The Swedish Rhapsody also known as Midsommarvaka (Midsummer Vigil) is a symphonic rhapsody written in 1903 and is the best-known piece composed by Hugo Alfvén and also one of the best-known pieces of music in Sweden. It can be described as a fantasy on popular Swedish folk melodies depicting the moods evoked by an old-time Swedish Midsummer-wake. This edition presents the rhapsody in a Piano transcription as arranged and popularised by Canadian composer and conductor Percy Faith.Hugo Alfvén was a Swedish composer conductor violinist and painter. Alfvén became known as one of Sweden's principal composers withthe late-Romantic idiom of his music which revokes pictures of the Swedish landscape. His orchestration is skilful and colourful reminiscent of that of Richard Strauss.
