1. Kyssar give han mig
2. Jag besvär er I Jerusalems döttrar
3. Se, det är Salomos bärstol
4. Du har tagit mitt hjärta, du min syster, du min brud
5. Jag låg och sov, dock vakade mitt hjärta
6. Vänd om vänd om du brud från Sulem
7. Ack att du vore såsom en min broder
8. Ty kärleken är stark såsom döden

• Year of composition: 27 June, 1925
• Work category: Mixed choir with solo voice(s) and orchestra
• Text author: The Bible (Swedish edition of 1917), Old Testament, Song of Songs. Translation into German by Fritz Tutenberg. Translation into English can be found in the liner notes to Phono Suecia's CD [Natanael Berg – Traumgewalten / Pezzo Sinfonico / Höga Visan. Phono Suecia PSCD 721 (2004)]
• Dedication: To my mother
• First performed: 8 May, 1927, Nordiska musikfesten, Stockholms konserthus [the Nordic Music Days - a festival for contemporary classic music, Stockholm Concert Hall]. Ruth Althén, soprano, David Stockman, tenor, Musikaliska sällskapet (later the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Choir). (Most likely the Royal Stocholm Philharmonic Orchestra.) Natanael Berg, conductor
• Duration: 39 min

Instrumentation

2.3*.2.2. / 4.2.3.1 / hp / str
cor angl

Solo voices/choir

Solo voices: 1 soprano (the Bride), 1 tenor (the Bridegroom)
Mixed choir, S.S.A.T.T.B., female choir, S.S.A.A. and male choir, T.T.B.B.

Examples of printed editions

Piano reduction: Musikaliska konstföreningen [The Swedish Art Music Society], Stockholm 1926. Location mark at Musik- och teaterbiblioteket: KO-klav/Sv (Card catalogue for scores -1985, available online)

Location for score and part material

Score and parts are available for purchase or rent at Stim/Svensk musik

• Location autograph: Musik- och teaterbiblioteket
• Possible call no. and autograph comment: Score in autograph in the Natanael Berg deposition

Description of work

1. Kyssar give han mig [Let him kiss me]: Female choir, soprano, tenor. Andante E-flat major 4/4 (C)
2. Jag besvär er I Jerusalems döttrar [I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem]: Soprano. Moderato D minor 4/4 (C)
3. Se, det är Salomos bärstol [Behold his bed, which is Solomon's]: Male choir. Allegro E-flat major 4/4 (C)
4. Du har tagit mitt hjärta, du min syster, du min brud [Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse]: Tenor. Dolce, andante D minor 2/4
5. Jag låg och sov, dock vakade mitt hjärta [I sleep, but my heart waketh]: Soprano. Andante varying keys alla breve
6. Vänd om vänd om du brud från Sulem [Return, return, O Shulamite]: Female choir, tenor, soprano. Andante E-flat major 3/4
7. Ack att du vore såsom en min broder [O that thou wert as my brother]: Soprano. Andante D minor 4/4 (C)
8. Ty kärleken är stark såsom döden [For love is strong as death]: Mixed choir. Maestoso E-flat major 4/4 (C)

Links

Movement no. 1 (all but the last page) is available as score example at Stim/Svensk musik

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Work comment

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Libretto/text