Peterson-Berger, Wilhelm

He studied at the gymnasium in Umea and at the Stockholm Conservatory in organ class ( 1886 - 1889 ), improved in Dresden with German Kretschmar (orchestration). In 1890 - 1892 he taught music and foreign languages ​​in Umea, then again moved to Dresden, where he also engaged in teaching activities ( 1892 - 1894 ). In 1895 he settled in Stockholm , became a music columnist for the Dagens Nyheter newspaper and held this position almost without interruption until 1930 . He worked at the Stockholm Opera as a director ( 1908 - 1910 ), in 1920 - 1921 he traveled to Italy . The composer spent the last years of his life in his villa Froesen in Jämtland .

Musical criticism

Peterson-Berger conducted an active musical-critical activity, and in this capacity was very popular. Extremely negatively related to ostentatious virtuosity and dry “academicism”, he often ridiculed these phenomena in his articles in a satirical spirit, which made him a lot of enemies. In general, the critical works of Peterson-Berger are marked by a good sense of style, a depth of understanding of the subject.

Composer

At the end of the 19th century, Peterson-Berger's own compositions appeared in print - the piano cycle Frösöblomster and the collection of songs Swedish Songs ( Svensk lyrik ), which became quite famous. The romantic style of the composer was formed under the influence of Edward Grieg and Richard Wagner . Peterson-Berger's Wagnerian aesthetic views were clearly manifested in his operas , to which he himself wrote the libretto. Among the orchestral works, the Third Symphony, infused with mysticism and using the technique of yoikas - traditional Sami chants - is most famous. Lyric motifs marked the violin concert of the composer, as well as numerous piano miniatures and songs. Works for the choir are of great importance in the work of Peterson-Berger - while still studying at school, he often sang in various vocal ensembles and directed them, thus studying all the subtleties of choral performance. Several hundred choral works (both a capella and with the orchestra) belong to Peruvian composer.

The composer's work had a great influence on the development of the musical culture of Sweden; numerous monographs by Swedish musicologists are devoted to him. The Peterson-Berger Society was founded under the auspices of the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm .

Operas

• "Ran" ( Ran , 1899 - 1900 ; performed in 1903 )
• “Happiness” ( Lyckan , 1903 )
• Arnljot ( Arnljot , 1907 - 1909 )
• Doomsday Prophet ( Domedagsprofeterna , 1912 - 1917 )
• “Adil and Eliza” ( Adils och Elisiv , 1921 - 1924 )

Orchestral works

• Five Symphonies ( 1903 - 1933 )
• Oriental dance ( 1890 )
• Romance for violin and orchestra d-moll ( 1915 )
• Chorale and Fugue on a Theme from the Doomsday Prophet ( 1915 )
• Spring, Suite ( 1917 )
• Italian Suite ( 1922 )
• Concert for violin and orchestra fis-moll ( 1928 )
• The Sleeping Beauty, Suite ( 1934 )

• Arrangements of various piano pieces for wind band, etc.

Choral works

• About 300 works for a capella choir and choir, accompanied by an orchestra, to the words of various poets and own
• About 20 works for the male vocal quartet to the words of different poets

Chamber vocal compositions

• "Swedish lyrics" for voice and piano, in two series (13 notebooks) to the words of Swedish and foreign poets
• Separate songs and romances

Chamber Instrumental Works

• Two Sonatas for Violin and Piano ( 1887 , 1910 )
• Numerous pieces for violin and piano: Bolero, Cantilena, Melody, Serenade, etc.
• Prelude and Intermezzo for Two Violins
• Lullaby for cello and piano

Compositions for Piano

• Three suites “Frozen flowers”
• Waltzes, folk dances, numerous other individual works

• “Swedish Music Culture” ( Svensk musikkultur ; Stockholm, 1911)
• “Richard Wagner as a Cultural Phenomenon” ( Richard Wagner som kulturföreteelse ; Stockholm, 1913)
• “The theme of life in Wagner’s dramas” ( 1916 )
• "Synthesis of Wagnerian Culture" ( 1921 )
• The Mystery of the Melody ( Melodins mysterium ; Stockholm, 1937)
• “On the Music” ( Om musik ; Stockholm, 1942)
• Memories ( Minnen ; Uppsala , 1943)

• Carlberg B. Wilhelm Peterson-Berger - Stockholm, 1950

• Wilhelm Peterson-Berger (English) on the Allmusic website
• Peterson-Berger (Swedish)
• Peterson-Berger Institute (Swedish)
• Peterson-Berger biography on the site of his estate (Swedish.)
• Arnlet (Swedish)