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The Swedish composer and arranger, Edvin Kallstenius, studied science at the University of Lund from 1898 to 1903, and music at at the Leipzig Conservatory from 1903 to 1907. He always claimed that it was hearing Nikisch conducting Strauss that had galvanised him as a composer. These experiences as well as the music of Max Reger and Debussy fixed his developmental itinerary.
After finishing his studies, Edvin Kallstenius was active as a music critic in Stockholm. For 18 years (1928-1946) he worked as music librarian with Swedish Radio receiving few performances and little attention.
Edvin Kallstenius arranged the traditional folk tune used as the de facto national anthem of Sweden, Du gamla, Du fria. His one 'hit' was the Ballad (Visa) section of Dalarapsodi. For the rest (including five symphonies, eight string quartets, Swedish Requiem, Greek wedding cantata) time had passed him by and Wirén, Larsson, Blomdahl, Hambraeus now held the attention of Swedish audiences.
In much the same way as some composers develop an idée fixe so Edvin Kallstenius, deeply impressed by the storyline of Schreker's Der ferne klang, self-identified with the 'distant sound' within his own creative imagination. He made its pursuit and expression his life's pilgrimage. In his early works, he followed the Romantic traditions of Scandinavian music. Later he turned to advanced modern techniques, including explicit application of dodecaphonic configurations. He also published an annotated catalog of Swedish orchestral works. |
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Orchestra:
Scherzo Fugato Op 4 (1923, After Op 4a; played in Vienna, 1936)
Allegro Sinfonico, Tragic Overture Op 5 "Sista Striden" ("The Last Battle", 1908)
"En Serenad i Sommarnatten" Op 12 ("A Serenade in the Summer Night", 1918)
Piano Concerto Op 12 "Sinfonia Concertata" (1922)
Sinfonietta No 1 Op 13 (1923)
Symphony No 1 E flat major Op 16 (1926)
Dalarapsodi Op 18 ("Dalecarlia Rhapsody", 1931)
Lustspelsuvertyr Op 19 ("Comedy Overture", 1934)
Symphony No 2 f minor op 20 (1935)
3 Dansstudier Op 21 ("Dance Studies", 1935)
Dalslandsrapsodi Op 22 ("Dalsland Rhapsody" 1936, perf Vienna 1938)
Visa ("Air") from Dalarapsodi Op 18 (1952)
Suite for 14 wind instruments & Timpani Op 23 (1938) (arranged for 14 parts orchestra Op 23c 1949)
Romantico, Lyrical Overture Op 24 (1938)
Passacaglia & Variations over a Rococo Theme Op 25 (1939; theme = Fredman’s song No 35 "Gubben Noak")
Høgtid och Fest Op 26 ("Feast and Festivity", 1940)
Nytt Vin i Gamla Lüglar Op 44 ("New Wine in Old Bottles" Canon, Variations & Passacaglia over a twelve tone serie, 1954)
Sinfonietta Dodicitonia Op 46 (1956)
Coreographic Suite Op 48 (1957)
Sinfonietta Semi-seriale Op 50 (1958)
Symphony No 5 Op 52 ("Sinfonia Ordinaria ma su temi 12-tonici", 1960)
Prologo Seriale Op 63 (1966)
Orchestra (without opus number):
Serenata per Orchestra Piccola (from the music to the play "Cyrano de Bergerac" by Edmond Rostand, 1930?)
Gammalsvenska Folkmelodier ("Old Swedish Folksongs", suite, 1931?)
Gammalsvensk Söngsvit ("Old Swedish Folksong Suite", 1931)
Svensk Rokokosvit ("Swedish Rococo Suite", 1932, from Johannes Thidstedt’s note book)
Seven Miniatures from the music to the fairy play "Prinsessan Miraflor" ("Princess Miraflor", 1932)
Violinen och de Onda Makterna dramatic prelude ("The Violin and the Evil Forces", 1936)
Berceuse (= Op 9:3, 1939)
Ostinato Lirico (revised movement from string quartet Op 33, 1956)
Shakespearesvit (suite from Shakespeare"s "A Midsummer Night’s Dream", 1950)
Østgötaslätt ("The Plain of Østergøtland", 1957; also in version for Military Band)
Chamber Music:
String Quartet No 1 Op 1 (1904)
String Quartet No 2 Op 2 (1905)
Sonat for cello & piano Op 6 (1905)
Sonat for violin & piano Op 7 (1909)
String Quartet No 3 Op 8 (1913)
String Quartet No 4 Op 14 "Divertimento alla Serenata" (1925)
Quintet for clarinet & string quartet Op 17 (1930)
Divertimento for flute, clarinet, horn & basoon Op 29a (1943, revised as "Divertimento da camera" 29b)
String Quartet No 5 Op 33 (1945, rev for string orchestra)
Trio Divertente for flute, violin & viola Op 39 (1950)
String Quartet No 6 Op 41 (1953)
Piccolo Trio Seriale Op 47a for flute, cor anglais & clarinet (1956)
-- -- -- -- -- -- Op 47b for violin, viola & clarinet (1957)
String Quartet Nr 7 "Quartetto Dodekatonico" (1957)
Trio Svagente Op 51 for clarinett, horn & cello (1959)
Sonata for cello solo Op 53 (1961)
String Quartet No 8 Op 54 (1962)
Lyrical Suite for flute, saxophone (or clarinet) & cello Op 55 (1960)
Sonata for flute solo Op 57 Sonata Biforma (1962)
|"Tvö Stycken i Føljd" Op 59 for cello & piano ("Two Pieces in Order", 1963)
String Trio Op 61 (1965)
Sonata for solo violin Op 62 (1965, rev 1967)
Chamber Music (without opus numbers):
Andante Malincolico for String Quartet (1956)
Visa ("Air") from Dalarapsodi Op 18 (1952, rev for cello - or viola - & organ, 1965)
Organ:
Fuga Pastorale Op 4a (1907, same as "Scherzo Fugato", see Op 4)
Pezzo Funebre (from Op 23, third movement)
Piano:
Føründringar av en Barnvisa Op 37 ("Changes of a Children"s Tune" - variations over "Ah vous dirai-je Maman", 1949)
Rondino-idyll Op (1945?) |
