John Jacobsson (1835 - 1909)

[C R Lim]

Dear All,

I wanted to bring this composer to your attention. as what music of his that I have been able to hear is quite delightful.
A search of the of site reveals no previous mention, so apologies if I am covering old ground.
Jacobsson is ignored by Grove (nothing new!) and merits only a brief article in the Swedish edition of Wikipedia

http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Jacobsson

(Google translation edited)

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"Jacques (John) Jacobsson , born August 2, 1835, died June 4, 1909, was a Swedish composer and purveyor of musical instruments and scores.
Jacobsson studied with Ludvig Norman , Gustav Mankell and Franz Berwald . He was employed by Edward Josephson's music shop and lending library from 1849 and took over the business in 1861 together with the associated piano store. He ran this enterprise until 1876. He received the title "hovmusikhandlare". Jacobsson was also an organist at the synagogue.
He made himself known as a prolific composer, in particular, solo songs, some of which gained (great) popularity. He also composed choral works and piano pieces, as well as larger works, such as a Mass, the overtures Sommarminnen (Summer Memories - 1876),  En dröm A Dream (1881; ballad with orchestra), "Sweden's flag" (for male choir and solo with orchestra), chamber music, festival marches etc. His operetta "Ungmors cousin" was performed in 1868.

Jacobsson was awarded Litteris et Artibus 1866 and was elected on March 27, 1888 as member (No. 477) of the Royal Academy of Music."

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This last item is poetic justice as, according to other notes in my possession, Jacobsson had to study privately because of a rule which existed at the time: his employment in the music trade made him ineligible as a student at the Royal Swedish Academy.

Currently only three recordings are available, all due to the advocacy of pianist Margot Nyström


Bluebell ABCD 503 (only available as a download)*
Piano Quartet in D minor (?1864) - a work full of joie de vivre - reminds me of the Gouvy Quintet from about the same time.
Piano Trio in G minor (1867)
Nine miscellaneous piano pieces

Bluebell ABCD 082 (physical CD and download)
Song collection "Ljuva Minnen" (Lovely Memories) - again very much worth listening to

Proprius PRCD9041 (physical CD and download)
Works for cello and piano - also pieces by J. A. Hagg and Emil Sjogren.

* available from various sites, but Classics Online also provides a booklet with tracklisting and notes (in Swedish only, unfortunately!)

If anyone knows of other material please reply to this posting.

[Mark Thomas]

Thanks for the heads up Robert. I knew nothing of Jacobsson and, having downloaded the Piano Quartet & Piano Trio CD can vouch for the open-hearted joi de vivre of these pieces. Deliciously music, winningly played.

[Martin Eastick]

I am glad that someone has mentioned Jacobsson here at last. The two major recorded works (Piano Quartet in D minor Op7 & Piano Trio in G minor Op44) were originally issued as an LP some years ago by Bluebell and I was delighted to obtain a copy when released! Although I bought the LP "blind" so to speak - both pieces made an immediate favourable impression and I am only sorry that they have never been re-issued on CD as I feel that this would perhaps make the pieces better known.

Unfortunately, these two works, which are probably his most substantial compositions, were never published (the mss are held in the Swedish Academy of Music library together with a substantial collection of other Jacobsson items which also include another piano trio (F major) and a string quartet as well as piano  pieces and songs) and this has probably hampered any possible attempt to get the music better known. Apart from some short piano pieces and songs, the only other works to have been published during Jacobsson's lifetime were the 3 Fantasy Pieces for clarinet, viola and piano Op45 (these have recently appeared in a new publication but as yet remain unrecorded!)

However, I do possess copies of the mss of the Op7 & Op44 and have recently completed the setting of the Quartet (on Sibelius) so that it can easily be presented in performable state - I am still hard at work on the Trio, and when completed  I wonder if any of those Swedish publishers may possibly be interested......... Then all I have to do is to request copies of the remaining instrumental works and do likewise when time permits!

My wife has recently introduced one of her more advanced clarinet students to the Op45, and having also found an enthusiastic viola student of no mean ability, is currently arranging a (first?) performance in the UK, with myself contributing with the piano part. These youngsters have abviously never heard of Jacobsson, but the immediate melodic appeal of the music has created a genuine interest - and there are already tentative plans afoot to introduce the Piano Quartet at a school concert  in the not-too-distant future. So while Jacobsson could be criticised by some as being pleasantly conservative - music of this kind can be of considerable value in promoting the genre to a younger generation and hopefully also to set young minds making further excursions into similar territories!