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NWGW 159

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Niels W. Gade

Et Folkesagn (Første & tredje Akt)

Ballet i tre akter

A Folk Tale (Act One & Three)

Ballet in Three Acts

Eine Volkssage (Erster und dritter Aufzug)

Ballett in drei Akten

NWGW 159
GW VI:2a
DF 169

Choreographer: August Bournonville

Composition: 1853-1854.

August Bournonville was inspired to write this ballet by reading J.M. Thiele's collection of "Danmarks Folkesagn", published in a second edition in 1843. For unknown reasons Bournonville decided to ask the two most prominent Danish composers at that time: Niels W. Gade and his father-in-law, J.P.E. Hartmann to divide the music between them: Gade Acts One and Three and Hartmann Act Two. Nevertheless the music may be regarded as en entity because of common thematic material between the acts. In his diary Bournonville refers to several meetings with the two composers separately, but never together. "Et Folkesagn" is one of the most loved ballets of August Bournonville and has been performed more than 600 times at The Royal Theatre in Copenhagen. It has become a tradition in Denmark, that newly wed couples dance the Bridal Waltz from Act Three.

Instrumentation: Orchestra: picc.flauto piccolo (piccolo) , 2 fl.flauto (flute) , 2 ob.oboe , 2 cl.clarinetto (clarinet) , 2 fg.fagotto (bassoon) , 2 cor.corno (horn) in C, 2 cor.corno (horn) in D, 2 cor.corno (horn) in E, 2 cor.corno (horn) in Es, 2 cor.corno (horn) in F, 2 cor.corno (horn) in A, 2 cor.corno (horn) in B basso, cnt.cornetta (cornet) , 2 tr.tromba (trumpet) in Es, 2 tr.tromba (trumpet) in A, 2 tr.tromba (trumpet) in B, 2 tr.tromba (trumpet) in C, 2 tr.tromba (trumpet) in D, 2 tr.tromba (trumpet) in E, trb.trombone a, trb.trombone t, trb.trombone b, timp.timpani , trgl.triangolo (triangel) , gr.c.gran cassa (bass drum) & ptti.piatti (cymbals) , camp.campane (bell) , vl.1violino 1 , vl.2violino 2 , va.viola , vc.violoncello , cb.contrabbasso (double bass) Soloists: vl.violino , vc.violoncello

Music

Sources

Score, autograph, fair copy

[Classification: Notated music, Manuscript, Autograph, Score, Fair copy, Complete]

Bound in black and red-brown marbled cardboard with red-brown leather spine. On the spine: "GADE OG / HARTMANN / ET FOLKESAGN / PART. / I (II) / 1.-2. AKT (3. AKT)". Written in ink. Paper: 16 staves. Many different paginations.

DK-KkDet Kongelige Bibliotek, København C II, 108 (KTB 274).

Piano score, autograph, fair copy, nos. 4 & 5 in the printed piano score

[Classification: Notated music, Manuscript, Autograph, Piano score, Fair copy, Fragment]

8 pages; 34 x 24.5 and 34 x 25.5 cm.

2 bifolios. Written in ink. Paper: 18 staves. Later pagination in pencil: pp. 12-18. Heading on p. 12: "Ved Elverhøi / Scherzo"", and on p. 16: "Elverpigerne" Last page blank.

DK-KkDet Kongelige Bibliotek, København C II, 6 Gades Samling 274 (Kapsel (C - E).

Rehearsal score, manuscript copy

[Classification: Notated music, Manuscript, Autograph, Short score, Draft, Incomplete]

56 pages.

Title page: Et Folkesagn [written across the staves]

In the right-hand corner of the title page "Repetiteurens Parti". 12 bifolios and 4 single folios. Paper 20 and 18 staves. Various paginations. With a number of corrections and choreographic indications by Bournonville in pencil and black ink, comprising the dramatic plot of the ballet and directions as to gesture and expression. However, Gade's penciled notes in the margin and between the staves concern the general dramatic plot.

Comprises nos. 1, 2, 3 , 5 and parts of no. 4 in Act One and nos. 14-20 (except the Bridal Waltz) of Act Three. According to Bournonville's diaries the notes in the manuscript were written between 17 September 1853 and mid-January 1854.

DK-KkDet Kongelige Bibliotek, København C II, 108 (KTB 274).

Rehearsal score for 2 violins, manuscript copy

[Classification: Notated music, Manuscript, Copy, Fair copy, Incomplete]

126 pages; 33.5 x 25 cm.

Title page: Et Folkesagn. / Ballet i 3 Akter / af / August Bournonville / Musiken af Gade & Hartmann. / 1854.

In cardboard binding with marbled sides and leather spine. Stamped in gold on the spine "Et Folkesagn". Written in ink. Paper: 14 staves. Paginated in pencil 1-125 from the first music page. Verso of title page and last page blank.

The rehearsal score contains Bournonville's autograph notes in pencil, which describe the dramatic action, the mime, and the choreography. Act One is on pp. 1-28; Act Three on pp. 61-123. Contains many notes and indications for the many changes for the revised stagings of the ballet.

Condition: Very worn.

DK-KkDet Kongelige Bibliotek, København MA ms 2968 (KTB 274 (1).

Score, manuscript copy (Act Three no. 19)

[Classification: Notated music, Manuscript, Copy, Score, Fair copy, Excerpt]

28 pages; 35 x 25.5 cm.

7 bifolios. Written in ink. Paper: 16 staves. Last page blank.

DK-KkDet Kongelige Bibliotek, København C II, 6 Gades Samling 278 (Kapsel F - J).

Arrangement for piano two hands, print, excerpt

[Classification: Notated music, Print, Piano score, First edition, Excerpt]

Horneman & Erslev, Copenhagen 1854.

15 pages (vol. 1); 6 pages (vol. 2).

Title page: Et Folkesagn / Ballet af A. Bournonville / MUSIKEN / AF / N.W. Gade og J.P.E. Hartmann / Claveerudtog. / 1^ste Hefte: Charakteerstykker | 2^det Hefte. Galop og Vals. / Pr. 48 Sk. / Forlæggerens Eiendom. / KJÖBENHAVN / Horneman & Erslev. / Stockholm hos Abr Hirsch. / Chr. M. Tegners lith. Inst.

Pl. no.363.

Nos. 4, 5 and 19.

Gade's personal copy

DK-KkDet Kongelige Bibliotek, København C II, 6 Gades Samling 204 a, D6.

Arrangement for piano two hands, print

[Classification: Notated music, Print, Piano score, First edition, Complete]

Wilhelm Hansen, Copenhagen 1880.

69 pages.

Title page: Et Folkesagn / Ballet af A. Bournonville / Musiken af / NIELS W. GADE og J.P.E. HARTMANN / Fuldstændigt Claveerudtog. / Forlæggerens Eiendom. / KJÖBENHAVN / Wilhelm Hansens Musik-Forlag.

Pl. no.8116.

Pages 1-24 and 50-69 by Gade.

Gade's personal copy

DK-KkDet Kongelige Bibliotek, København C II, 6 Gades Samling 204 a, D6.

Performances

20 Mar. 1854	The Royal Theatre (The Kongelige Teater), Copenhagen (Royal Danish Ballet; Royal Danish Orchestra (Det Kongelige Kapel)). First performance. Reviews: 'Det kongelige Theater'. Berlingske Politiske og Avertissementstidende, 68, 21 Mar. 1854, p. 1. Fædrelandet, 15/68, 21 Mar. 1854, p. 1. 'Det Kgl. Theater'. Flyveposten, 10/69, 22 Mar. 1854, p. 1. 'Det kongelige Theater'. Kjøbenhavnsposten, 28/68, 23 Mar. 1854, pp. 1-2.
22 Mar. 1854
25 Mar. 1854
2 Apr. 1854
4 Apr. 1854
6 Apr. 1854
17 Apr. 1854
21 Apr. 1854
24 Apr. 1854
30 Apr. 1854
6 May 1854
9 May 1854
21 May 1854
2 Sept. 1854
8 Sept. 1854
19 Sept. 1854
16 Oct. 1854
19 Nov. 1854
30 Nov. 1854
22 Dec. 1854
7 Jan. 1855
13 Feb. 1855
22 Mar. 1855
14 May 1855
19 May 1855
20 Apr. 1856
25 Apr. 1856
29 Apr. 1856
5 May 1856
8 May 1856
17 May 1856
24 Sept. 1856	Festive performance in honour of Prince Napoleon.
26 Sept. 1856
9 Nov. 1856
19 Nov. 1856
14 Jan. 1857
26 Jan. 1857
14 Feb. 1857
28 Apr. 1857
28 Jan. 1858
2 Feb. 1858
12 Feb. 1858
3 Mar. 1858
11 Sept. 1858
5 Oct. 1858
5 Nov. 1858
22 Nov. 1858
2 Oct. 1859
15 Oct. 1859
24 Nov. 1859
5 Dec. 1859
2 Mar. 1860
8 Dec. 1860
3 Jan. 1861
22 Jan. 1861
14 Dec. 1861
13 Feb. 1864
26 Feb. 1864
10 Mar. 1864
4 Apr. 1864
26 Dec. 1864
30 Dec. 1864
24 Jan. 1865
2 Feb. 1865
20 Sept. 1867
23 Sept. 1867
10 Oct. 1867
15 Oct. 1867
3 Nov. 1867
30 Nov. 1867
7 Jan. 1868
3 Feb. 1868
26 Apr. 1868
14 Dec. 1868
12 Jan. 1869
8 Apr. 1869
3 Apr. 1871
13 Apr. 1871
22 Apr. 1871
23 May 1871
2 Nov. 1871
15 Nov. 1871
11 Dec. 1871
12 May 1872
28 May 1872
1 June 1874
1 Nov. 1874
5 Nov. 1874
9 Nov. 1874
22 Nov. 1874
28 Nov. 1874
8 Dec. 1874
8 Jan. 1875
6 Apr. 1875
9 Jan. 1876
13 Jan. 1876
21 Jan. 1876
24 Jan. 1876
3 Nov. 1877
5 Nov. 1877	100th performance.
8 Nov. 1877
4 Dec. 1877
11 Jan. 1878
1 June 1880
10 Sept. 1880
2 Oct. 1880
9 Nov. 1880
3 Jan. 1881
4 Sept. 1883
10 Sept. 1883
5 Jan. 1884
1 May 1884
14 May 1885	Hartmann's 80th birthday celebration (Act Two only).
22 Feb. 1887	Niels W. Gade's 70th birthday celebration.
10 Mar. 1887
16 Mar. 1887
14 May 1887
25 Feb. 1888
19 Mar. 1888
23 June 1888

Documents

Bibliography

Last changed 2022-12-02 by MerMEId

NWGW

Niels W. Gade. Thematic-Bibliographic Catalogue of His Works

Et Folkesagn (Første & tredje Akt)

Ballet i tre akter

A Folk Tale (Act One & Three)

Ballet in Three Acts

Eine Volkssage (Erster und dritter Aufzug)

Ballett in drei Akten

Music

Første Akt Act One Erster Aufzug

Sections

Introductione

1. Jagten The Hunt

2. Bondedands - Reel Peasants' Dance

3.

4.

5.

Tredje Akt Act Three Dritter Aufzug

Sections

14. Pastorale

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20. Finale

Sections

Polonaise

[Brudevals]

Sources

Score, autograph, fair copy

Piano score, autograph, fair copy, nos. 4 & 5 in the printed piano score

Rehearsal score, manuscript copy

Rehearsal score for 2 violins, manuscript copy

Score, manuscript copy (Act Three no. 19)

Arrangement for piano two hands, print, excerpt

Gade's personal copy

Arrangement for piano two hands, print

Gade's personal copy

Performances

Documents

Bibliography

Første Akt
Act One
Erster Aufzug

1. Jagten
The Hunt

2. Bondedands - Reel
Peasants' Dance

Tredje Akt
Act Three
Dritter Aufzug