Swedish Rhapsody No. 1

Swedish Rhapsody No. 1 (Swedish: Svensk rapsodi) is the subtitle of Midsommarvaka (Swedish for Midsummer Vigil),^[1] a symphonic rhapsody by the Swedish composer Hugo Alfvén (1872–1960). Although the first of three similarly named works, it is often simply called the "Swedish Rhapsody".

The Rhapsody was written in 1903. It is the best known piece by Alfvén, and also one of the best known pieces of music in Sweden. The score, published around 1906, describes it as:^[1]

[A] fantasy on popular Swedish folk melodies depicting the moods evoked by an old-time Swedish Midsummer-wake—the dancing and games around the May-pole through the magic night of Midsummer Eve. [One theme] is the composer's own invention, while other themes are borrowed from the folk-music of Sweden and elaborated by the composer.

In popular culture

There are several pop culture references to the main theme of Swedish Rhapsody No. 1:

• It is played repeatedly in the 1952 short film The Stranger Left No Card.
• It was arranged and recorded as a fingerstyle guitar solo in 1957 by American guitarist Chet Atkins, and became one of Atkins' best-known recordings.
• Another arrangement appeared on Steve Howe's live album Not Necessarily Acoustic.
• The original version of a popular song "Mah Nà Mah Nà" interpolates its melody.
• It is featured in The Simpsons episode "Little Orphan Millie", erroneously depicting Danish culture.
• The melody has been used on some ice cream vans in the United Kingdom.
• Ritchie Blackmore included a theme from it on the live version of Lazy found on Deep Purple's album Made in Japan.
• The melody is used throughout The Wiggles' You Make Me Feel Like Dancing video and The Wiggles' Big Big Show.
• It is featured in the 2003 American comedy drama film Matchstick Men.
• The numbers station "Swedish Rhapsody" got its name after listeners believed this piece of music was used as the interval signal. Documents released from Polish intelligence revealed that the signal was produced by a music box playing "Emile Reisdorff"'s "Luxembourg Polka," rather than Swedish Rhapsody No. 1. However, the section used was identical in both pieces.^[2][3]
• The 1953 recording by Percy Faith's and his orchestra was a US Top 30 hit. The same year, light orchestral British cover versions by Mantovani and Ray Martin made the UK charts, peaking at #2 and #4 respectively.
• It was used as the theme for the 1954-55 TV series Willy, starring June Havoc.

References

External links

• Swedish Rhapsody No. 1: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project