Musicatlas
Music
Most noted for Swedish Rhapsody, opus 19. his most popular composition. recorded and played frequently. also heavily popularized into light music.
(contributed by Ralph Barrocas <RBarrocas
aol.com>)
Life
During the 1890’s active as a violinist, partly in the Swedish Royal Orchestra [Hovkapellet], partly as a soloist. Between 1910 and 1939 he served as director musices at the University of Uppsala. He was also an internationally appreciated conductor of his own and other’s works, and 1910-47 a celebrated leader of the men’s choir Orphei Drängar [the Servants of Orpheus], with whom he performed numerous vast tours. (...) Alfvén’s interest in Swedish folk music and Swedish folk songs penetrates the larger part of his works. He has thereby contributed to an international interest in Swedish folk music. Many of Alfvén’s works have reached lasting popularity. In addition to "Midsommarvaka" [Midsummer Wake] there is, e.g., "Festspel" [Feast Play] (1907), the romance "Skogen sover" [The Forest is Sleeping] (1908), the men’s choir song "Sverges Flagga" [The Swedish Flag] (1916), "Elegi" [Elegy] (1932), and the polka "Roslagsvår" [Spring in Roslagen] (1956, also used in the ballet "Den förlorade sonen" [The Lost Son], 1957) plus several folk-song arrangements for choir.
(From the Swedish National Encyclopedia [Nationalencyklopedin]; translated and contributed by Björn Piström <bjorn.pilstromhome.se>.)