Anonymous composer

Till svenska fosterjorden. Folkvisa ("Du gamla, du fria") [To the Swedish native soil. Folk song ('Thou old, Thou free'); the same lyrics can also be found in the national anthem of Sweden]

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  • Year of composition: Year of emergence unknown
  • Work category: Mixed choir and instruments
  • Text author: Richard Dybeck (1811-1877)
  • First performed: It is believed that this song had its first performance at an soirée with Nordic folk music, held by Richard Dybeck in the Kirsteinska huset [the Kirstein House] in Stockholm on 13 November, 1844.
  • Arrangement/revision: [Richard Dybeck]
  • Duration: Approx. 1-5 min

Instrumentation

org

Solo voices/choir

unison choir [S.A.T.B.]

Examples of printed editions

Svenska Skolkvartetten. 100 fyrstämmiga sånger, 1:sta samlingen, [Svenska Skolkvartetten. 100 four-part songs, Volume 1] Abr. Lundquist, Musikförlag (Ed. no. is missing) [1952]
Svenska Skolkvartetten. Andra samlingen, 100 fyrstämmiga sånger [Svenska Skolkvartetten. Volume 2, 100 four-part songs] Abr. Lundquist, Musikförlag (Ed. no. is missing) [1946]

Description of work

Andante maestoso G major 4/4 (C)


Work comment

The original lyrics, "Du gamla, du friska" ['Thou old, Thou sound'], were written in 1844, to a folk melody recorded by Dybeck at Odensvi (in the Swedish province of Västmanland). In 1858, Dybeck changed the line to "Du gamla, du fria!" ['Thou old, Thou free!'].

The melody is based on the Swedish Medieval ballad "Så rider jag mig genom tolfmilan skog" (a variant on the song 'Kärestans död' [The loved one's death]).

This song can also be performed in a setting for soprano or tenor solo with mixed choir a cappella.


Libretto/text

1. Du gamla, du fria, du fjällhöga Nord,
du tysta, du glädjerika, sköna!
Jag hälsar dig, vänaste land uppå jord,
din sol, din himmel, dina ängder gröna!
Din sol, din himmel, dina ängder gröna! 

2. Du tronar på minnen från fornstora dar,
då ärat ditt namn flög över jorden;
jag vet, att du är och du blir vad du var,
ack, jag vill leva, jag vill dö i Norden!
Ja, jag vill leva, jag vill dö i Norden!
Ja, jag vill leva, jag vill dö i Norden!