Göran Svenning and David Hellström
Encyclopedia
Lyricist Göran Svenning and composer David Hellström were a top Swedish songwriting team of the early 20th century.
Together they wrote over thirty waltzes, including the classic Kostervalsen (The Koster Waltz).
In America their songs appeared on the Columbia
, Edison
and Victor
labels. Some of the artists who covered Svenning and Hellström were Arvid Franzen, Lydia Hedberg,
Eddie Jahrl, John Lager, Ingeborg Laudon, Eric Olson, Hjalmar Peterson
and Charles G. Widdén
.
The Svenning-Hellström composition Friarevalsen (The Suitor’s Waltz) was given a second life when the producer Emil Norlander
borrowed its melody for his revue "Tokiga Amelie" (Crazy Amelie). Norlander, who was a prolific songwriter, wrote new words for the song and called it Balen på bakgården (The dance in the back yard).
In 1914 Svenning and Hellström wrote Malmö Valsen (The Malmö Waltz), a song also known as På Baltiskan (On The Baltic). The piece commemorated the Baltic Exhibition
of 1914, which was held in the Swedish city of Malmö
on the eve of the First World War. Hjalmar Peterson and his wife Olga Lindgren recorded the song in 1917 for Columbia Records
. The same year Charles G. Widdén recorded Sångvals (Song waltz) for Victor Records
. His recording was an adaptation of Malmö Valsen. It had Hellström’s melody, some of Svenning’s text and new lyrics that were partly in English.
, he had a dental practice in Strömstad
in Bohuslän
, where he met the composer David Hellström.
Svenning wrote most of his song lyrics in collaboration with Hellström although he worked with Theodor Pinet on the well-known Bondvals (Farmer Waltz). Pinet, a popular bandleader and composer, was known as the “Boston King” because of his association with the Boston waltz, a dance popular in Sweden in the early 1900s.
In 1911 Svenning published a collection of verse entitled Skärgårdssånger (Archipelago songs).
. As a young man he enlisted in the Royal Bohuslän
Regiment, where he studied music and played the French horn. He returned to civilian life after attaining the rank of sergeant and from then on worked as a gardener.
After leaving the military Hellström continued with his musical activities, composing both waltzes and marches. He often worked with lyricist Göran Svenning. In 1907 the two men submitted Kostervalsen in a Bohuslän
contest for the province’s best new melody. Their entry was disqualified when the jury ruled it was “too suggestive”. Despite the setback, the partnership endured and produced many memorable songs.
In 1962 David Hellström was awarded the Fred Winter prize for his contributions to Swedish music.
Swedish music and film
Discographies
PDF file
Swedish lyrics
Mp3 files and streaming audio
Together they wrote over thirty waltzes, including the classic Kostervalsen (The Koster Waltz).
In America their songs appeared on the Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, Edison
Edison Records
Edison Records was one of the earliest record labels which pioneered recorded sound and was an important player in the early recording industry.- Early phonographs before commercial mass produced records :...
and Victor
Victor Talking Machine Company
The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American corporation, the leading American producer of phonographs and phonograph records and one of the leading phonograph companies in the world at the time. It was headquartered in Camden, New Jersey....
labels. Some of the artists who covered Svenning and Hellström were Arvid Franzen, Lydia Hedberg,
Eddie Jahrl, John Lager, Ingeborg Laudon, Eric Olson, Hjalmar Peterson
Hjalmar Peterson
-Swedish-American entertainer:Olle i Skratthult was the stage name of Hjalmar Peterson, a Swedish-American vaudeville artist, who achieved great popularity during the 1910s and 1920s. Peterson was born February 7, 1886 in the Swedish province of Värmland. Arriving in the United States in 1906, he...
and Charles G. Widdén
Charles G. Widdén
-Swedish-American entertainer:Charles G. Widdén was a Swedish immigrant performer in the first quarter of the 20th Century. As a young child Widdén came with his family to Worcester, Massachusetts. He is said to have been from the Swedish province of Närke...
.
The Svenning-Hellström composition Friarevalsen (The Suitor’s Waltz) was given a second life when the producer Emil Norlander
Emil Norlander
Emil Norlander was a Swedish journalist, author and producer. Originally a dentist, by the late 1890s he was working as a columnist on a Stockholm newspaper. He also contributed to the humor magazine Nya Nisse, eventually becoming its chief editor...
borrowed its melody for his revue "Tokiga Amelie" (Crazy Amelie). Norlander, who was a prolific songwriter, wrote new words for the song and called it Balen på bakgården (The dance in the back yard).
In 1914 Svenning and Hellström wrote Malmö Valsen (The Malmö Waltz), a song also known as På Baltiskan (On The Baltic). The piece commemorated the Baltic Exhibition
Baltic Exhibition
The Baltic Exhibition was held in Malmö, Sweden from May 15, 1914 until October 4, 1914. It presented exhibits of industry, art and crafts from Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Russia — the four countries then bordering the Baltic Sea...
of 1914, which was held in the Swedish city of Malmö
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
on the eve of the First World War. Hjalmar Peterson and his wife Olga Lindgren recorded the song in 1917 for Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. The same year Charles G. Widdén recorded Sångvals (Song waltz) for Victor Records
Victor Talking Machine Company
The Victor Talking Machine Company was an American corporation, the leading American producer of phonographs and phonograph records and one of the leading phonograph companies in the world at the time. It was headquartered in Camden, New Jersey....
. His recording was an adaptation of Malmö Valsen. It had Hellström’s melody, some of Svenning’s text and new lyrics that were partly in English.
Göran Svenning
Göran Svenning (1870 – 1953) was a songwriter, who was also a dentist. A native of VästergötlandVästergötland
', English exonym: West Gothland, is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden , situated in the southwest of Sweden. In older English literature one may also encounter the Latinized version Westrogothia....
, he had a dental practice in Strömstad
Strömstad
Strömstad is a locality and the seat of Strömstad Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 6,110 inhabitants in 2005.Strömstad is, despite its small population, for historical reasons normally still referred to as a city.- History :...
in Bohuslän
Bohuslän
' is a Swedish traditional province, or landskap, situated in Götaland on the northernmost part of the country's west coast. It is bordered by Dalsland to the northeast, Västergötland to the southeast, the Skagerrak arm of the North Sea to the west, and the county of Østfold in Norway to the north...
, where he met the composer David Hellström.
Svenning wrote most of his song lyrics in collaboration with Hellström although he worked with Theodor Pinet on the well-known Bondvals (Farmer Waltz). Pinet, a popular bandleader and composer, was known as the “Boston King” because of his association with the Boston waltz, a dance popular in Sweden in the early 1900s.
In 1911 Svenning published a collection of verse entitled Skärgårdssånger (Archipelago songs).
David Hellström
David Hellstrom (1883 - 1965) was a Swedish composer from the province of BohuslänBohuslän
' is a Swedish traditional province, or landskap, situated in Götaland on the northernmost part of the country's west coast. It is bordered by Dalsland to the northeast, Västergötland to the southeast, the Skagerrak arm of the North Sea to the west, and the county of Østfold in Norway to the north...
. As a young man he enlisted in the Royal Bohuslän
Bohuslän
' is a Swedish traditional province, or landskap, situated in Götaland on the northernmost part of the country's west coast. It is bordered by Dalsland to the northeast, Västergötland to the southeast, the Skagerrak arm of the North Sea to the west, and the county of Østfold in Norway to the north...
Regiment, where he studied music and played the French horn. He returned to civilian life after attaining the rank of sergeant and from then on worked as a gardener.
After leaving the military Hellström continued with his musical activities, composing both waltzes and marches. He often worked with lyricist Göran Svenning. In 1907 the two men submitted Kostervalsen in a Bohuslän
Bohuslän
' is a Swedish traditional province, or landskap, situated in Götaland on the northernmost part of the country's west coast. It is bordered by Dalsland to the northeast, Västergötland to the southeast, the Skagerrak arm of the North Sea to the west, and the county of Østfold in Norway to the north...
contest for the province’s best new melody. Their entry was disqualified when the jury ruled it was “too suggestive”. Despite the setback, the partnership endured and produced many memorable songs.
In 1962 David Hellström was awarded the Fred Winter prize for his contributions to Swedish music.
Selected songs by Svenning and Hellström
- Balen på bakgården (Friarevalsen) ~ T: Emil NorlanderEmil NorlanderEmil Norlander was a Swedish journalist, author and producer. Originally a dentist, by the late 1890s he was working as a columnist on a Stockholm newspaper. He also contributed to the humor magazine Nya Nisse, eventually becoming its chief editor...
(1910) - Beväringsvals (1912)
- Bondvals ~ M: Theodor Pinet (1909)
- Bohuslänska Sjömansvalsen (1910)
- Brudvalsen
- Bröllopsvalsen
- Fiskarvals Från Bohuslän (1908)
- Friarevalsen (1909)
- Hjärterövalsen (1915)
- I Det Soliga Blå
- Kostervalsen (1913)
- Kyssvalsen (1914)
- Kärestan Min
- Landsvägstrall
- Malmö Valsen / På Baltiskan / The Baltic Exposition Waltz (1914)
- Midsommarsvalsen
- Ny Fiskarvals (1912)
- Nya Kostervalsen
- Sångvals (Malmö Valsen) (1917)
External links
Articles- Lydia Hedberg at Swedish folk parks.
- Theodor Pinet at Swedish ragtime.
Swedish music and film
Discographies
- David Hellström at the EDVR.
- Göran Svenning at the EDVR.
PDF file
- Svenning and Hellström songbook at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
.
Swedish lyrics
Mp3 files and streaming audio
- Balen på bakgården at the National Library of Sweden.
- The Baltic Exposition Waltz at the Library of CongressLibrary of CongressThe Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
. - Bondvals at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
. - Friarevalsen, Hjärterövalsen, Kostervalsen and Malmö Valsen at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
. - 16 Svenning - Hellström songs at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
.