Karina Bonnier [[log in to unmask]] wrote:

>Please does anyone know if there are any famous or great Swedish
>Composers/Musicians?

On composers:

Upon your question there is much to reply.  Sweden had no really major
composer like Denmark has Nielsen or Finland has Sibelius.  However there
are several "second-rank" composers, who wrote tremendeously beautiful
music.  I don't know what will make you satisfied; they span over different
epochs, and you need to specify your preferences to be able to choose from
other suggestions.

The following outline might be a start - in chronological order:

* There is no important Swedish baroque composer.  You have Johan Helmich
Roman (fairly Haendels conteporary: 1694-1758), true, but he was not
important and is known only for the first tune in "Drottningholmsmusiken".
Berfore them we find the family Dueben at the Wasa Court, one of which
produced "Narvaballetten".  These are however hardly of musical interest
yet curiosa.

* From the Gustav III time you have most notacibly Joseph Martin Kraus
(1756-1792).  Almost exactly Mozarts contemporary, and much in the style
of F.J.Haydn.  Other composers from this time are named Naumann, Haeffner,
Vogler and Eggertz.  All in about the same style like Kraus, and all
benefited from Gustav III:s cultural project.  Kraus composed Haydn like
symphonies in Sturn-und-Drang style and some operas.

* Bernhard Crusell (1775-1838) was an early clarinetvirtuoso who composed
three famous clarinettconcertos, but was in his time as composer almost
solely known for his output of fine songs.  Crusell was born in Finland
but belonging to the 15% minority of Sweds in Finland.  His mother tounge
was Swedish.

* Franz Berwald (1796-1868), one generation later than Beethoven.  Composed
notablicy four symphonies and the opera "Estella de Soria".  He never won
much acclaim in Sweden.

* Among romantic composers you find Ivar Hallstroem (1826-1901) who
composed romantic operas with folkmusic influences.  For example the operas
"Den Bergtagna" and "Hertig Magnus och Sjoejungfrun" ring very Swedish in
sound.  One generation younger Andreas Hallen composed Wagner influenced
operas like "Harald der Wiking" and "Waldermarsskatten" and some Swedish
rapsodies, the latter which were influental to define the swedish sound.

* Wilhelm Peterson-Berger (1867-1942) composed four symphonies, the opera
Arnjot, which candidates to be the Swedish National Opera, and the much
well known pianopieces "Froesoeblomster".  He was an important music critic
too.

* Wilhelm Stenhammar (1871-1927) composed two symphonies, two
pianoconcertos, and the song "Sverige" which should be swedens national
anthem if people with taste were allowed to decide.  He is a late-romantic
composer.  He had likely been considered a more important composer had his
output been larger.  A sort of musical Werner von Heidenstam.  A friend
of Tor Aulin (1866-1914), who is know for being a skilled pianist and
violinist, and for composing "Fyra Akvareller" and the 3rd Violinconcerto.

* Hugo Alfveen (1872-1960) composed much music of approachable
style. Most notacible the three Swedish Rapsodies, of which the first
"Midsommarvaka" is worldwide known and typically defines the Swedish sound
as it appears to foreginers.  He also composed five symphonies, a suite
characterizing Gustav II Adolf, Songs, and several well known minor tunes,
like Roslagsvaar.

* Ture Rangstroem (1884-1947) composed four symphonies, and about 300
songs.  He has a rather modern tonelanguage and is a sort of nationalist in
style.  Probably the most talented of the Sweds, but lacking in technique
(selftaught).

* Kurt Atterberg (1887-1974) composed nine symphonies, a pianoconcerto,
balletmusic etc in a neo-classicist style, inspired by folktunes.  He was
an important organizer of the Swedish musical life as founder of STIM among
other things.

* Goesta Nystroem (1890-1966), known for his symphony "Sinfonia del Mare"
and "Ishavet".  Worked mainly abroad and never won much acclaim in Sweden.

* Hilding Rosenberg (1892-1985), a good craftsman with very large output.
Composed symphonies, cantatas and stringquartetts (6 at each publication,
like Mozart).  He never won much acclaim as he is considered being deep and
difficult.

* Lars-Eric Larsson (1908-1992) is a composer of very approachable style.
His "Pastoralsvit" is music most of Sweds would recognize, and his major
work is the great warhorse of Swedish modernism; the cantata "Foerkladd
Gud" ("God in Disguise") set to words by Hjalmar Gullberg.

* Allan Pettersson (1911-1980) composed two violinconcertos, songs, and 16
symphonies in a gritty and very personal style.  Not all are receptive for
his sound and judgements about him ranges from "He had come to more use in
the garbage dump" to "He is and equal to Beethoven in technique".

* Karl-Birger Blomdahl should be the only Swedish avantguardist worth
mentioning.  And thats because he set the music to Harry Martinssons
"Aniara" and made an opera of it.

* Of Todays living swedish composer I must mention Sven-David Sandstrom
(1942-) whose Pianoconcerto is very nice and highly interesting work.  One
might thing that Swedens musical life bear many great composers still in
the bosom....

These are so the composers I find it worth mentioning.  of course there
is also Carl Michael Bellman (1740-1795), but he is a "bordercase".  I'd
prefer to see him as a poet, but he clearly had a very good and witty
musical talent.  But should I have added him I guess people will argue:
"And how about Taube?".

That should help as a start to have you introduced.  You will need to
specify to get more detailed information of recommendations.

Are you asking of personal taste-reasons or are you seeking some specific
information?

Mats Norrman (who wishes the Listsystem allowed swedish hieroglyphs. This
ASCII murders the swedish names...auh!)
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