Souvenirs from Gothenburg
Nice music composed in Gothenburg 1850-1943 performed by musicians from Gothenburg

Klicka för att se större variant. CD SOUVENIRER FRÅN GÖTEBORG består av kammarmusik för stråkinstrument samt piano komponerad i Göteborg från 1850 till 1943. Klicka för att se större variant. CD SOUVENIRER FRÅN GÖTEBORG består av kammarmusik för stråkinstrument samt piano komponerad i Göteborg från 1850 till 1943.

Four works, three of them for the first time complete on CD

Most of the performing musicians are members of the Gothenburg Opera Orchestra, among them the latter's principal violinist David Bergström. Their recordings were made in Lundby New Church on the Island of Hisingen, Gothenburg. So was also the recording of Smetana-polkas played by the pianist Ingemar Edgren. The Hallnäs-sonata is perfor-med by Bengt Andersson, viola, and Agneta Ågren, piano, and was recorded by The Swedish Radio in the big hall of Gothenburg's Concert House.

Josef Czapek's (1825-1915) "Andante Religioso" is for viola solo and five low string instruments, written about 1850. Born in Bohemia Czapek moved to Gothenburg at the age of 22. Among his many engagements in this town was that of "Kapellmeister" 1859-69 at the new built Great Theatre. He has even been called "the creator of the music town Gothenburg". A curiosity is that, during a ceremony 1842 in Salzburg for W A Mozart, Josef Czapek played in an orchestra conducted by Mozarts son, Wolfgang Amadeus.

Bedrich Smetana's (1824-84) "Erinnerungen an Böhmen in Polkaform" were written 1859-60. Smetana lived 1856-61 in Gothenburg where he gave concerts as conductor and pianist, gave lessons and wrote critique.

Elfrida Andrée's (1841-1929) "Summer Memories from Bjurslätt" for strings (1903) is her rearrangement with added contrabass of a String Quartet from 1887. Andrée was cathedral organist in Gothenburg from 1867 to the end of her life. In summer-time she used to stay at the country house of the liberal politician and polemic newspaper man Sven Adolf Hedlund at Bjurslätt on the Island of Hisingen.

Hilding Hallnäs's (1903-84) "Sonata for viola and piano" op 19 was written in 1943 and has a nordic sound. Hallnäs was working in Gothenburg from 1933 until the middle of the 1970-ies. He had a great influence on the musical life of the city, for instance as organist in the Johanneberg parish, as a teacher at the Music College and as head of the Gothenburg Composers´ Association.

The three former composers were very influential in Gothenburg during the second half of the 19th century which was an economcally and culturally expansive period for the town. Many industrualists and business men supported an awakening cultural life. They financed concerts and members of their families toke music lessons and participated in choirs and orchestras.
The painting reproduced on the front page of the CD leaflet is from 1852 and shows the mouth of Gothenburg's harbour. In the foreground you can see a shipbuilding yard on the Island of Hisingen. "Souvenirs from Gothenburg" is edited with the support of the municipal board of culture in Gothenburg.

The record can be ordered by e-mail: bengt@altfiol.com


Music Novelty
From the nineteenth century

Joseph Czapek was born in Prague in 1825. He settled in the Swedish town of Gothenburg in 1847 and managed to play an important role in the musical life of this town during a long half-a-century until his death in 1915. He collaborated with among others his more famous compatriot Bedrich Smetana during the latter's stay in Gothenburg in the eighteenfifties and he supported younger Swedish composers like Elfrida Andrée.

Czapek's Andante religioso, presented in this print, is a piece of romantic chamber music composed about 1850. It is a welcome contribution to the viola répertoire. It has a sombre and sonorous instrumentation with solely low strings (solo viola accompanied by two violas, two violoncellos and double bass). The solo part can also be accompanied by piano or organ according to the composer's score.
The composition is appropriate to professional as well as amateurish musicians and it supplies a want of répertoire for the deeper string instruments in music education.
The music print comprises piano part and six separate string parts. In addition Czapek's autograph score is reproduced i facsimile. A transcription of the solo part adapted for an alternative solo instrument like violin or flute is also available.

The print can be ordered by e-mail: bengt@altfiol.com



Ingemar Edgren Piano
Bengt Andersson Viola

Bengt Andersson was born in Borås in 1935. He studied at Ingesund near Arvika and with Endre Wolf at Edsberg's Castle, Stockholm. After studies with Renzo Sabatini and Giovanni Leone in Italy Andersson received his diploma at Conservatorio San Pietro a Majella, Naples.
After working in the major symphony orchestras in Sweden, 1976-81 as first viola in the Gothenburg Symphonics, Andersson played in the Gothenburg Opera Orchestra 1986-99. He has performed as a soloist and chamber musician at concerts, broadcasts and recordings.
Ingemar Edgren, born in Dalsland 1944, studied with Ingemar Bergfelt in Gothenburg and Greta Erikson in Stockholm. After his diploma he attended Mozarteum in Salzburg. Since many years he is teaching piano at Hvitfeldska High School of Music.
Edgren has performed for radio and recordings, as a soloist with orchestras and at piano recitals. As a member of the Garcia Trio he has done many tours in Sweden and abroad. He has played duo with Bengt Andersson since several years.

Extracts of the music can be listened to from the editiors' web site: http://hem.fyristorg.com/m.bengt.andersson