Carl Nielsen
Musik til Holger Drachmanns melodrama "Snefrid"
Music for Holger Drachmann's Melodrama 'Snefrid'
CNW 4
CNUCarl Nielsen Udgaven (The Carl Nielsen Edition. Royal Danish Library: Copenhagen 1998–2009)
I/6; IV/1, Add. 29, 30
CNSCarl Nielsens Samling (The Carl Nielsen Collection, Royal Danish Library, Copenhagen)
331
FSDan Fog & Torben Schousboe: Carl Nielsen kompositioner. En Bibliografi. København 1965.
17
Author: Holger Drachmann
Composition: 1893, 1899.
In the beginning of 1893, Carl Nielsen was requested to compose music to Holger Drachmann's play Snefrid in connection with a planned performance at Det frie Theater. In less than a month the score was finished. The plans for a production at the theatre came to nothing, however, and the music was not performed until the following year. The music was later revised and arranged by Nielsen himself. Music from no. 4 was re-used in Hr. Oluf han rider– CNW 7 (1906) and Amor og Digteren CNW 23 (1929).
Version of 1893
Date: 1893.
Music
Første Akt
Act One
Sections
-
1. Forspil
Prelude(= No. 1, 1899 version)
-
2. Elskovsmusik
Love Music(= No. 12, 1899 version)
Anden Akt
Act Two
Sections
-
3. Forspil
Prelude(= No. 13, 1899 version)
-
4. Melodrama
Melodrama(= No. 14, 1899 version)
-
5. Sørgemusik
Funeral Music(= No. 17, 1899 version)
Sources
Sketches
Score, autograph, fair copy
Parts, manuscript copy
Text, print
Printed in Illustreret Kalender for 1893. Udgiven af Journalistforeningen i København, pp. 56–86.
-
Carl Nielsen's copy
Fragment (pp. 81–86 only).
DK-KkDet Kongelige Bibliotek, København Torben Schousboes Samling XIV, 2.CNU (I/6) Source O.
Performances
10 Apr. 1894 | Koncertpalæet, Copenhagen (conductor: Carl Nielsen; performer: Martinius Nielsen, reciter). Matiné for Holger Drachmann. First performance (music only). |
Version of 1899
CNUCarl Nielsen Udgaven (The Carl Nielsen Edition. Royal Danish Library: Copenhagen 1998–2009) I/6
Date: 1899.
In 1899, Dagmarteatret planned a stage performance of Snefrid, and for this production Nielsen revised and expanded the music.
King Harald Haarfager; Gunnar, the king's Scald; Svase, a chieftain; Snefrid, his daughter; Thorleif Spake, the king's man; A Finnish Woman
Music
Første Akt
Act One
Sections
-
1. Forspil
Tempo giusto
Prelude -
2.
Poco allegrettoSyng om mit Søtog
-
3.
Poco moderatoDrot er Harald paa sin Drage
-
4.
Andante quasi sostenutoKender du Sne
-
5.
Allegro marziale -
6. Sceneskift
Allegro misterioso (quasi andantino)
Change of Scene -
7.
AllegrettoJa - galdre, galdre!
-
8.
Allegro marzialeTræd ind, Kong Harald
-
9.
Andantino pastoraleVed alle Guder!
-
10.
Allegro -
11.
ModeratoHulde Vætter, høje Diser
-
12. Efterspil
Allegro non troppo
PostludeDer hvor Harald hæver Skatten
Anden Akt
Act Two
Sources
Score, draft
Score, autograph, fair copy
Parts, manuscript copy
Text, manuscript copy
Text, manuscript copy
Performances
19 Apr. 1897 | Larsens Lokale, Copenhagen (conductor: Felix Ramsøe). Orla Ramsøe. |
1 Nov. 1899 | Dagmarteatret, Copenhagen. First theatrical performance. |
2 Nov. 1899 | Dagmarteatret, Copenhagen. |
5 Nov. 1899 | Dagmarteatret, Copenhagen. |
8 Nov. 1899 | Dagmarteatret, Copenhagen. |
10 Nov. 1899 | Dagmarteatret, Copenhagen. |
13 Nov. 1899 | Dagmarteatret, Copenhagen. |
17 Nov. 1899 | Dagmarteatret, Copenhagen. |
21 Nov. 1899 | Dagmarteatret, Copenhagen. |
16 Jan. 1900 | Dagmarteatret, Copenhagen. |
27 Jan. 1900 | Dagmarteatret, Copenhagen. |
17 Nov. 1900 | Koncertpalæet, Copenhagen (The Royal Danish Orchestra (Det Kongelige Kapel); conductor: Johan Svendsen). Partial performance. |
6 Jan. 1901 | Koncertpalæet, Copenhagen (conductor: Joachim Andersen). Palæ-Koncert. Partial performance. |
5 Dec. 1908 | Logens Store Sal, Oslo (conductor: Carl Nielsen). Musikforeningen. Concert with music by danish composers. Partial performance. |
27 Apr. 1917 | Konservatoriet, Copenhagen (Students from the conservatory; conductor: Anton Svendsen). Partial performance. |
19 Mar. 1918 | Cirkus, Copenhagen (conductor: Waldemar Larsen). Concert for the unemployed. Andantino and prelude (forspil) only. |
Version for reciter and piano quintet
CNUCarl Nielsen Udgaven (The Carl Nielsen Edition. Royal Danish Library: Copenhagen 1998–2009) IV/1, Add. 29, 30
Date: 1902.
In 1902, Nielsen arranged the entire music for piano quintet to be played by musicians from the Royal Danish Orchestra (Det Kongelige Kapel) on a concert tour.
The King; Gunnar; Thorleif; A Finnish Woman; Snefrid; Svase
Sources
Score, partly autograph, fair copy
Instrumental parts (strings), partly autograph
Performances
9 June 1902 | Nyborg Teater, Nyborg (performers: Julius Borup, violin; Johannes Schiørring, violin; Carl Nielsen, viola; Ejler Jensen, cello; Dagmar Borup, klaver; Jonna Neiiendam, reciter (?)). The Royal Theatre's summer tour on Funen and in Jutland. |
10 June 1902 | Svendborg Teater, Svendborg (performers: Julius Borup, violin; Johannes Schiørring, violin; Carl Nielsen, viola; Ejler Jensen, cello; Dagmar Borup, klaver; Jonna Neiiendam, reciter (?)). The Royal Theatre's summer tour on Funen and in Jutland. |
11 June 1902 | Odense Teater, Odense (performers: Julius Borup, violin; Johannes Schiørring, violin; Carl Nielsen, viola; Ejler Jensen, cello; Dagmar Borup, klaver; Jonna Neiiendam, reciter (?)). The Royal Theatre's summer tour on Funen and in Jutland. |
12 June 1902 | Vejle Teater, Vejle (performers: Julius Borup, violin; Johannes Schiørring, violin; Carl Nielsen, viola; Ejler Jensen, cello; Dagmar Borup, klaver; Jonna Neiiendam, reciter (?)). The Royal Theatre's summer tour on Funen and in Jutland. |
13 June 1902 | Horsens Teater, Horsens (performers: Julius Borup, violin; Johannes Schiørring, violin; Carl Nielsen, viola; Ejler Jensen, cello; Dagmar Borup, klaver; Jonna Neiiendam, reciter (?)). The Royal Theatre's summer tour on Funen and in Jutland. |
14 June 1902 | Aalborg Teater, Aalborg (performers: Julius Borup, violin; Johannes Schiørring, violin; Carl Nielsen, viola; Ejler Jensen, cello; Dagmar Borup, klaver; Jonna Neiiendam, reciter (?)). The Royal Theatre's summer tour on Funen and in Jutland. |
13 Dec. 1912 | Østerbros Teater, Copenhagen (performers: Margrethe Lendrop, singer; Axel Gade, violin; Johannes Schiørring, violin; L. Witzansky, viola; Ernst. Høeberg, cello; Henrik Knudsen, piano). Østerbro Kammermusikforening. Partial performance. |
Arrangements and excerpts
Sources
Piano score, sketches (No. 1)
Piano score, autograph (Nos. 2–5, 10–11)
Parts, autograph, excerpt, incomplete (Nos. 4–6)
Piano score, manuscript copy (No. 1)
Parts, manuscript copy (Nos. 1, 4–6)
Piano score, print (No. 1)
Documents
Letters:
Diary entries:
Last changed 2022-12-02 by MerMEId