Alice Tegnér
Encyclopedia
Alice Charlotta Tegnér (12 March 1864 – 26 May 1943) was a Swedish music teacher, poet and composer. She was recognized as a foremost composer of Swedish children's songs during the first half of the 20th century.
, Sweden
, she was the daughter of Eduard Sandstrom (1829–1879), a ship captain. She was very musical and began taking piano lessons early. She attended seminars in Stockholm
(Högre lärarinneseminariet) and trained as a teacher. After graduation, she served as governess. Alice Tegner was a teacher at Djursholms samskola
and cantor in Djursholms chapel where Natanael Beskow
was a priest.
In 1885 she married James Tegnér (1851–1926). James Tegnér was a lawyer, and later secretary of the Swedish Publishers' Association and editor of Svenska Bokhandelstidningen.
, most notably Mors lilla Olle
. It was published during 1895 in volume 3 of Sjung med oss, mamma!.
In addition to children's songs, Alice Tegnér wrote many other types of music in classical genres such as chamber and sacred music together with choral music, cantatas, cello
and violin
sonatas. Her songs and compositions were inspired by both folk and art music. Her well-known hymnbook Nu ska vi sjunga, with illustrations by Elsa Beskow
, was published in 1943.
Background
Born Alice Sandstrom in KarlshamnKarlshamn
Karlshamn is a locality and the seat of Karlshamn Municipality in Blekinge County, Sweden with 12,957 inhabitants of the city core and 30 918 in the municipality ....
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, she was the daughter of Eduard Sandstrom (1829–1879), a ship captain. She was very musical and began taking piano lessons early. She attended seminars 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...
(Högre lärarinneseminariet) and trained as a teacher. After graduation, she served as governess. Alice Tegner was a teacher at Djursholms samskola
Djursholms samskola
Djursholms Samskola is the traditional name of a middle school in Djursholm, Sweden. The official name of the school is Viktor Rydbergs Samskola.-History:...
and cantor in Djursholms chapel where Natanael Beskow
Natanael Beskow
Fredrik Natanael Beskow was a Swedish theologian and school headmaster. He was also active as a preacher, writer, artist, pacifist and social activist. Beskow published a number of collections of sermons. He also made substantial contributions as a hymn writer.Beskow was born in Hallingeberg ,...
was a priest.
In 1885 she married James Tegnér (1851–1926). James Tegnér was a lawyer, and later secretary of the Swedish Publishers' Association and editor of Svenska Bokhandelstidningen.
Career
Alice Tegnér wrote many well-known children's songs in SwedishSwedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
, most notably Mors lilla Olle
Mors lilla Olle
"Mors lilla Olle" is a Swedish children's song by Alice Tegnér. The song is about the boy Olle, who meets a bear in the forest. He is not frightened, believing the bear to be a dog, and feeds the bear all of his precious blueberries. When Olle's mother sees him and the bear she screams loudly, and...
. It was published during 1895 in volume 3 of Sjung med oss, mamma!.
In addition to children's songs, Alice Tegnér wrote many other types of music in classical genres such as chamber and sacred music together with choral music, cantatas, cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
and violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
sonatas. Her songs and compositions were inspired by both folk and art music. Her well-known hymnbook Nu ska vi sjunga, with illustrations by Elsa Beskow
Elsa Beskow
Elsa Beskow was a Swedish author and illustrator of children's books...
, was published in 1943.
Awards
- 1914 Litteris et ArtibusLitteris et ArtibusLitteris et Artibus is a Swedish royal medal established in 1853 by Charles XV of Sweden, who was then crown prince. It is awarded to people who have made important contributions to culture, especially music, dramatic art and literature....
- 1926 member of the Swedish Royal Academy of Music (Kungliga Musikaliska akademien)
- 1929 First prize in the magazine Idun tonsättartävling
Children's songs
- Asarumsdalen
- Baka kaka
- Borgmästar Munthe
- Bä, bä, vita lamm
- Dansa min docka
- Ekorrn satt i granen"
- Hemåt i regnväder (text: Zacharias TopeliusZacharias TopeliusZachris Topelius was a Swedish-speaking Finnish author, journalist, historian, and rector of the University of Helsinki who wrote novels related to Finnish history in Swedish.-Life and career:...
) - I skogen
- Julbocken
- Kring julgranen
- Lasse liten (text: Zacharias TopeliusZacharias TopeliusZachris Topelius was a Swedish-speaking Finnish author, journalist, historian, and rector of the University of Helsinki who wrote novels related to Finnish history in Swedish.-Life and career:...
) - Marschlek
- Skogsblommorna till barnen (text: Elsa BeskowElsa BeskowElsa Beskow was a Swedish author and illustrator of children's books...
) - Sockerbagare
Other songs
- Betlehems stjärna (text: Viktor RydbergViktor RydbergAbraham Viktor Rydberg was a Swedish writer and a member of the Swedish Academy, 1877-1895...
) - Var är the Vän, som överallt go hunting söker (text: Johan Olof WallinJohan Olof WallinJohan Olof Wallin, , was a Swedish minister, orator, poet and later Archbishop of Uppsala, Sweden. He is most remembered today for his hymns.- Early life :...
) - Betlehems stjärna (Gläns över sjö och strand) (text: Viktor RydbergViktor RydbergAbraham Viktor Rydberg was a Swedish writer and a member of the Swedish Academy, 1877-1895...
) - Hell, vårt land!