladdrar dagar och nätter.

Hösten kommer, soln går bort.
Vingarna vilja ej bära.
Sommarens ljuvliga dag var så kort;
Papillen, döden är nära.

Papillon ännu så munter nyss,
ångest och köld förnimmer;
darrar och somnar vid dödens kyss
lätt under kvällssols skimmer.