Bellman, Carl Michael

Bellman, Carl Michael

▪ Swedish poet and musician
born Feb. 4, 1740, Stockholm
died Feb. 11, 1795, Stockholm
 outstanding poet-musician of 18th-century Sweden, whose songs have remained popular in Scandinavia, though he is little known elsewhere.

      The son of a wealthy civil servant, he studied at Uppsala University and entered the government service, but his salary and a stipend from King Gustav III hardly allowed him to support himself and his family. In early youth he published religious and satirical works and translations from German and French. By the 1760s, his popular drinking songs and biblical parodies were being sung throughout Scandinavia, circulated by word of mouth, handwritten copies, and printed sheets. He borrowed the music for his songs from the works of others, revising the tunes when necessary. He performed them to his own accompaniment on the zither. About 1765, Bellman began to write a cycle of songs, Fredmans epistlar, the title alluding to the Pauline Epistles, which were parodied in the early songs. Fredman was modelled after a respected clockmaker who took to drinking and died in poverty. Following the mocking, parodic style of Jean-Joseph Vadé and other French writers, Bellman began by adapting minuets, contredanses, and arias from French musical comedies in a highly original manner, though several songs in this collection were entirely of his own composition.

      Fredmans epistlar was not published until 1790, when it appeared with an introduction by the famous critic J.H. Kellgren. During this time Bellman had strengthened the narrative and dramatic elements in his work and had added many new figures to his gallery of middle-class Stockholmers. The 82 songs in the final collection reflect his poetic and personal development. The feeling for nature and vivid characterizations in the epistlar make it unique in Swedish poetry. It was followed in 1791 by Fredmans sånger, also a varied collection, but containing mainly drinking songs. Bacchi tempel (1783), a poem in alexandrines, also contained some songs and engravings. Bellman's other works, including plays and occasional poems, were published posthumously.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bellman, Carl Michael — (1740 1795)    A Swedish lyric poet, Bellman was born into the family of a well situated, mid level civil servant and was provided with an education of very good quality. His study of literature included learning how to write poetry, and Bellman… …   Historical Dictionary of Scandinavian Literature and Theater

  • Carl Michael Bellmann — Carl Michael Bellman. Gemälde von Per Krafft d. Ä. 1779 (Nationale Porträtgalerie, Schloss Gripsholm) Carl Michael Bellman (Aussprache) (* 4. Februarjul./ …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Carl Michael Bellman — by Per Krafft  Carl Michael B …   Wikipedia

  • Carl Michael Bellman — Naissance 4 février 1740 Stockholm …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Carl Michael Bellman — Carl Michael Bellman. Gemälde von Per Krafft d. Ä. 1779 (Nationale Porträtgalerie, Schloss Gripsholm) Carl Michael Bellman …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Carl Michael Bellman — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Carl Michael Bellman con su cister (Sitar, un tipo de laúd), según un retrato de Per Krafft (padre), 1779. Carl Michael Bellman fue un poeta …   Wikipedia Español

  • BELLMAN (C. M.) — BELLMAN CARL MICHAEL (1740 1795) C’est dans un milieu aristocratique et aisé de Stockholm, que se déroule l’enfance de Carl auprès d’un père fonctionnaire et d’une mère, fille d’un pasteur de Stockholm. Des savants et des aristocrates fréquentent …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Carl Gustaf Leopoldt — Carl Gustaf af Leopold Carl Gustaf af Leopold (* 3. April 1756 in Stockholm; † 9. November 1829 ebenda) war ein schwedischer Dichter und Schriftsteller. Er wurde unter dem Namen Carl Gustaf Leopoldt geboren. Sein Vater war Zollbeamter. Er wuchs… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Bellman — People named Bellman*Carl Michael Bellman, a Swedish poet and composer. *Jonathan Bellman, an American musicologist. *Richard Bellman, an American mathematician.Bellman may also refer to:*Bellman, also known as a town crier *Bellman, a term for a …   Wikipedia

  • Carl Zuckmayer — (1920) Carl Zuckmayer (* 27. Dezember 1896 in Nackenheim, Rheinhessen; † 18. Januar 1977 in Visp, Schweiz, Grab in Saas Fee) war ein deutscher …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”