(From Birmingham)
THE BIRMINGHAM STUDIO ORCHESTRA
Conducted by Joseph Lewis
SVENDSEN was the son of a military bandmaster, who held such a post himself while only in his teens. He had some experience, too, as an orchestral musician, and when only twenty-one set out on a tour of Sweden and Northern Germany. No great good luck attended him until, two years later, he obtained a grant from Charles XV to enable him to carry on his studies of the violin. Again misfortune overtook him, and paralysis of one of his hands brought his career as a violinist to an end, and turned his energies to composition.
This Rhapsody opens with a slow introduction beginning very softly and simply. The quick movement which forms the main part of the work makes use of a very neat and happy little Norwegian tune. There is a slower section in the middle, which the viola begins alone with another tune of Norwegian character, equally simple, and with something of wistfulness in its mood. This is worked out with some elaboration, and then the quick movement returns with the same merry tune as before.