Bengt Hambraeus
Encyclopedia
Bengt Hambraeus was a Swedish organist, composer and musicologist.
and musicology with Carl-Allan Moberg, earning his doctorate in 1956 on a thesis about medieval musical notation. From 1957 to 1972 he worked at the music department of the Swedish Radio, eventually holding executive and producer posts, and during this time became a very high-profile emissary of new music in Sweden, encouraging discussion of new musical forms, a renewal of organ music with new tonal/technical concepts and the integration of performance art
, improvisation
, live electronics and stereo/spatial effects into traditional concert performing. He was also a prolific composer.
In 1972 he became professor of composition at McGill University
, Montreal
and he remained in Canada until his death in 2000. Among his notable pupils are composer Peter Allen
and pianist Richard Hunt
.
He was elected into the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
in 1967 and received the Swedish Royal Medal Litteris et Artibus
in 1986.
and György Ligeti
he was among the first to use high modernist compositional methods to compose organ music.
Life
Hambreaus studied organ with Alf LinderAlf Linder
Alf Linder was a Swedish organist, renowned for his frequent radio broadcasts and his teaching at the Stockholm Conservatory.-Life:Linder was born in Hammerö, near Karlstad on July 28, 1907...
and musicology with Carl-Allan Moberg, earning his doctorate in 1956 on a thesis about medieval musical notation. From 1957 to 1972 he worked at the music department of the Swedish Radio, eventually holding executive and producer posts, and during this time became a very high-profile emissary of new music in Sweden, encouraging discussion of new musical forms, a renewal of organ music with new tonal/technical concepts and the integration of performance art
Performance art
In art, performance art is a performance presented to an audience, traditionally interdisciplinary. Performance may be either scripted or unscripted, random or carefully orchestrated; spontaneous or otherwise carefully planned with or without audience participation. The performance can be live or...
, improvisation
Improvisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
, live electronics and stereo/spatial effects into traditional concert performing. He was also a prolific composer.
In 1972 he became professor of composition at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and he remained in Canada until his death in 2000. Among his notable pupils are composer Peter Allen
Peter Allen (composer)
Peter Allen is a Canadian composer, organist, and keyboard player. An associate of the Canadian Music Centre and a member of the Canadian League of Composers, his compositions encompass a broad repertoire from film scores and commercial jingles to sacred music and avant-garde electroacoustic music...
and pianist Richard Hunt
Richard Hunt (pianist)
Richard Hunt is a Canadian pianist and composer of British birth. As a soloist he has performed in concert with several notable ensembles in Canada, including the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and the Quebec Contemporary Music Society...
.
He was elected into the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
Royal Swedish Academy of Music
The Royal Swedish Academy of Music or Kungl. Musikaliska Akademien, founded in 1771 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden...
in 1967 and received the Swedish Royal Medal Litteris et Artibus
Litteris et Artibus
Litteris et Artibus is a Swedish royal medal established in 1853 by Charles XV of Sweden, who was then crown prince. It is awarded to people who have made important contributions to culture, especially music, dramatic art and literature....
in 1986.
Works
Hambraeus wrote music for a large number of instruments, but he perhaps best known for his organ works. Together with Mauricio KagelMauricio Kagel
Mauricio Kagel was a German-Argentine composer. He was notable for his interest in developing the theatrical side of musical performance .-Biography:...
and György Ligeti
György Ligeti
György Sándor Ligeti was a composer of contemporary classical music. Born in a Hungarian Jewish family in Transylvania, Romania, he briefly lived in Hungary before becoming an Austrian citizen.-Early life:...
he was among the first to use high modernist compositional methods to compose organ music.
Selected organ works
- 1958 Constellations I
- 1959 "constellations II for organ sounds" (Lp Cat No. Philips 838 750 AY)
- 1961-62 Interferenzen (interferences for the organ) Lp Cat No. Philips 838 750 AY
- 1966-67 Tre Pezzi per Organo
- 1969 Nebulosa
- 1974 Ricercare per organo
- 1981 Livre d'orgue (4 volumes)
- 1992 Missa pro organo: in memoriam Olivier Messiaen
- 1999 Riflessioni per organo grande
External links
- Bengt Hambraeus at Canadian Music Centre
- Bengt Hambraeus at Swedish Music Information Center
- Bengt Hambraeus page