commentary to Elegy

Elegy for Viola and Piano (1999)

Duration: 5 minutes

Publisher: Schott Music VAB 78 / ISMN: 979-0-001-18174-7

Foreword (Schott Music VAB 78)

When Bertold Hummel was composing the second movement (II. Elegie) of his Concertino classico für Violin and Piano or Strings op. 103b (CON 255) on 11. August 1999, an eclipse of the sun was taking place which was visible throughout Europe as he noted at the end of the composition. Perhaps this was the reason for selecting the melancholy Finnish folk song "Tuoll' on mun kultani" played con sordino as the focal point of the work. He had been familiar with this song since his student days and had included it within a poetic context in correspondence during this period with his future wife under the German title "Über den Berg ist mein Liebster gezogen" ["My beloved has gone over the mountain"]. The arrangement of the Elegie for viola and piano was probably produced in the year 2000 and was intended for his daughter-in-law Andrea who is a viola player, thereby creating an independent and easily performed concert work.

Finnish Folk-song

Over the mountain my love has departed,
far over the sea my falcon is flown.
If he remembered the nights of his homeland,
he would come back again.

Over the salt-sea in gold shining castle,
horses of kings he leads stomping to trough,
If he remembered the nights of his homeland,
he would come back again.

Fair as the morning on meadows in sunshine,
more than the ladies and knights shines his face.
If he remembered the nights of his homeland,
he would come back again.

Lovely young maidens, why smile to charm him,
Hearts such as yours will seem foreign to him.
If he remembered the nights of his homeland,
he would come back again.

Ah, I must languish, am care-worn with sighing,
him with one thousand warm arms would embrace.
But he thinks not of nights in his homeland,
and comes not back again.