Tracing the musical style of Birger Sjöberg
Abstract
Per-Erik Brolinson & Holger Larsen
The songs of the Swedish author and composer Bigrer Sjöberg
(1885-1929) occupy a stylistic middleground between folk song and art
song. This stylistic ambiguity is reflected in almost every feature of
his music: melody, rhythm, harmony and form. Although the songs may have
an air of unabitious simplicity, they are often difficult to perform.
Several of his songs contain references, sometimes very subtle, to other
musical works. At the same time his style is disticntively personal.
This essay attempts to investigate his stylistic double nature as well
as his uniquely personal traits.