Three symphonists – three very different symphonies:

Hugo Alfvén’s c-minor, 4th Symphony is subtitled Från havsbandet [From the outer Skerries] and is a musical portrait of the furthest islands of the Stockholm Archipelago; in it Alfvén makes extensive use of the human voice.

Hugo Alfvén
Symphony No. 4 in c (1919)

Moderato – Allegretto, ma non troppo 00:00
Allegro – Moderato – Allegro 11:02
Lento – Maestoso – Molto appassionato 16:03
Allegro agitato 35:16

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Dag Wirén’s work darkened as he got older; his Fourth – and penultimate – Symphony is part of that process:

Dag Wirén:
Symphony No. 4 (1952)

Tempo Moderato (0:00)
Molto Vivace (7:49)
Tempo Moderato (10:12)

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Many claim Pettersson as Sweden’s greatest composer. His symphonies are taut and grimly exciting; as one commentator put it – ‘this music is so depressing: I love it!’

Allan Pettersson:
Symphony No. 7 (1967)

Beginning (0:00) –
Bar 52 (2:53) –
Bar 172 (8:08) –
Bar 255 (12:47) –
Bar 311 (16:12) –
Bar 389 (21:44) –
Bar 432 (24:39) –
Bar 450 (25:45) –
Bar 512 (29:02) –
Bar 564 (35:24) –
Bar 613 (37:57) –
Bar 648 (40:03) –
Bar 707 (42:48) .

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