Composer

:

Carl Michael Bellman

Genre

:

Miscellaneous

Style

:

Miscellaneous

Average_duration

:

4:19

"Act vad för en usel koja" is a song composed by the Swedish poet and composer Carl Michael Bellman. It was written in 1771 and premiered in the same year in Stockholm, Sweden. The song is part of Bellman's collection of songs called "Fredman's Epistles," which consists of 82 songs that tell the story of a fictional character named Fredman. "Act vad för en usel koja" is the 14th song in the collection and is sung by Fredman himself. The song is divided into three movements, each with its own unique characteristics. The first movement is slow and melancholic, with a mournful melody that sets the tone for the rest of the song. In this movement, Fredman laments his fate as a poor and lonely man, comparing himself to a "wretched whore" who is forced to sell her body for a living. The second movement is faster and more upbeat, with a lively melody that contrasts with the sadness of the first movement. In this movement, Fredman imagines himself as a wealthy and powerful man, surrounded by beautiful women and living a life of luxury. The third movement returns to the slow and mournful melody of the first movement, as Fredman reflects on the emptiness of his imagined life of wealth and luxury. He realizes that true happiness cannot be bought with money and that he must find contentment in his own humble existence. Overall, "Act vad för en usel koja" is a powerful and emotional song that explores themes of poverty, loneliness, and the search for happiness. Bellman's use of contrasting melodies and movements adds depth and complexity to the song, making it a masterpiece of Swedish music.

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