Carl Sjöberg (1861−1900)

Tre efterlemnade sånger vid piano af C.L. Sjöberg [Three posthumous songs at the piano by C.L. Sjöberg]

Print
  • Year of composition: The print was published posthumously. The song 'Tonerna' was probably composed in 1892. Whereas the other two songs are concerned, their respective year of composition is unknown
  • Work category: Voice and piano
  • Text author: 1. Alfred Lindqvist (1860-ca 1930)
    2. Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1804-1877)
    3. Erik Gustaf Geijer (1783-1847)
  • Duration: Approx. 1-5 min

Examples of printed editions

Tre efterlemnade sånger vid piano af C.L. Sjöberg, Abr. Lundquist, no. 3451 (1901)

Description of work

1. Månuppgång [Moonrise] ('Fjerran öfver den skuggomflutna'): Moderato E major 4/4 (C), 18 bars
2.. Den långa dagen [The long day] ('Förr, när min vän var här'): Lamentovole, ma non troppo lento D major 3/4, 26 bars
3. Tonerna [The tones] ('Tanke, hvars strider'): Allegro moderato D-flat major 6/8, 17 bars

Work comment

The song 'Tonerna' [The tones] is said to have been composed in 1892 (Sjöberg's last year in Stockholm), after Sjöberg having attended a performance at the Kungl. Teatern [The Royal Theatre/Opera] and was inspired to set music to Geijer's short poem from 1829. The song was first published in 1901, i.e., one year after Sjöberg's death, which means that he never experienced it's fenomenal success. Jussi Björling is one of the many prominent singers with this song in their respective repertoire. It has also been performed as an instrumental work.

Libretto/text

1. Fjerran öfver den skuggomflutna slumrande skogens bryn,
månen, vaggad å guldomgjutna skyar,
höjer sig för min syn.
Sorgset leende vemodsblickar
ur den djupblå auzurn han skickar
långt, långt ut,
öfver nejd som sofver.
dränkt i dagg från aftonskyn.

2. Förr, när min vän var här,
var mig en vårdag kort,
Nu, då han borta är, är mig en höstdag lång.
Ack! hvad den dagen flyr,
säga de andra nu.
Jag: hvad den långsam är,
o, att den ville fly.
Kommer ej kvällen snart?
Kommer ej nattens ro?

3. Tanke, hvars strider blott natten ser.
Toner, hos eder om hvila ber.
Hjerta, som lider, som lider af dagens gny.
Toner till eder, till er vill det fly.