Tuesday 7 June 2011

The great Danish tenor Axel Schiøtz sings Bellman´s famous "Fjäriln vingad syns på Haga"

The great Danish operatic tenor Axel Schiøtz performs one of the most beautiful summer songs; "Fjäriln vingad syns på Haga" ("The Winged Butterfly is Seen at Haga") by the famous Swedish poet and composer Carl Michael Bellman (1740-1795) 
Here is short introduction to Bellman by Göran Forsling:
Carl Michael Bellman may not be well-known outside the Nordic region, but within Scandinavian literature he is regarded as one of the most important and original poets ever. From a rather modest start as an entertainer in pubs and at parties he gradually advanced to become a favourite with King Gustavus III and had for some time a position as unofficial poet laureate. His most important works are the two collections Fredman’s Epistles (1790) and Fredman’s Songs (1791). These contain a wide variety of poems, many of them long narratives, requiring a real singer/actor to perform them, something Bellman obviously was, according to eye-witnesses. Among these songs are burlesque portraits of drunkards and prostitutes but also pastorals, bible parodies, drinking songs. Often Death looms darkly over the proceedings.
The Swedish archeologist and editor, Dr. Martin Rundkvist describes "Fjäriln vingad syns på Haga
in this way in his blog:
One of Bellman's most well-known and beloved songs is a piece of fawning praise to King Gustaf III, eulogising his great park and summer palace at Haga north of Stockholm. It was written in 1790-91 in an unsuccessful attempt to get Bellman's wife Lovisa a job as overseer of the Haga household, and then modified and dedicated to the poet's landlord whom he owed for rent. Pretty much everyone in Sweden can sing Fjäriln vingad syns på Haga, but some of the words are archaic and the syntax is convoluted, so few really understand the sense of the lyrics anymore. Here's a literal translation I've made.
At Haga, the butterfly can be seen making its green home amid misty frost and down, its bed in a flower. Every little marshland creature, just awakened by the sun's warmth, is inspired by the western wind to festive revelry.
Haga, in your bosom are seen sprouting grass and the yellow plaza. The proud swan raises its neck, rocking in your streamlets. From afar in the open spaces of the forest are heard incessant echoes: sometimes the hammering of granite, sometimes axes in birch and fir trees. [Referring to the king's construction projects in the area.]
See, the Brunnsviken inlet's little mermaids raise their golden horns, and water cascades higher even than Solna church steeple. On a neat road under vaulted trees the horse frolics and the wheel throws dust into the air, while the farmer smiles fondly toward Haga.
What a divine pleasure to be greeted by one's beloved under the eye of such a mild monarch in a park as lovely as this! Everyone cries with gratitude whenever his eye falls upon them. Even the most bad-tempered person is happy when touched and charmed by that gaze.
Read the entire post here

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