Emil Hartmann - Hakon Jarl, Symphonic Poem, op. 40 (1887)

Emil Hartmann

 

 

(1 February 1836, Copenhagen, Denmark – 18 July 1898, Copenhagen, Denmark)

Hakon Jarl, Symphonic Poem, op. 40 (1887)

Written by Danish composer Emil Hartmann in 1887, another symphonic poem about the Norwegian king Hakon Jarl.

Check out the version by Bedrich Smetana here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf04zJ...

Orchestra: Copenhagen Philharmoinic Orchestra
Conductor: Bo Holten

From the linear notes:

The final text, which closely follows the musical development, reads as follows:
"Sings and wonders announce that the age of heathendom is over in Norway. The heathen peasants gather to fight their ancient faith, led by the powerful ruler Hakon Jarl. At the coast strange singing is heard; King Olaf Trygvason lands with monks and Christian men, leads his army against Hakon. As a sacrifice to the gods, Hakon murders his son, and musters all his strength in battle, but wherever the banner of the cross is seen and Olaf rallies, victory is his; the heathen army is split asunder, Hakon must flee. With his freedman Thormod Karker he hides in a dark mountain cave lit only by a smoldering pine chip. At midnight Hakon Jarl has fallen asleep; Karker watches him, is horrified by the sight of his terribly distorted face in sleep and kills him. outside the lur-horn rings out. King Olaf enters with his men, the halberds are fun through Karker's body, and King Olaf sees Hakon swimming in blood at his feel. All over Norway the banner of the cross waves. In vain the peasants, forced back to the mountains still battle with desperate courage. Faith in the old gods fades, the remnants of antiquity are obliterated - only a single mound and a single mighty stone still testify to what happened.[하콘 야를은 975년부터 995년까지 20년 간 노르웨이를 통치했던 인물이다. 하콘 야를은 덴마크의 왕 하랄드 블루투스의 묵인 하에, 노르웨이의 왕이었던 회색 외투왕 하랄드를 죽이고, 노르웨이의 왕좌를 차지했다. 이어 회색 외투왕 하랄드의 형제들과의 전투에서도 승리함으로써 입지를 더욱 굳혔다. 975년경, 덴마크의 왕 하랄드가 하콘 야를에게 기독교로의 개종을 권하자 고대 노르웨이 신들의 신봉자였던 하콘 야를은 덴마크와의 동맹을 깨버렸다. 995년, 하콘 야를은 노르웨이의 왕 회색 외투왕 하랄드의 손자인 올라프 트뤼그바손과의 전투에서 패하고, 자신의 노예이자 친구였던 토르모 카르크의 손에 죽임을 당하였다.]