Hallnäs, (Johan) Hilding

Hallnäs, (Johan) Hilding, distinguished Swedish composer, organist, and teacher; b. Halmstad, May 24, 1903; d. Stockholm, Sept. 11, 1984. He was a pupil of Gustaf Hägg and Otto Olsson at the Stockholm Cons. (1924–29), where he took diplomas as an organist and music teacher. He then studied organ with Cellier in Paris and composition with Grabner in Leipzig. After serving as an organist in Strömstad and Jönköping, he went to Göteborg and was organist of the Johanneberg parish from 1933 to 1968. He also taught theory at the Orchestral Assn. (until 1951) and was active in contemporary music circles, serving as chairman of the Göteborg Composers Assn. (1957–72). In 1974 he settled in Stockholm. In 1952 he was made a member of the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm. In his early music, Hallnäs followed a neo-Classical path. After World War II, he embraced the 12-tone method of composition albeit in a manner that allowed him to develop a personal style all his own.

Works

dramatic: Ballet: Kärlekens ringdans (1955–56); Ifigenia (1961–63). ORCH.: 9 syms., but 2 withdrawn: No. 1, Sinfonia pastorale (1944; Göteborg, March 22, 1945), No. 2, Sinfonia notturna (Göteborg, March 4, 1948), No. 3, Little Symphony (Göteborg, Oct. 3, 1948), No. 4, Metamorfose sinfonische (Göteborg, April 17, 1952; rev. 1960), No. 5, Sinfonia aforistica (1962; Göteborg, Jan. 24, 1963), No. 6, Musica intima (Malmö, Nov. 7, 1967), and No. 7, A Quite Small Symphony, for Chamber Orch. (Minneapolis, June 12, 1974); Divertimento (1937); 2 violin concertos (1945, 1965); Piano Concerto (1956); 2 concertos for Flute, Strings, and Percussion (1957, 1962); Concerto for Strings and Percussion (1959); Epitaph for Strings (1963); En grekisk saga (1967–68); Momenti bucolichi for Oboe and Orch. (1969); Horisont och linjespel for Strings (1969); Triple Concerto for Violin, Clarinet, Piano, and Orch. (1972–73); Viola Concerto (1976–78); Cello Concerto (1981). CHAMBER: 4 string quartets (1949; 1967; with soprano, 1976; 1980); Quintet for Flute, Oboe, Viola, Cello, and Piano (1954); 2 violin sonatas (1957, 1975); Piano Trio, Stanze sensitive (1959); 24 Preludes for Guitar (1967); 3 momenti musicali for Violin, Horn, and Piano (1971); Trio for Clarinet, Cello, and Piano, Confessio (1973); Triptykon for Violin, Clarinet, and Piano (1973); 4 Monologues for Clarinet (1974); Legend for Clarinet and Organ (1974); Trauma for 4 Strings and Piano (1979); Musikaliska aforismer for String Trio (1982). keyboard: piano:4 sonatas (1963–83).organ: 2 sonatas (De Profundis, 1965; 1977); Passionmusik, 15 pieces (1968). VOCAL: Cantata for Soprano, Flute, Clarinet, Cello, and Piano (1955); Cantica lyrica for Tenor, Chorus, and Orch. (1957); Rapsodie for Soprano and Chamber Orch. (1963); Invocatio for Chorus and String Quartet (1971).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire