Pehr Henrik Nordgren

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Pehr Henrik Nordgren, 2005.

Pehr Henrik Nordgren (born January 19, 1944 in Saltvik , Åland Island , † August 25, 2008 in Veteli ) was a Finnish composer .

Life

Pehr Henrik Nordgren received violin lessons in Helsinki from 1958 and studied musicology at the university there from 1962 to 1967 and composition with Joonas Kokkonen from 1965 to 1969 . At the University of Art and Music in Tokyo, he completed his composition studies with Yoshio Hasegawa from 1970 to 1973 and got to know traditional Japanese music , which soon influenced his own works.

In 1973 he married Shinobu Suzuki in Tokyo, returned to Finland and settled in Kaustinen, a small town in Ostrobothnia , as a freelance composer. Kaustinen is the center of folk music in all of Finland; Interested parties from all over the world travel to the Folk Music Days that take place in summer. On the one hand, Nordgren now dealt intensively with the music of his country, on the other hand, he began working with the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra and its director Juha Kangas , which led to a wealth of works for string orchestra.

Nordgren's style is based on the twelve-tone technique and Ligeti's cluster technique , but includes many other elements and can be described as pluralistic overall. In addition to the encounter with traditional Japanese music (e.g. in the Kwaidan ballads I – II for piano) and the use of its instruments in his compositions, Finnish folk music with its instruments, especially the kantele , plays a major role. At the center of Nordgren's oeuvre, however, are the works for strings: whether in solo concerts, works for string orchestra, string quartets or sonatas , Nordgren has elicited all moods and nuances from them , but especially the tragic and melancholy.

Works

Symphonies

  • Symphony No. 1 op.20 (1974)
  • Symphony for Strings op.43 (1978)
  • Symphony No. 2, Op. 74 (1989)
  • Symphony No. 3, Op. 88 (1993)
  • Chamber Symphony op.97 (1996)
  • Symphony No. 4, Op. 98 (1997)
  • Symphony No. 5 op.103 (1998)
  • Symphony No. 6 Interdependence for soprano, tenor, choir and orchestra op.107 (1999–2000)
  • Symphony No. 7, Op. 124 (2003)
  • Symphony No. 8 op.140 (2006)

Concerts

  • Violin Concerto No. 1 op.10 (1969)
  • Viola Concerto No. 1 op.12 (1970)
  • Concerto for clarinet, folk instruments and small orchestra op.14 (1970)
  • Autumn concert for traditional Japanese instruments and orchestra op.18 (1974)
  • Piano Concerto op.23 (1975)
  • Violin Concerto No. 2 op.33 (1977)
  • Viola Concerto No. 2 op.48 (1979)
  • Cello Concerto No. 1 op.50 (1980)
  • Violin Concerto No. 3 op.53 (1981)
  • Cello Concerto No. 2 op.62 (1984)
  • Concerto for Kantele and small orchestra, op.66 (1985)
  • Viola Concerto No. 3 op.68 (1986)
  • HATE-LOVE for cello and strings op.71 (1987)
  • Phantasme for alto saxophone and orchestra op.81 (1992)
  • Cello Concerto No. 3 op.82 (1992)
  • Concerto for viola, double bass and chamber orchestra op.87 (1993)
  • Cello Concerto No. 4, Op. 89 (1994)
  • Violin Concerto No. 4 op.90 (1994)
  • Concerto for alto saxophone and string orchestra op.92 (1995)
  • Concerto for Trumpet and String Orchestra op.93 (1995)
  • Concerto for horn and strings op.95 (1996)
  • Trumpet Concerto op.102 (1998)
  • Concerto for Kantele and Orchestra No. 2, Op. 106 (1999)
  • Concerto for saxophone quartet and string orchestra with gong op.108 (2000)
  • Concerto for oboe and strings op.116 (2001)
  • Concert for guitar op. 126 (2003-2005)
  • Piano Concerto for the Left Hand and Chamber Orchestra op.129 (2004)
  • Concert for accordion op.133 (2005)
  • Cello Concerto No. 5 op.135 (2005)
  • Concerto for organ and chamber orchestra op.143 (2007)

Further works for orchestra

  • Euphony I op.1 (1966)
  • Epiphrase for strings op.4 (1967)
  • Euphony II op.5 (1967)
  • Minore for piano and strings op.6 (1968)
  • The Turning Point op.16 (1972)
  • Koko maailma valittanee (The whole world will complain) for strings op. 26 b (1966–74)
  • Euphony III op. 24 (1975)
  • Pelimannimuotokuvia (Pictures of Minstrels ) for strings op.26 (1976)
  • Summer Music for piano and strings op.34 (1977)
  • Häjyt . Music for a television play op.38 (1977)
  • Tuolla mun heilani asuskeloo (Yonder Lives My Sweet Love) for strings op.40 (1977)
  • Euphony IV for Big Band op.51 (1981)
  • Concerto for Strings op.54 (1982)
  • Jumala on kauneus (God is beauty) . Music for a television play op.64 (1984)
  • Elegia Vilho Lammelle (Elegy for Vilho Lampi) op.65 (1984)
  • TRANSE-CHORAL for 15 strings op.67 (1985)
  • Cronaca per archi op.79 (1991)
  • Streams for Chamber Orchestra Op. 80 (1991)
  • Equilibrium op.94 (1995)
  • Yamagata Rhapsody op.99 (1997)
  • Kallioon piirretty for string orchestra op.100 (1997)
  • Kuvia maaseudun menneisyydestä: vapaita mukaelmia suomalaisista kansansävelmistä (Pictures from the Past of the Province) for strings and harp op.139 (2006)

String quartets

  • String Quartet No. 1 Op. 2 (1967)
  • String Quartet No. 2 op.7 (1968)
  • String Quartet No. 3 Op. 27 (1976)
  • String Quartet No. 4, Op. 60 (1983)
  • String Quartet No. 5, Op. 69 (1986)
  • String Quartet No. 6, Op. 73 (1989)
  • String Quartet No. 7 op.85 (1992)
  • String Quartet No. 8 op.105 (1999)
  • String Quartet No. 9 (2004)
  • String Quartet No. 10 op.142 (2007)
  • String Quartet No. 11 op.144 (2008)

More chamber music

  • Night watch . Music for a radio play op.3 (1967)
  • Neljä kuolemankuvaa (4 Images of Death) for chamber ensemble op.8 (1968)
  • Sonatina per sestetto op.9 (1969)
  • Kolme maanitusta (3 temptations) . Wind quintet No. 1 op.11 (1970)
  • Ritornello for violin and piano op.13 (1970)
  • Quartet for Traditional Japanese Instruments No. 1 op.19 (1974)
  • As in a Dream for cello and piano op.21 (1974)
  • Wind quintet No. 2 op.22 (1975)
  • Quartet for Traditional Japanese Instruments No. 2 Seita op.42 (1978)
  • Piano quintet op.44 (1978)
  • A Late Pastorale for horn and string quintet op.47 (1979)
  • Piano trio op.49 (1980)
  • Equivocations for Kantele and String Trio op.55 (1981)
  • Epilogue for cello and piano op.61 (1983)
  • FATE-NOSTALGIA for clarinet, violin, piano and 12 cellos op.72 (1989)
  • Program Music op.76 (1990)
  • Going on for double bass and percussion op.77 (1991)
  • Sculpture Fanfare for 3 Trumpets and 3 Trombones Op. 84 (1992)
  • Violin Sonata op.86 (1992)
  • Distance-Dream for cello and accordion op.101 (1997)
  • Zest for saxophone, cello and piano op.109 (1999)
  • String Quintet op.110 (2000)
  • Tuulimyllyfantasia (Windmill Fantasy ) for 3 accordions op.113 (2001)
  • Quintet for guitar and string quartet op.119 (2003)
  • Quartet for clarinet, violin, cello and piano op.121 (2003)
  • Klippgrund for cello and guitar op.128 (2004)
  • A Viking in Kaustinen , Polka for 2 violins and double bass op.131 (2004)
  • Spellbound Tones for French horn, guitar, cello and percussion op.132 (2005)
  • Wind quintets The Good Samaritan op.141 (2007)

Works for solo instruments

  • Kymmenen ballaadia japanilaisiin kauhutarinoihin (Kwaidan-balladit) (10 ballads based on Japanese ghost stories or Kwaidan ballads based on Lafcadio Hearn) for piano op. 17, 25, 28–32, 35–37 (1972–77)
  • Butterflies for guitar op.39 (1977)
  • In Patches for accordion op.41 (1978)
  • Sonata for cello solo op.83 (1992)
  • Sonata for solo violin op.104 (1999)
  • Come da lontano for guitar op.122 (2003)
  • Kwaidan II: Three piano ballads for the left hand based on Japanese ghost stories op.127 (2004)

Vocal works

  • Agnus Dei for soprano, baritone, choir and orchestra op.15 (1971)
  • Maan alistaminen (The Submission of the Earth) for mixed choir (1973)
  • Lávllaráidu Nils-Aslak Valkeapää divttai'e (song cycle based on poems by Nils-Aslak Valkeapää) for baritone, cello and piano op.45 (1978)
  • Kuninkaan kämmenellä (In the palm of the king) . Cantata op.46 (1979)
  • Four songs based on poems by Edith Södergran op.58 (1982)
  • Taivaanvalot (The Lights of Heaven) for soprano, tenor, choir and orchestra op.63 (1985)
  • Perpetuum mobile for male choir op.75 (1989)
  • Beavi, áhčážan (The Sun, My Father) for 3 mezzo-sopranos, tenor, bass, choir and orchestra op.70 (1990)
  • Odotus (Expectation) for male choir op. 78 (1991)
  • Köyhyydestä (Conversation on Poverty) for mixed choir op.96 (1996)
  • Te Deum for soprano, bass, choir and orchestra op.111 (2000)
  • Night of Nights for 2 sopranos, violin, cello and piano op.114 (2000)
  • Ei ne kaikki kuollehia for soprano and piano op.115 (2001)
  • Tuuri . Dramatic ballad for tenor, bass, choir and orchestra op. 117 (2002–03)
  • Cupid Desesperada . 4 pieces after Pablo Neruda for soprano, baritone, koto, shakuhachi and double bass op.120 (2003)
  • Song cycle based on poems by Edith Södergran op.123 (2003)
  • Kuun lapset (Children of the Moon) for baritone, 2 violins, viola, cello and double bass (2005)
  • Seven poems from the Ogura Hyaku-nin-isshiu collection for mezzo -sopranos and guitar op.137 (2006)
  • De sole et luna for mixed choir and strings op.138 (2006)

Operas

  • Den svarte munken (the black monk) . Chamber opera after Anton Chekhov op.52 (1981)
  • Alex . TV opera op.56 (1983)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Nordgren, Pehr Henrik
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Finnish composer
DATE OF BIRTH January 19, 1944
PLACE OF BIRTH Saltvik
DATE OF DEATH August 25, 2008
Place of death Veteli