- Year of composition: 1934
- Work category: Mixed choir a cappella
- Text author: Traditional Swedish folkdance game
- Duration: 2 min
- Detailed duration: Around 2 min.
Solo voices/choir
S.S.A.T.
Examples of printed editions
Sveriges körförbund
- Location autograph: Musik- och teaterbiblioteket
Description of work
Raskt och skälmskt F major 3/4
Work comment
One of Alfvén´s many folk song arrangements, here of an older singing game. It was composed in 1934 – in two versions: for mixed choir, or vocal soloist, and string orchestra. A rather simple melody to which the composer, with the text as a point of departure, gives colour with harmony and variations of the parts.
Libretto/text
Behagar ungersven att taga sig en mö ibland de rosor och violer? Rosorna små, blommorna blå, allt vad ditt hjärta önskar att få, rosor och violer.
Behagar ungersven att taga sig en dans ibland de rosor och violer? Rosorna små, blommorna blå, allt vad ditt hjärta önskar att få, rosor och violer.
Behagar ungersven att taga sig en kyss ibland de rosor och violer? Rosorna små, blommorna blå, allt vad ditt hjärta önskar att få, rosor och violer.
In English:
Oh, pleases it the lad, to take himself a lass
amongst the roses and the violets?
Roses that spire, flow'rs of sapphire,
all that your heart may dream of and desire;
roses and violets.
Oh, pleases it the lad, would he join in a dance
amongst the roses and the violets?
Roses that spire, flow'rs of sapphire ...
Oh, pleases it the lad, to steal himself a kiss
amongst the roses and the violets?
Roses that spire, flow'rs of sapphire ...
Translation: Annika Vallgren