A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Lindblad, Adolf
LINDBLAD, Adolf Fredrick, born near Stockholm in 1804. This Swedish composer passed several years of his early life in Berlin, and studied music there under Zelter. In 1835 he returned to Stockholm and there resided, giving singing lessons and composing until hia death in August 1878 [App. p.701 "Aug. 23"].
Lindblad has composed but little instrumental music; a symphony in C which was given under Mendelssohn's direction at one of the Gewandhaus Concerts at Leipzig in November 1839, and a duo for pianoforte and violin (op. 9) are considered the best, but they aim so little at effect and are so full of the peculiar personality of their author that they can never be popular, and even his own countrymen are not familiar with them. It is his vocal compositions which have made him famous. He is eminently a national composer. He has published a large collection of songs for voice and piano to Swedish words, which are full of melody, grace, and originality. Written for the most part in the minor key, they are tinged with the melancholy which is characteristic of Swedish music. In such short songs as 'The Song of the Dalecarlian maiden,' 'Lament,' 'The wood by the Aaren lake,' etc., whose extreme simplicity is of the very essence of their charm, his success has been most conspicuous. In longer and more elaborate songs, where the simplicity at which he aimed in his accompaniment has limited the variety of harmony and figures, the effect is often marred by repetition and consequent monotony. Yet even in this class of work there are many beautiful exceptions, and 'A day in Spring,' 'A Summer's day,' and 'Autumn evening,' are specially worthy of mention.
Jenny Lind, who was Lindblad's pupil, introduced his songs into Germany, and their rapidly acquired popularity earned for the author the title of 'the Schubert of the North.' His only opera, 'Frondörörne,' is scarcely known anywhere, but several of his vocal duets, trios, and quartets have a considerable reputation in Sweden.
An analysis of Lindblad's Symphony will be found in the Allg. Mus. Zeitung for Oct. 23, 1839 (comp. col. 937 of the same volume). There is a pleasant reference to him, honourable to both parties alike, in Mendelssohn's letter of Dec. 28, 1833.