- Year of composition: Dated Åkerö 13 August 1933
- Work category: Male choir a cappella
- Text author: Eri Blomberg
- First performed: Uppsala 23 April 1937. Orphei Dränger, cond. Hugo Alfvén
- Duration: Approx. 1-5 min
Solo voices/choir
T.T.B.B.
Examples of printed editions
Stockholm 1936. CG 2817. Gehrmans kvartett-bibliotek, 161
- Location autograph: Uppsala Universitetsbibliotek
- Possible call no. and autograph comment: UUB VMhs 185:22a
Description of work
Grave G minor 4/4
Work comment
The modernist Erik Blomberg inspired Hugo Alfvén to create a composition that would reach into the next musical epoch. It is original in that the men´s parts have their say almost the whole time – otherwise one could imagine that the women traditionally were the ones singing lullabies. The mood is in accordance with the tempo marking “Grave” – serious. The song was written in Leksand during summer vacation in 1933.
Libretto/text
Dagen blir natt, natten blir dag,
ingenting giv, ingenting tag,
allting glider mot döden.
Fröet blir frukt, och frukten blir frö,
blommorna blomma och dofta och dö,
allting glider mot döden.
Livet förbleknar och blir till en dröm,
allt är en dröm, blunda och glöm,
allting glider mot döden.