Anonymous composer

Duvans sång på liljekvist. Folkvisa [Folk song] ("Det sitter en duva på liljekvist")

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  • Year of composition: Year of composition uncertain
  • Work category: Mixed choir a cappella
  • Arrangement/revision: Ivar Widéen
  • Duration: Approx. 1-5 min

Solo voices/choir

S.A.T.B., S.A.T.B.B.

Examples of printed editions

• Svenska Skolkvartetten. Andra samlingen, 100 fyrstämmiga sånger [Svenska Skolkvartetten. Volume 2, 100 four-part songs] Abr. Lundquist, Musikförlag (Ed. no. is missing) [1946]
• Svenska Skolkvartetten. Tredje samlingen, 100 fyrstämmiga sånger [Svenska Skolkvartetten. Volume 3, 100 four-part songs] Abr. Lundquist, Musikförlag Abr. L. 5306 (printed 1929, 1946)

Description of work

Andante E-flat major 4/4 (C)


Work comment

One of Alfvén´s many folk song arrangements, composed in 1938. It is more correct to call them folk song adaptations, since the composer did not follow the original exactly. In this case a soloist sings the folk melody that Alfvén took from Swedish Folk-songs from Ancient Times. The choir supports and comments on the soloist, but also breaks up the distinct flow of the song.


Libretto/text

1. Det sitter en duva på liljekvist
i midsommartider

2. Hon sjunger, hon sjunger och sjunger alltså
i midsommartider

3. Och jungfrun vart döder och lagder [sic] på bår
i midsommartider 

In English:
A dove sits so gently by lily blooms,
in Midsummer season.
She sings, oh so sweetly, of Jesus Christ,
exuberant joy up in heaven.
She sings, and she sings, and she sings even so,
in Midsummer season.
The angels predict a young girl will join this year,
exuberant joy up in heaven.
The maiden who perished, was placed on a bier,
in Midsummer season.
And friends of the family the burial prepares,
exuberant joy up in heaven.
They buried the sweet child in dark blackened soil,
in Midsummer season.
Our Lord in his Kingdom attended her soul,
exuberant joy up in heaven.

Translation: Annika Vallgren