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Swedish Rhapsody No. 1 is a symphonic rhapsody
by the Swedish composer Hugo Alfvén
. Although the first of three similarly named works, it is often simply called the "Swedish Rhapsody".
The Rhapsody was written in 1903. It is the best known piece by Alfvén, and also one of the best known pieces of music in Sweden.
There are several pop culture references to the main theme of Alfvén's Swedish Rhapsody No. 1:
Rhapsody
Rhapsody may refer to:* Rhapsody , an enthusiastic instrumental composition of indefinite form* A work of epic poetry, or part of one, that is suitable for recitation at one time...
by the Swedish composer Hugo Alfvén
Hugo Alfvén
was a Swedish composer, conductor, violinist, and painter.- Violinist :Alfvén was born in Stockholm and studied at the Music Conservatory there from 1887 to 1891 with the violin as his main instrument, receiving lessons from Lars Zetterquist. He also took private composition lessons from Johan...
. Although the first of three similarly named works, it is often simply called the "Swedish Rhapsody".
The Rhapsody was written in 1903. It is the best known piece by Alfvén, and also one of the best known pieces of music in Sweden.
There are several pop culture references to the main theme of Alfvén's Swedish Rhapsody No. 1:
- It is played repeatedly in the 1952 short film The Stranger Left No CardThe Stranger Left No CardThe Stranger Left No Card is a British short film directed by Wendy Toye.Alan Badel plays the stranger, who arrives in a small town, costumed as a flamboyant itinerant magician with a folding bag of tricks. After a week in town, where 'Napoleon's' outrageous behaviour soon gives him a reputation...
, which has no dialogue, but only music. - It was arranged and recorded as a fingerstyle guitar solo in 1957 by American guitarist Chet AtkinsChet AtkinsChester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
, and became one of Atkins' best-known recordings. - Another arrangement appeared on Steve HoweSteve Howe (guitarist)Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
's live album Not Necessarily AcousticNot Necessarily AcousticNot Necessarily Acoustic is a live album recorded on Steve Howe's first solo tour and released in 1994.Steve plays alone, and mixes songs from his earlier solo albums, some country and jazz favourites of him, and also some songs from Yes....
. - The original version of a popular song "Mah Nà Mah NàMah Nà Mah Nà"Mah Nà Mah Nà" is a popular song written by Piero Umiliani. It originally appeared in the Italian film Sweden: Heaven and Hell . It was a minor radio hit in the U.S...
" interpolatesInterpolation (music)Interpolation in music refers to an abrupt change in musical elements from the main theme.-In classical music:In music and musical composition, especially 20th century and later, interpolation is an abrupt change of elements, with continuation of the first idea...
its melody. - It is featured in The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
episode "Little Orphan MillieLittle Orphan Millie"Little Orphan Millie" is the sixth episode of The Simpsons nineteenth season and was first broadcast on November 11, 2007. For the first time in years, Kirk and Luann reunite. It was written by Mick Kelly, production assistant to Al Jean, and directed by Lance Kramer...
", erroneously depicting DanishDenmarkDenmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
culture. - The melody has been used on ice cream vansIce cream vanAn ice cream van or ice cream truck is a commercial vehicle which serves as a travelling retail outlet for ice cream, usually during the summer. Ice cream vans are often seen parked at public events, or near parks, beaches, or other areas where people congregate...
in some parts of the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. - Ritchie BlackmoreRitchie BlackmoreRichard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was known as one of the first guitarists to fuse Classical music elements with rock. He fronted his own band Rainbow after leaving Deep Purple where he was unhappy because his favourite musical style wasn't adequately...
included a theme from it on the live version of LazyLazy (Deep Purple song)"Lazy" is a song by British hard rock band Deep Purple from their 1972 album Machine Head. A live performance of the song can be found on the album Made in Japan, released later the same year....
found on Deep PurpleDeep PurpleDeep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
's Made in Japan. - The melody is used throughout The WigglesThe WigglesThe Wiggles are a children's group formed in Sydney, Australia in 1991. Their original members were Anthony Field, Phillip Wilcher, Murray Cook, Greg Page, and Jeff Fatt. Wilcher left the group after their first album...
Big Big Show. - It is featured in the film Matchstick MenMatchstick MenMatchstick Men is a 2003 American drama film directed by Ridley Scott. Based on Eric Garcia's novel Matchstick Men: A Novel about Grifters with Issues , the motion picture stars Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, and Alison Lohman.-Plot:...
. - An arrangement, formed from a couple of bars, was used as the interval signalInterval signalAn interval signal, or tuning signal, is a characteristic sound or musical phrase used in international broadcasting and by some domestic broadcasters...
for a German language numbers stationNumbers stationA numbers station is a shortwave radio station of uncertain origin. In the 1950s, Time magazine reported that the numbers stations first appeared shortly after World War II and were using a format that had been used to send weather data during that war.Numbers stations generally broadcast...
as recently as 2009. As a result, the station is known as the "Swedish Rhapsody" station.