Einar Englund

Sven Einar Englund (June 17 1916–June 27 1999) was a Finnish composer.

Life

Englund was born in Ljugarn, and studied with Bengt Carlson at the Sibelius Academy. On a recommendation from Sibelius, possibly on the basis of his piano quintet ( [http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2004/Nov04/englund_piano_quintet.htm] ) he continued his studies with Aaron Copland at Tanglewood. He fought in World War II as an infantry sergeant and was wounded, and it was an experience which inspired at least some of his earlier works. The influence of Shostakovich was very important throughout his career. In the 1960s he was so disgusted with the serial onslaught that he stopped composing for many years. In 1971 he returned to the scene with his masterful "Third Symphony." He composed four more symphonies, concertos and much fine chamber music. His last works were a "Concerto for Flute" (1985) and a "Concerto for Clarinet" (1991). He wrote his biography following this, "In the Shadow of Sibelius." He died in 1999, in Visby.

He gained tumultous acclaim for his first two symphonies, but his fame was soon to be eclipsed by that of Sibelius, and he has still remained a somewhat neglected composer, in spite of the quality of his music. Most of the neglect stemmed from his contempt for the serial school and the de-humanizing of music. Since his death more recordings and performances have come forth including a marvelous Ondine series of all seven symphonies and both piano concertos.

Music

Englund's music can be called neo-classical, while maintaining the nationalism so prevalent in Sibelius' music. Harmonies tend to be fresh, giving it a Nordic flavour. He also highly respected composers like Igor Stravinsky and Dmitri Shostakovich, dedicating his Symphony No. 4 ("Nostalgic") in memory of the latter.

Works

Ballets

*"Sinuhe"(1954)
*"Odysseus"(1959) (after Homer)

Orchestral

*Symphonies
**Symphony No. 1 "The War Symphony" (1946)
**Symphony No. 2 "Blackbird" (1948)
**Symphony No. 3 "Barbarossa" (1971)
**Symphony No. 4 "Nostalgic", for strings and percussion (1976)
**Symphony No. 5 "Fennica" (1977)
**Symphony No. 6 "Aphorisms" (1984)
**Symphony No. 7 (1988)

Concertante

*Piano Concerto No. 1 (1955)
*Piano Concerto No. 2 (1974)
*Violin Concerto (1981)
*Cello Concerto (1954)
*Flute Concerto (1985)
*Clarinet Concerto (1991)

Chamber/Instrumental

*Piano Quintet (1941)
*String Quartet (1985, fp 1986)
*Wind Quintet (1978)
*Concerto for Twelve Cellos (1981)
*Violin Sonata (1979)
*Divertimento Upsaliensis (1978)
*Suite for Cello (1986)
*Sonata for Cello and Piano (1982)

Incidental music

*"The Great Wall of China" (1949)

Film music

*"The White Reindeer" (1952)

ources

*Englund, Einar: "I skuggan av Sibelius" Soderstrom & Co. Forlags Ab 1996
*Kimmo Korhonen: "Finnish Orchestral Music 2" Finnish Music Information Centre 1995

External links

* [http://www.fimic.fi/fimic/fimic.nsf/mainframe?readform&E45D0ED8A576B5ECC22566A500252159 Englund biography, list of works, etc.]
* [http://www.fennicagehrman.fi/comp_englund.htm Englund biography]