Epistles of Fredman is a collection of poems and songs by 18th century author Carl Michael Bellman

Carl Michael Bellman

was a Swedish poet and composer. Bellman is a central figure in the Swedish song tradition and remains a very important influence in Swedish music, as well as in Scandinavian literature in general, to this day....

. It contains 82 works created over a period of twenty years. Many of the songs have remained culturally significant in Scandinavia, especially so in Sweden. Examples include Epistle N:o 81 Märk hur vår skugga, Epistle N:o 72 Glimmande nymph (Gleaming nymph), Epistle N:o 23 Ach du min Moder! and Epistle N:o 16 Fader Bergström. The lyrics describe a gallery of fictional characters and events taking place in Stockholm

Stockholm

Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...

 of that era, based on the lives of actual people Bellman was aware of. Jean Fredman, an alcoholic former watchmaker, is the central character.

Interpretations

In the 1960s Bellman's works saw a renaissance among the artistic community of "Vispråmen Storken" in Stockholm where a new generation of singers of "visor" approached the songs in a different manner than established by singers such as Evert Taube

Evert Taube

Evert Axel Taube was a Swedish author, artist, composer and singer. He is best known for his folk songs, and is widely regarded as one of Sweden's most respected musicians.-Biography:...

. In the "Storken" community were performing artists such as Fred Åkerström

Fred Åkerström

Fred Åkerström was a Swedish folk guitarist and singer particularly noted for his interpretations of Bellman's music, and his own work of the typically Swedish song segment named visa. These songs, visor, are traditionally very narrative and the performance is "acted" to some degree. The singer is...

, Sven-Bertil Taube

Sven-Bertil Taube

Sven-Bertil G. E. Taube is a Swedish singer and actor. Born in Stockholm, he is the son of songwriter Evert Taube and sculptor Astri Bergman Taube.-Biography:...

, Cornelis Vreeswijk

Cornelis Vreeswijk

Cornelis Vreeswijk , was a singer-songwriter, poet and actor born in IJmuiden in the Netherlands.He emigrated to Sweden with his parents in 1949 at the age of twelve. He was educated as a social worker and hoped to become a journalist, but became increasingly involved in music, performing at...

 och Olle Adolphson

Olle Adolphson

Olle Adolphson was a Swedish writer, singer and songwriter. He released a range of books , LPs and CDs .Dubbel Trubbel, a homage to Olle Adolphson, performed by various Swedish artists, such as Håkan...

, all of whom have interpreted Fredmans epistlar.

Among other interpretors of Fredmans epistlar on stage and in recordings are Ulf Bagge, Peter Ekberg Pelz, Mikael Samuelson

Mikael Samuelson

Mikael Samuelson is a Swedish barytone opera singer, actor and composer.Samuelson is the son of the famous musician and music arranger Bror Samuelson...

, Nis Bank-Mikkelsen, Joakim Thåström

Joakim Thåström

Sven Joachim Eriksson Thåström , as an artist known as Thåström, is one of Sweden's best known rock musicians, he is mostly known for the bands Ebba Grön and Imperiet...

, and Hannes Wader

Hannes Wader

Hannes Wader is a German singer-songwriter . He was an important figure in German leftist circles from the 1970s on, with his songs covering such themes as socialist and communist resistance to oppression in Europe and other places like Latin America...

.

List of epistles

• N:o 1, Sant va dä, ingen dricker (It is truth, not to drink); Til Cajsa Stina
• N:o 2, Nå skrufva Fiolen; Til Fader Berg, rörande Fiolen
• N:o 3, Fader Berg i hornet stöter; Til en och hvar af Systrarna
• N:o 4, Hej Musikanter ge Valdthornen väder; Enkannerligen till Anna Stina
• N:o 5, Käre bröder, så låtom oss supa i frid; Til the trogne Bröder på Terra Nova i Gaffelgränden
• N:o 6, Käraste Bröder Systrar och Vänner; Til the Galimater på hinsidon then Konungiliga Djurgårdenom
• N:o 7, Fram med Bas-Fiolen, knäpp och skrufva; Som synes vara en Elegie, skrifven vid Ulla Winblads
• N:o 8, Dörrarna öpna, Fiolerna klara!; Til Corporal Mollberg
• N:o 9, Käraste Bröder, Systrar och Vänner; Till gumman på Thermopolium Boreale
• N:o 10, Systrar hören min musik;
• N:o 11, Hej! sade Fredman hvar gång han hörde Valdthorn börja skråla; Til Bröderne och Systrarna på Lokatten
• N:o 12, Gråt Fader Berg och spela; Elegi öfver slagsmålet på Gröna Lund
• N:o 13, Nå ä nu alla församlade här; Till Brodern Bredström
• N:o 14, Hör J Orphei Drängar; Till poeten Wetz
• N:o 15, Käraste min Theophile; Enkannerligen til Theophilum Skomakar-Gesäll, under dess förföljelse skrifven til tröst och hugsvalelse
• N:o 16, Fader Bergström fingra ditt Oboe, blås; Enkannerligen til the Birfilare på then Konungsliga Djurgården
• N:o 17, Systrar och Vänner; Til Syster Lisa
• N:o 18, Gubbarna satt sig at dricka; Til Gubbarna på Terra Nova i Gaffelgränden vid Skeppsbron
• N:o 19, Trumslagarn kommer, flickor god dag!; Til Systrarna på then Konungsliga Djurgården
• N:o 20, Står du och gråter?; Til Fader Berg och Jergen Puckel
• N:o 21, Skyarna tjockna;
• N:o 22, De dyrbaraste gåfvor; Til the Nybyggare på Gröna Lund
• N:o 23, Ach du min Moder!; Som är ett soliloquium, då Fredman låg vid krogen Kryp-in, gent emot bankohuset, en sommarnatt år 1768.
• N:o 24, Kära Syster!;Till kära mor på Bruna Dörren
• N:o 25, Blåsen nu alla; Som är ett försök till en pastoral i bacchanalisk smak, skriven vid Ulla Winblads överfart till Djurgården
• N:o 26, Hvar står Fiolen?; Rörande mutter Berg och angående Lotta i Kolmätargränden och vad som passerat
• N:o 27, Gubben är gammal, urverket dras; Som är dess sista tankar
• N:o 28, I går såg jag ditt barn, min Fröja; Om ett anställt försåt emot Ulla Winblad
• N:o 29, Movitz tag dina pinnar; Till de förnäma
• N:o 30, Drick ur ditt glas, se Döden på dig väntar; Till fader Movitz, under dess sjukdom, lungsoten. Elegi
• N:o 31, Se Movitz, hvi står du och gråter; Över Movitz, då han blev uppiskad på gatan, för det kvinten sprang på basfiolen, en sommarafton 1769
• N:o 32, Kors! utan glas, du ser ut, din Canalje; Till fader Movitz, varutinnan han liknar honom vid ett skepp
• N:o 33, Was ist das? Ge rum vid Roddar-trappan;
• N:o 34, Ach hvad för en usel koja!; Till Movitz, när elden var lös i hans kvarter uti Kolmätargränden
• N:o 35, Bröderna fara väl vilse ibland; Angående sin sköna och hennes obeständighet
• N:o 36, Vår Ulla låg i sängen och sof; Rörande Ulla Winblads flykt
• N:o 37, Mollberg, stå stilla, stå stilla vid grind; Till Mollberg på post vid Kungsträdgården
• N:o 38, Undan ur vägen; Rörande Mollbergs paradering vid korporal Bomans grav
• N:o 39, Storm och böljor tystna ren; Öfver Bergströmskans Porträt på Liljans krog
• N:o 40, Ge rum i Bröllops-gåln din hund!; Angående bröllopet hos Bensvarvarns
• N:o 41, Mollberg satt i paulun; Vid et tilfälle då Christian Wingmark miste sin nattkappa i Slagsmålet med Mollberg
• N:o 42, Ren Calad jag spår och tror; Rörande Kortspelet på Klubben
• N:o 43, Värm mer Öl och Bröd; Til Ulla Winblad, skrifven vid et ömt tilfälle
• N:o 44, Movitz helt allena; Öfver Bredströmskans och Movitz melancholi
• N:o 45, Tjenare Mollberg, hur är det fatt?; Till fader Mollberg rörande hans harpa
• N:o 46, Undan ur vägen, ge rum för Courirn; Huru Mollberg skal bjuda til begrafning efter Mutter på Krogen Wismar, och om hans affärd ifrån Sterbhuset
• N:o 47, Kommer intet Mollberg? Jo nyss på stund; Angående Mollbergs återkomst til Sterbhuset på Krogen Wismar
• N:o 48, Solen glimmar blank och trind; Hvaruti afmålas Ulla Winblads hemresa från Hessingen
• N:o 49, Mamsell Ulla, märk Mamsell; Angående Landstigningen vid Klubben i Mälaren en sommar-afton 1769
• N:o 50, Phoebus förnyar; Om des sista Ögnekast på Ulla Winblad vid Hännes återfart ifrån Djurgården
• N:o 51, Movitz blåste en Concert; Angående Concerten på Tre Byttor
• N:o 52, Movitz, mitt hjerta blöder!; Til Movitz när hans Fästmö dog. Elegie.
• N:o 53, Vid et stop Öl och några Supar; Angående Slagsmålet nedanför Danto-Bommen hos T. en höstnatt
• N:o 54, Aldrig en Iris på dessa bleka fält; På St. Cathrina Kyrkogård
• N:o 55, Så ser Han ut midt bland de strålar; Rörande Movitz Kägelspel hos Faggens vid Hammarby-Tull en sommar afton 1770
• N:o 56, Se Mollberg med svart Råck och Flor; Angående Mor Maja på Förgylda Bägaren
• N:o 57, Allting är rigtigt clareradt och gjordt; Om Barnsölet
• N:o 58, Hjertat mig klämmer; Öfver Kilberg, Bacchi man och Ordens Officiant i Templet
• N:o 59, Hurra Courage, Bagage! God dag Bröder!; Til Lo-Katten
• N:o 60, Sitter du ännu och ljuger; Til Bränvins-Advocaten Fader Kulkus om något som passerat
• N:o 61, Kära Mor!; Til K. Mor på Fyrkanten
• N:o 62, Movitz Valdthornet proberar; Angående sista Balen på Gröna Lund
• N:o 63, Fader Bergström, stäm up och klinga; Diktad midt i veckan
• N:o 64, Fäll dina ögon och skäms nu din tåssa; Rörande sista Balen hos Frömans i Horns-Kroken
• N:o 65, Movitz med flor om armen, hålt!’’; Om Styrmans-Dottren Gretgens död på Fabriken
• N:o 66, Se hvar Movitz sitter där; Til Movitz Målare
• N:o 67, Fader Movitz, Bror! ; Til Mutter på Tuppen
• N:o 68, Movitz, i afton står Baln; Angående sista balen på Grönlund
• N:o 69, Se Dansmästarn Mollberg, Bröder; Om Mollberg Dansmästare
• N:o 70, Movitz vik mössan högt öfver öra; Om något som passerade i Artilleri-Lägret Anno 1773
• N:o 71, Ulla! min Ulla! säj får jag dig bjuda; Till Ulla i fönstret på Fiskartorpet
• N:o 72, Glimmande Nymph! blixtrande öga!; Lämnad vid Cajsa Lisas säng, sent om en afton
• N:o 73, Fan i Fauteuillerna! stolarna kullra; Angående Jergen som förskref sig til Fan
• N:o 74, Min Son!; Om Bergströmskans Porträt
• N:o 75, Skratta mina barn och vänner; Til sin Rival Fader Movitz, på Caisa Lisas Namnsdag
• N:o 76, Se Hans Jergen hur han sig bockar; Til Mutter på Wismar, rörande Hans Jergen, då han blev utpiskad ifrån Balen
• N:o 77, Klang mina Flickor! se skyarna glimma; Angående Jungfru Sophia på Lokatten och om något som passerat
• N:o 78, Knapt Jeppe hant ur gluggen gå in; som är et Fägne-Spel på Fader Didriks Namnsdag år 1780
• N:o 79, Charon i Luren tutar; Afsked til Matronorna, synnerligen til Mor Maja Myra i Solgränden vid Stortorget, Anno 1785
• N:o 80, Liksom en Herdinna, högtids klädd; Angående Ulla Winblads Lustresa til Första Torpet, utom Kattrumps Tullen
• N:o 81, Märk hur vår skugga, märk Movitz Mon Frère!; Til Grälmakar Löfberg i Sterbhuset vid Danto bommen
• N:o 82, Hvila vid denna källa; Eller Oförmodade Afsked, förkunnadt vid Ulla Winblads Frukost en sommar-morgon i det gröna

Märk hur vår skugga (Epistle No. 81)

Märk hur vår skugga is number 81 of Epistles of Fredman by Carl Michael Bellman

Carl Michael Bellman

was a Swedish poet and composer. Bellman is a central figure in the Swedish song tradition and remains a very important influence in Swedish music, as well as in Scandinavian literature in general, to this day....

. It's about one of Bellman's female acquaintances funeral

Funeral

A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from interment itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honor...

 (grälmakar Löfberg's wife).

Many Swedish artists has recorded Märk hur vår skugga, among others Cornelis Vreeswijk

Cornelis Vreeswijk

Cornelis Vreeswijk , was a singer-songwriter, poet and actor born in IJmuiden in the Netherlands.He emigrated to Sweden with his parents in 1949 at the age of twelve. He was educated as a social worker and hoped to become a journalist, but became increasingly involved in music, performing at...

, Stefan Sundström

Stefan Sundström

Stefan Sundström is a Swedish singer/songwriter and troubadour. After dropping out of school, he started playing in small bands such as Trots, Läppstars and Apache, which later went on to become Weeping Willows. Sundström's music often refers to other important Swedish musicians like Evert Taube,...

, Fred Åkerström

Fred Åkerström

Fred Åkerström was a Swedish folk guitarist and singer particularly noted for his interpretations of Bellman's music, and his own work of the typically Swedish song segment named visa. These songs, visor, are traditionally very narrative and the performance is "acted" to some degree. The singer is...

 and Imperiet

Imperiet

' were a Swedish 1980s rock band from Stockholm, that existed from 1983 to 1988. They were arguably the most influential band in Sweden of the period, but definitely dominated the new wave scene, which at the time was seen as the same as the punk rock scene....

, who scored a 1985-1985 Svensktoppen

Svensktoppen

Svensktoppen is a record chart at Sveriges Radio. Until January 2003, the songs had to be in the Swedish language. Svensktoppen has aired since 1962, except for the years 1982-1985. Svensktoppen airs once a week...

 hit with the song. English speaking Mediaeval Baebes has recorded the song in Swedish on the album Mirabilis (2005).

An English translation, entitled Epistle No. 81, has been recorded by the Swedish doom metal

Doom metal

Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...

 band Candlemass

Candlemass

Candlemass are an influential Swedish doom metal band established in 1984 by Leif Edling , their leader and songwriter. The band is originally from Stockholm. After releasing five full-length albums and touring extensively throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Candlemass disbanded in 1994, but...

 on the 1988 album Ancient Dreams

Ancient Dreams

Ancient Dreams is the third album of Swedish doom metal band Candlemass and was released in 1988, and reissued in 2001 by Powerline Records with bonus CD...

, and by the American doom metal

Doom metal

Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...

 band While Heaven Wept

While Heaven Wept

While Heaven Wept is an epic doom metal band based in Dale City, Virginia, USA. The primary writer and overall engine of the band is mainman Tom Phillips...

 on the 2003 album Of Empires Forlorn. Another English translation, entitled Castrum Doloris, was recorded by Swedish black metal

Black metal

Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....

 band Marduk

Marduk (band)

Marduk is a black metal band from Norrköping, Sweden. The band formed in 1990 and released their first record in 1991. Their name is derived from the Babylonian god Marduk, patron deity of Babylon.-Musical style:...

 on the 2003 album World Funeral

World Funeral

World Funeral is the eighth studio album by Swedish black metal band Marduk. It was recorded and mixed at The Abyss between September and November and was released on March 25, 2003 by Regain Records. The track listing of the album is organized as to create a dynamic change of paces and...

.

Sources

• Bellman lyrics and reference index Bellman.net

Footnotes