Wilhelm Peterson-Berger (1867−1942)

Symfoni nro 1, Baneret [Symphony no. 1. The Banner]

Print

1. När vi först drogo ut: Allegro, un poco moderato
2. Mellan fejderna: Allegro scherzando, non troppo moto
3. Vid hjältebåren: Lento doloroso con gravitá
3. Mot nya vårar: Allegro moderato

  • Year of composition: Composed in 1903, re-arranged in 1933 according to the score
  • Work category: Symphony
  • First performed: Stockholm 1st January 1904. Konsertföreningen [later to become the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra] conducted by Tor Aulin
  • Duration: 39 min

Instrumentation

3*.2.2.2 / 3.3.3.1/ timp, 3 perc / str
(piccolo)

Location for score and part material

Handwritten material can be found at the Musik- och teaterbiblioteket and with the Kungliga filharmonikerna [Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra]

  • Location autograph: Musik- och teaterbiblioteket

Literature

Karlsson, Henrik: Wilhelm Peterson-Berger. Verkförteckning [List of works] (2004) [available at the Musik- och teaterbiblioteket]

Description of work

1. När vi först drogo ut [As we first went out]: Allegro, un poco moderato B-flat major 4/4 (C) 113 bars, Quasi più tranquillo 46 bars, Poco a poco sempre più agitato 25 bars, Un poco sostenuto 12 bars, A tempo 107 bars, in total 303 bars
2. Mellan fejderna [Between the battles]: Allegro scherzando, non troppo moto B-flat minor 3/4 93 bars (/:20:/73), B-flat major 118 bars, B-flat minor 82 bars, B-flat minor 24 bars, Più tranquillo 28 bars, in total 345 bars
3. Vid hjältebåren [By the hero’s bier]: Lento doloroso con gravitá G minor 3/4 132 bars, animandosi 8 bars, Con moto 9 bars, Tempo I 73 bars, in total 222 bars
3. Mot nya vårar [Towards new springs]: Allegro moderato B-flat major 2/4 421 bars, Largo maestoso 3/4 14 bars, Tempo I 2/4 64 bars, in total 499 bars


Work comment

On the last page of the score autograph of the revised version, the composer has written:
The outline for this symphony was drawn up in Umeå and Dresden, and completed in the autumn of 1903 (after an 11-year long break). It was performed in Stockholm twice in 1904 by the 'old' Konsertföreningen under the baton of Tor Aulin; in Gothenburg under Hammer [Peterson-Berger is here referring to Heinrich Hammer (1862-1954)] in 1906 (also twice). It was somewhat shortened in 1918, re-worked during 1932-33 (albeit with some breaks), and the new score was completed in November 1933.
Frösön, 12 December, 1933
W. P.-B.