Johan Gustav Emil Sjögren (16 June 1853 – 1 March 1918) was a Swedish composer.
Born in Stockholm, Sjögren entered the Stockholm Conservatory at the age of seventeen and later continued his studies at the Berlin Conservatory.
From 1890, he served as the organist at the Saint John's Church in Stockholm until shortly before his death at Knivsta on 1 March 1918.
Sjögren is remembered best for his lieder and piano music. Other noteworthy works include three preludes and fugues for organ, five violin sonatas, as well as pieces for choir.
(For a VERY complete biography of Sjögren, I recommend this site:
https://www.swedishmusicalheritage.com/composers/sjogren-emil/)
The "Prelude and Fugue in A Minor" is a massive and impressive work. It reminded of an epic, Nordic tale told by a great storyteller.
The piece is laid out on a grand scale, recounting deeds of heroism, hope and despair, love and loss, always striving upwards to achieve victory, but then, at the end, perhaps falling back in sadness, seeming like we are back where we started.
The prelude is more exotic and sprawling, while the fugue is more "standard," although it eventually takes off in a dramatic coda, which while climbing the mountain, eventually returns to where our journey began.
The work was composed in 1906 and first published by William Hansen in 1909. It is dedicated to the great French organist, Alexandre Guilmant.
The score is attached below, as well as photos of the composer, Emil Sjögren, one of the dedicatee, Alexandre Guilmant, and several of the magnificent St. John's in Stockholm where Sjögren was organist for many years.
Peace to All.
Ranked #10 in Most Listened.
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