August Söderman (1832−1876)

Signe lill's färd, konsertdikt för soli, kör och orkester [Little Signe's journey, concert poem for soloists, choir, and orchestra]

Print
  • Year of composition: 1869
  • Work category: Mixed choir with solo voice(s) and orchestra
  • Text author: Ludvig Josephson (1832-1899)
  • First performed:

  • Arrangement/revision: Wilhelm Svedbom 1892
  • Duration: Approx. 15-20 min

Instrumentation

Unknown instrumentation

Solo voices/choir

1 soprano (Signe), 2 baritones (Östen, Gullebrand)
Women's choir, S.S.A., Men's choir, T.T.B.B

Examples of printed editions

Musikaliska konstföreningen [The Swedish Art Music Society], Stockholm 1892

Recital Publications, Huntsville 2007, reprint of above-mentioned edition

  • Location autograph: Musik- och teaterbiblioteket
  • Possible call no. and autograph comment: Autograph material consists of sketches with instrumentation directions.

Description of work

1st Scene. Östen, Kör af vikingar (manskör) [Choir of vikings (men’s choir)]. Alternating tempos and time signatures, in total 352 bars

2nd Scene. Vikingarnas nattfärd på fjorden (orkester) [The vikings’ night journey on the fjord (orchestra)]. Moderato A major 12/8 74 bars, attacca

3rd Scene. Stilla frid i dalen och kring bergen, endast afbruten af forssens aflägsna brus [A tranquil peace in the valley and around the mountains, only disturbed by the distant roar of the rapids]. Signe, Gullebrand. Andante 4/4 (C) B major 18 bars, Moderato 3/4 81 bars, Andante 4/4 (C) 4 bars, Andante G major 73 bars, Moderato C major 22 bars, Più moto 40 bars, in total 238 bars

4th Scene. Signe vid stranden. Signe, kör af elfvor (damkör), kör af nunnor (damkör) [Signe on the shore. Signe, choir of fairies (womens’ choir), choir of nuns (women’s choir)].
Allegretto C minor 4/4 (C) 6 bars, 2/4 4 bars, 4/4 (C) 2 bars, 2/4 6 bars, Meno mosso C major 4/4 (C) 6 bars, (Tempo I) C major 2/4 36 bars, Un poco meno mosso 4/4 (C) 8 bars in the song parts, as the orchestra continues in 2/4 time and twice the number of bars, Tempo 1 2/4 28 bars, Più lento (Kör af nunnor [Choir of nuns]) E major 4/4 (C) 24 bars, Tempo I C major 28 bars, Un poco meno mosso 4/4 (C) 8 bars in the song parts, as the orchestra continues in 2/4 time and twice the number of bars, Tempo I 2/4 19 bars, 4/4 (C) 9 bars, in total 184 bars

Work comment

In February 1892, Vilhelm Svedborg wrote in the foreword of the printed edition that this fragment of 'Signe lill's färd' [Little Signe's journey], which is hereby made public in an adaption for piano, is one of the detailed orchestral sketches in manuscript which Söderman intended to develop. According to a note in Söderman's own hand and dated 1869, in addition to the four now printed numbers, they also include the beginning of no. 5. Nos. 1, 2, and 4 are complete, whereas no. 2 lacks the last few bars, and albeit showing ideas for the scene's continuation, they have been exluded and the end now consists of four added bars.