Gunnar de Frumerie
Encyclopedia
Per Gunnar Fredrik de Frumerie (20 July 1908, Nacka
, Stockholm County
— 9 September 1987, Täby
, Stockholm County
) was a Swedish composer
and pianist
. He was the son of architect Gustaf de Frumerie and Maria Helleday.
After studying piano in Stockholm and Vienna, he studied under Alfred Cortot
in Paris. He then studied at the Royal College of Music, Stockholm
1923–1928. He taught the piano at the same college from 1945 to 1974.
His compositions covered a wide area, from grand opera to piano miniatures, but he is best remembered for his piano works. His works possess a Brahmsian complexity mixed with an impressionistic elegance. One can relate his music to composers like Lars-Erik Larsson
or Wilhelm Peterson-Berger
. His Pastoral Suite for flute and piano or string orchestra and harp, is a composition that can stand well with that of any other Scandinavian composers of the 19th century.
Although not noted for his theatre work, he did write an opera, Singoalla (1940). He wrote many songs, often to words by Pär Lagerkvist
. The cello concerto (1984) has an interesting history. It was adapted from his second cello sonata. He then adapted it into a trombone concerto, and was his last completed work. It was specifically written for the Swedish trombone virtuoso Christian Lindberg
.
His pupils included Laci Boldemann
.
The Swedish mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter is related to Frumerie, as she is descended from the Frumerie family. They were both members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
.
Nacka
Nacka is the municipal seat of Nacka Municipality and part of Stockholm urban area in Sweden. The municipality's name harks back to an 16th century industrial operation established by the Crown at Nacka farmstead where conditions for water mills are good...
, Stockholm County
Stockholm County
Stockholm County is a county or län on the Baltic sea coast of Sweden. It borders Uppsala County and Södermanland County. It also borders Mälaren and the Baltic Sea. The city of Stockholm is the capital of Sweden. Stockholm County is divided by the historic provinces of Uppland and Södermanland...
— 9 September 1987, Täby
Täby
Täby is a trimunicipal locality and the seat of Täby Municipality in Stockholm County, Sweden, with 58,593 inhabitants in 2005. It is also partly located in Danderyd Municipality and Sollentuna Municipality...
, Stockholm County
Stockholm County
Stockholm County is a county or län on the Baltic sea coast of Sweden. It borders Uppsala County and Södermanland County. It also borders Mälaren and the Baltic Sea. The city of Stockholm is the capital of Sweden. Stockholm County is divided by the historic provinces of Uppland and Södermanland...
) was a Swedish composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
. He was the son of architect Gustaf de Frumerie and Maria Helleday.
After studying piano in Stockholm and Vienna, he studied under Alfred Cortot
Alfred Cortot
Alfred Denis Cortot was a Franco-Swiss pianist and conductor. He is one of the most renowned 20th-century classical musicians, especially valued for his poetic insight in Romantic period piano works, particularly those of Chopin and Schumann.-Early life and education:Born in Nyon, Vaud, in the...
in Paris. He then studied at the Royal College of Music, Stockholm
Royal College of Music, Stockholm
The Royal College of Music, Stockholm is the oldest institution of higher education in music in Sweden, founded in 1771 as the conservatory of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music...
1923–1928. He taught the piano at the same college from 1945 to 1974.
His compositions covered a wide area, from grand opera to piano miniatures, but he is best remembered for his piano works. His works possess a Brahmsian complexity mixed with an impressionistic elegance. One can relate his music to composers like Lars-Erik Larsson
Lars-Erik Larsson
Lars-Erik Larsson was a notable Swedish composer of the 20th century.-Biography:Lars-Erik Vilner Larsson was born in Åkarp in 1908...
or Wilhelm Peterson-Berger
Wilhelm Peterson-Berger
Olof Wilhelm Peterson-Berger was a Swedish composer and music critic...
. His Pastoral Suite for flute and piano or string orchestra and harp, is a composition that can stand well with that of any other Scandinavian composers of the 19th century.
Although not noted for his theatre work, he did write an opera, Singoalla (1940). He wrote many songs, often to words by Pär Lagerkvist
Pär Lagerkvist
Pär Fabian Lagerkvist was a Swedish author who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1951.Lagerkvist wrote poems, plays, novels, stories, and essays of considerable expressive power and influence from his early 20s to his late 70s...
. The cello concerto (1984) has an interesting history. It was adapted from his second cello sonata. He then adapted it into a trombone concerto, and was his last completed work. It was specifically written for the Swedish trombone virtuoso Christian Lindberg
Christian Lindberg
Christian Lindberg is a Swedish trombonist, conductor and composer.As a youth, Lindberg learned to play the trumpet, and subsequently began to learn the trombone at age 17. He originally borrowed a trombone to join his friends' Dixieland jazz group, inspired by records of Jack Teagarden...
.
His pupils included Laci Boldemann
Laci Boldemann
Laci Boldemann was a Swedish composer of German and Finnish descent.-Life and career:...
.
The Swedish mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter is related to Frumerie, as she is descended from the Frumerie family. They were both members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
Royal Swedish Academy of Music
The Royal Swedish Academy of Music or Kungl. Musikaliska Akademien, founded in 1771 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden...
.
Selected compositions
- Duo for oboe and viola (1928)
- Piano Trio No.1, Op.7
- Suite, Op.13b
- Violin Concerto, Op.19 (1936, rev. 1975-6)
- Piano Quartet No.1 in C minor, Op.23
- Symphonic Variations, Op.25 (1940–41)
- Piano Trio No.2, Op.45
- Singoalla (1940)
- Cello Sonata No.2 (1949)
- Divertimento for clarinet (or viola) and cello, Op.63 (1966)
- Tio variationer över en svensk folkvisa (Ten Variations on a Swedish Folk Song) for viola and guitar, Op.69b (1977)
- Musica per nove, Nonet, Op.75
- Dante, Op.76 (1977, for voice and orchestra)
- Cello Concerto, Op.81 (1984)
- Trombone Concerto, Op.81 (posthumous)
- Sonata for trombone and piano, Op.81b (posthumous)
- Organ Overture, Aria and Fugue