John Fernstrom(1897-1961): a Catalogue of the Complete Music

[Dundonnell]

There are considerable differences between the dates given for certain of these works in the different sources. By and large I have used those given in the catalogue of the Swedish Music Information Centre.

JOHN FERNSTROM: A CATALOGUE OF THE ORCHESTRAL AND CHORAL MUSIC

1917-18:"Exotic Bouquet"-Three Songs for tenor and orchestra, op.3: 3 minutes
1920:   Symphony No.1 "In Memoriam", op. 4  (withdrawn)
1925:   "Four Intimate Miniatures"-Suite for string orchestra, op.2: 11 minutes     + (BIS cd)
             Symphony No.2, op.10: 28 minutes
1928:   Violin Concerto No.1, op.5: 26 minutes
             Symphony No.3 "Exotica", op.15
             Pastoral for chamber orchestra, op.16b: 3 minutes
1929/37:Scanian Rhapsody for orchestra, op. 13: 11 minutes
1930:   Variations, Passacaglia and Fugue on a theme by Percy Buck for orchestra, op.12
             "A Christmas Hymn" for tenor, chorus and orchestra, op.16a
             Symphonic Variations for orchestra, op.17: 12 minutes
             Symphony No.4, op.20: 30 minutes
1931:   Serenade "The Capricious Trobadour" for chamber orchestra, op. 21: 13 minutes   +  (Phono Suecia cd)
             Mass in C minor for soprano, contralto, tenor, baritone, chorus and orchestra, op.26: 65 minutes
1931-34:"Fragments-pictures from a film" for orchestra, op.24a
1932:   A Festival Prelude for string orchestra
1932-36:"A Bird's Song" for coloratura soprano and orchestra, op.29: 3 minutes
1934:   Symphony No.5, op.27: 26 minutes
1936:   Clarinet Concerto, op.30: 12 minutes    +  (Caprice cd)
             Stabat Mater for soprano, tenor, chorus and string orchestra, op. 33b: 35 minutes
1936-37:Chaconne in G minor for Cello and Orchestra, op.31c: 6 minutes
1937:   Viola Concerto, op.34: 26 minutes
1937-41:Concerto for Flute, Women's Choir and Small Orchestra, op.52: 10 minutes    +  (Phono Suecia cd)
1938-39:Symphony No.6, op.40: 36 minutes      +  (Phono Suecia and BIS cds)
1939:   "Prelude solennel" for string orchestra, op.42: 7 minutes
             "Rao-nai-nai's Songs: A Chinese Rhapsody" for orchestra, op.43: 12 minutes     +  (BIS cd)
1940:   Concertino for Cello and Orchestra, op.49: 12 minutes
1940-41:Symphony No.7 "Sinfonietta in forma di sonata da chiesa", op.51: 15 minutes
1942:   Symphony No.8 "Amore studiorum", op. 56: 31 minutes
             Cantata "The Unforfeitable Treasure" for baritone, chorus and orchestra, op.57: 30 minutes
             Cantata for the Jubilee of the Social Democrats' Youth Circle for narrator, chorus and orchestra, op. 61
             Symphonic Suite "Songs of the Sea for coloratura soprano and string orchestra, op. 62: 16 minutes     +  (BIS cd)
1943:   Symphony No.9 "Sinfonia breve", op.60: 18 minutes
1944-48:Suite from "The Wedding of the Isis Sistyers" for orchestra, op.58b: 19 minutes
1944:   Symphony No.10 "Symphonie discret", op.65: 35 minutes
              Requiem for the drowned for soprano, tenor, women's chorus, piano and string orchestra, op. 66: 9 minutes
             Cantata "Engelbrekt" for tenor, male chorus and orchestra, op.68: 8 minutes
             Have you heard the silence speak: a Song to Sweden" for tenor, male chorus and orchestra, op.69: 9 minutes
             Suite from the Incidental Music to "A Midsummernight's Dream", op. 70b: 8 minutes
             Suite from "Around the World in 80 Days" for orchestra, op. 71b: 17 minutes
1945:   Recital with orchestra "Pan Plays" for narrator and orchestra, op. 74
            Cantata "Thus the Poets Sang to Us" for baritone, male choir and orchestra, op. 67   
            Cantata for the Jubilee of the People's Park in Malmo for soloists, male chorus and orchestra, op. 76
             Symphony No.11 "Utan Mask" for chorus and orchestra, op.77: 38 minutes+ (DB Productions cd)
             Bassoon Concerto, op.80: 15 minutes   +  (Intim Musik cd)
1947:   Secular Oratorio "The Toilsome Way" for baritone, narrator, male chorus and orchestra, op. 85: 105 minutes
1948:   Suite Nos.1 and 2 from "The Merchant of Venice", op.86b and 86c: 14 and 9 minutes
             Ballet "Ni-Si-Peng", op.87a and Ballet Suite, op. 87b
1950:   Symphonic Prologue for orchestra, op.88: 10 minutes     +  (BIS cd)
1951:   Symphony No.12, op.92: 31 minutes    +  (Big Ben, DB Productions and BIS cds)
1952:   Ostinato for string orchestra, op.94: 10 minutes
             Violin Concerto No.2, op.95: 23 minutes
1953:   Festival Music for orchestra, op.96

and Romance in C sharp minor for Viola and Orchestra
      Symphonic Burlesque for orchestra: 6 minutes
      A Festival Polonaise for orchestra
      Five Swedish Folk Tunes for string orchestra: 11 minutes
      Fanfares for the opening of the Malmo State Theatre
      "Manhem" for baritone, male chorus and orchestra, op.7: 18 minutes   
      Cantata "Towards the Future" for soloist, chorus and small orchestra

[Balapoel]

Chamber

6   String Quartet no. 1   1920
14   Sonata for Violoncello and Piano   1928
9   String Quartet no. 2 - g minor   1928
19   Sonata for Violin and Violoncello   1930
23   String Quartet no. 3   1931
31a   Chaconne g-minor for cello and organ   1936
31b   Chaconne, g-minor for cello and piano   1936
   Romance, e-minor, for Violin and Piano   1937
   Sonatin for two violins   1938
41   Sonata da chiesa - for violin and organ   1938
45a   Sonatin for two violins   1940
45b   Sonatin for two violins   1940
53   Suite for Violoncello and Piano   1942
54   String Quartet no. 4 - E flat major   1942
59   Wind Quintet   1943
73   A Small Serenade in four Movements - for flute, clarinet, bassoon and cello   1945
82a   Four traditional tunes - for String quartet   1946
81a   String Quartet no. 5   1946
81b   String Quartet no. 6 - in the seventh gipsy mode on g   1946
89   Sonatin no. 3 - For two violins   1950
91   String Quartet no. 7   1950
90   Trio - For Violin, Viola and Violoncello   1950
93   String Quartet no. 8 - in dorian minor   1952
   Dorian Romance for cello and piano   
   Minuet for cello and piano   
   Berceuse for piano quartet (pf, 2 vn, vlc)   
   Rondo for piano trio
   Chanson russe. - Hommage à Tschaykovsky, for violin and piano   
   Romance, c sharp mino for violin and piano   
   Three studies in G-major for flute, clarinet and strings   

Opera/Incidental Music

25a   Echnaton - Opera in three acts   1940
58a   The Wedding of the Isis' Sisters - A lyrical episode in one act (three tableaux).   1943
71a   Around the World in 80 Days   1944
70a   Supplementary music to A Midsummernight's Dream   1944
75   Enchanted glasses - Music to a fairy-tale   1945
82c   Hamlet   1946
82b   Niels Ebbesen   1946
83   La vida es un sueno - Opera in three acts   1947
86a   The Merchant in Venice   1948
   Corporal Tin Soldier - A children's ballet   
   The actors enter   
   The Taming of a Schrew   

Keyboard

35   Prelude and Fugue, A-major, for Organ   1937
11   Piano Sonata   1928
37   A Small Suite for piano   1937
   Crime passionelle   
   Theme and six variations for Piano   
   Three Little Piano Pieces   

Vocal (choral)

22   Cantata - at inauguration of organ and altarpiece in the Gustav Adolf church in Helsingborg   1931
24b   The Songs   1933
28   Two songs for male choir   1935
32   The Ballad of Mathilda Magnet   1936
33a   Three songs for male choir - from The Flying Inn   1936
47   Six Songs for male choir   1941
48   Seven Songs for male choir   1942
82d   A Light Red Flower - Mixed chorus a capella   1946
   Cantata - For the 20th Anniversary of the Swedish Union of Shop Assistants   1946
79   Five Songs for male choir   1946
   Cantata - For the 20th Anniversary of the Cooperativa Club in Malmö   1947
97   Three Choral Songs - For mixed chorus a cappella   1955
   Cantata   
   Cantata - For the 25th Anniversary of the Mercur's club of the Shop Assistants Union   
   Dolce far niente   
   It was rough and rutty   
   Sailor on land   

Vocal (songs)

3   Exotic bouquet - Three Songs for Tenor with piano or orchestra   1918
   De mortuis - Four Songs to piano   1922
18   Two songs - for voice, obl. Violocello or violin   1930
36   Two songs - with piano   1937
39   Three poems - duets   1938
44   Two Songs   1939
46   Four Songs - With piano   1940
50   Nine Songs - Poems by Nils Ferlin and Py Sörman   1941
55   Four Songs - Texts by Gabriel Jönsson   1942
63   Six Songs   1944
64   Two Songs   1944
78   Five Songs - for single voice and piano   1946
84   Five Songs - Poems by Elof Åkesson   1947
98   The Song of Love - One voice and organ/piano   1953
   Marits reggla   
   O heart, heart, why do you sigh?   

Vocal (Voice(s) and Orchestra)

7   Manhem - Male chorus w. solo   1928
16a   A Chrismas Hymn   1930
26   Mass, c minor   1934
29   A Bird's Song   1936
33b   Stabat mater - Two solo voices, mixed chorus and string orchestra   1936
61   Cantata - For the jubilee of the Social-democrats Youth-circle 1942   1942
62   Songs of the Sea - Suite for colorature soprano and string quintet or - orchestra   1942
57   The Unforfeitable Treasure - Cantata for choruses with barython solo   1942
68   Engelbrekt - Cantata for tenor, male chorus and orchestra   1944
69   Have you heard the silence speak - a Song to Sweden. For tenor, male chorus and orchestra   1944
66   Requiem for the drowned   1944
72   Cantata - at the 25 years anniversary of the Workers' Education Union in Helsingborg   1945
76   Cantata - For the Jubilee 1945 of the People's Park in Malmö   1945
67   Thus the poets sang to us - Cantata   1945
85   The Toilsome Way - a secular oratorio   1947
   Towards the future - Cantata   

[alberto]

Just a very,very tiny remark.  Symphony n.6 in the Phono Suecia recording (cond. Mikko Frank) lasts 47'50".

[Dundonnell]

Just a very,very tiny remark.  Symphony n.6 in the Phono Suecia recording (cond. Mikko Frank) lasts 47'50".

Really   Eleven minutes longer than the interpretation on BIS

[Alan Howe]

It's true: the BIS is way shorter than the Phono Suecia.

[Greg K]

It's true: the BIS is way shorter than the Phono Suecia.

...and interpretively inferior IMO.  The added breadth and weight from the more spacious tempos is all for the good.  The music can bear it.  A fine Symphony.