Eklund, Hans

Eklund, Hans, prominent Swedish composer and teacher; b. Sandviken, July 1, 1927; d. Stockholm, March 8, 1999. He studied at the Stockholm Musikhögskolan with Ake Udden and Lars-Erik Larsson (1947–52) and with Ernst Pepping in Berlin (1954) before completing his training in Rome (1957). He was prof, of harmony and counterpoint at the Stockholm Musikhogskolan (from 1964). In 1975 he was elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. In 1985 he was awarded the degree of Litteris et Artibus from the King of Sweden. Edlund’s large output was notable for its imaginative handling of traditional forms.

Works

R a d i o Opera : Moder Svea (Mother Svea; Swedish Radio, Oct. 7, 1972). ORCH.: Variations for Strings (1952); Symphonic Dances (1954); Musica da camera: No. 1 for Cello and Chamber Orch. (1955), No. 2, Art Tatum in Memoriam, for Trumpet, Piano, Percussion, and Strings (1956), No. 3 for Violin and Chamber Orch. (1957), No. 4 for Piano and Orch. (1959), No. 5, Fantasia, for Cello and Strings (1970), and No. 6 for Oboe and Chamber Orch. (1970); 12 syms.: No. 1, Sinfonia seria (1958), No. 2, Sinfonia breve (1964), No. 3, Sinfonia rustica (1967–68), No. 4, Hjalmar Branting in Memoriam, for Narrator and Orch. (1973–74), No. 5, Quadri (1978), No. 6, Sinfonia senza speranza (1983), No. 7, La Serenata (1984), No. 8, Sinfonia grave (1985), No. 9, Sinfonia introvertita (1992- 93), No. 10, sine nomine (1994), No. 11, Sinfonia piccola (1995), and No. 12, Sinfonia freschi (1996); Introduzione-Versioni e Finale for Strings (1962–63); Facce (1964); Toccata (1966); Interludio (1967); Primavera for Strings (1967); Pezzo elegiaco for Cello, Percussion, and Strings (1969); Introduction and Allegro for Harpsichord and Strings (1972); Concerto for Trombone, Winds, and Percussion (1972); Variazioni pastorali for Strings (1974); Chamber Concerto for Violin and Strings (1977); Horn Concerto (1979); Concerto for Clarinet and Strings (1980); Concerto for Tuba and Brass Orch. (1980); Concerto for Clarinet, Cello, and Orch. (1983); Fantasie breve (1986); Divertimento (1986); L’estate for Strings (1986); Concerto Grosso for String Quartet and String Orch. (1987); Due pezzi (1988); Mesto per archi (1989); Apertura (1991). CHAMBER : 4 string quartets (withdrawn, 1954,1960,1964); 2 sonatas for Solo Violin (1956, 1982); Improvisata for Wind Quintet (1958); Piano Trio (1963); 4 Temperamenti for 4 Clarinets (1963); Sommarparafras for Wind Quintet (1968); Serenade for Mixed Quintet (1978); Omaggio a San Michele for 4 Saxophones (1981); 5 Pieces for Clarinet (1983), Oboe (1983), Bassoon (1983), and Double Bass (1984); Serenade for 10 Brass Instruments (1986); Serenata for Flute and Piano (1990); piano pieces; organ music. VOCAL: Den fula ankungen for Soloists, Children’s Chorus, and Orch. (1976); Requiem for 2 Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1978; Stock-holm, Nov. 24, 1979); Homofoni for Chorus (1987); 3 Sea Poems for Chorus (1988).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire