Carl Michael Bellman

Carl Michael Bellman {{Audio|sv-Carl_Mikael_Bellman.ogg|listen}} (February 4, 1740 - February 11, 1795) was a Swedish poet and composer. Bellman is a central figure in the Swedish song tradition and remains a very important influence in Swedish music to this day.

Related Topics:
February 4 - 1740 - February 11 - 1795 - Swedish - Poet - Composer - Swedish song - Swedish music

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His main two works are the Songs of Fredman ("Fredmans sånger") and the Epistles of Fredman ("Fredmans epistlar"), each including some 70 songs, many of which are about sociable drinking and or designed for the occasion of the same. The main themes of Bellman's poetry are fear of death, the joy of inebriation and the pursuit of sexual pleasure. His songs reflects aspects of the life for the common man in 18th century Stockholm, but by his composition Gustafs skål, an informal royal anthem, he had also acquired the patronage of King Gustav III of Sweden.

Related Topics:
Songs of Fredman - Epistles of Fredman - Death - Inebriation - Sexual pleasure - 18th century - Stockholm - Gustafs skål - Royal anthem - Gustav III of Sweden

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Some of the characters of his songs are the clockmaker Fredman, the prostitute Ulla Winblad, the alcoholic Mowitz and Fader Berg, a former Captain of the Royal Guards. His songs often reference Greek and Roman mythological characters such as the ferryman Charon and the God of wine and pleasure, Bacchus.

Related Topics:
Fredman - Ulla Winblad - Mowitz - Fader Berg - Greek - Roman - Charon - Bacchus

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The songs of Bellman are being kept alive by modern Swedish artists such as the late Cornelis Vreeswijk and the rock musician Joakim Thåström. They are also frequently used as choir music and as drinking songs.

Related Topics:
Cornelis Vreeswijk - Joakim Thåström - Choir

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Bellman is the main character of a type of Swedish jokes, aptly names Bellman-jokes. The modern versions of these usually include two other characters of different nationalities and Bellman, with the latter coming out victorious from a tricky situation.

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Bellman has been translated into English by Paul Britten Austin.

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