- Sången (“The Song”) is a symphonic cantata written between 1920-21. The piece is scored for a large ensemble of mixed choir, children’s choir, four soloists, and orchestra.
- The symphonic cantata is organized into two main sections connected by an interlude. The interlude is often performed as a standalone piece in the concert hall.1
- The text used for the work was written by fellow composer Ture Rangström. Rangström’s words depict the awakening of mystical figure, “Sången,” in the first part, while the second part conveys a feast in a temple erected in honor of Sången. The piece, as a whole, is a testament to the significance of music in human life and was written for the 150th anniversary of the Swedish Royal Academy of Music.2
- Sången premiered in December 1921 with the Royal Court Orchestra conducted by Stenhammar.3
Sources
- Bo Wallner and Hans Åstrand, “Stenhammar, (Karl) Wilhelm,” Grove Music Online (2001), accessed November 17, 2022, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000026677.
- Signe Rotter-Broman, Essay in accompanying booklet, Stenhammar: Sången, Reverenza & Romeo och Julia Suite performed by the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra conducted by Neeme Järvi, BIS 2359, 2018, compact disc.
- “Sången. A symphonic cantata,” Swedish Musical Heritage, accessed November 17, 2022, https://www.swedishmusicalheritage.com/composers/stenhammar-wilhelm/SMH-W3656-Sangen_A_symphonic_cantata.
Cut IDs
43731