Bucht, Gunnar

Bucht, Gunnar, , Swedish composer, musicologist, and pedagogue; b. Stocksund, Aug. 5, 1927. He studied composition with Blomdahl (1947–51) and also took courses in musicology at the Univ. of Uppsala (Ph.D., 1953). He later pursued training in composition with Orff in Germany (1954), Petrassi in Italy (1954–55), and Deutsch in Paris (1961–62). He taught at the Univ. of Stockholm (1965–69), and then was in the diplomatic service as cultural attaché at the Swedish Embassy in Bonn (1970–73). From 1975 to 1985 he was a prof, of composition at the Stockholm Musikhôgskolan, serving as its director from 1987 to 1993. From 1963 to 1969 he was chairman of the Soc. of Swedish Composers. In 1964 he was elected to membership in the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in Stockholm. His music retains traditional forms while adopting diverse modern techniques.

Works

DRAMATIC: Tronkräarna (The Pretenders), opera (1961–64; Stockholm, Sept. 10, 1966); Jerikos murar (The Walls of Jericho), opera-oratorio (1966–67; reworked as an electronic piece). orch.:Introduction and Allegro for Strings (1950); Meditation for Piano and Orch. (1950); 12 syms.: No. 1 (1952; Swedish Radio, Dec. 6, 1953), No. 2 (1953), No. 3 (1954; Swedish Radio, April 17, 1955), No. 4 (1957–58; Stockholm, April 3, 1959), No. 5 (1960; Stockholm, Jan. 14, 1962), No. 6 (1961–62; Stockholm, Nov. 20, 1963), No. 7 (1970–71; Norrköping, March 26, 1972), No. 8 (1982–83; Stockholm, Sept. 13, 1984), No. 9 (1988–90; Stockholm, Oct. 31, 1990), No. 10, Sinfonie gracieuse ou l’Apothéose de Berwald (1993), No. 11 (1993–94), and No. 12, Mouvements sonores et accentués (1997); 2 cello concertos (1954; 1989–90); Symphonie Fantasy (1955); Divertimento (1955–56); Couplets et Refrains (1960); Strangaspel for Strings (1965); Winter Organ (1974); Journées Oubliées (1975; Stockholm, April 25, 1976); Au delà (1977; Stockholm, March 14, 1979); Violin Concerto (1978; Stockholm, Nov. 5, 1980); The Big Band—and After (1979; Swedish Radio, April 3, 1981); Geórgica (1980; Swedish Radio, Feb. 11, 1983); Ein Clairobscur for Chamber Orch. (1980–81); Sinfonia Concertante for Flute, Viola, Harp, and Orch. (1981–82; Norrkòping, Jan. 13, 1983); Fresques mobiles (1985–86; Swedish Radio, Jan. 28, 1989); Tonend bewegte Formen (1987); Konsert for Arholma for Strings (1989); Piano Concerto (1994); Rôrelser i rummet (1996); Concerto de Marie for Viola and Orch. (1998). chamber:String Quintet (1949–50); 3 string quartets (1951, 1959, 1997); 5 Bagatelles for String Quartet (1953); Sonata for Piano and Percussion (1955); Quintetto amichevole for Winds (1976); A huit mains for Flute, Violin, Cello, and Harpsichord (1976); Bald Jran mitt gulsippeange for Clarinet and Piano (1985; also for Harpsichord, 1988); Unter vollem Einsatz for Organ and 5 Percussion (1986–87); Coup sur coup for 6 Percussionists (1995). piano:Theme and Variations (1949); 2 sonatas (1951, 1959). VOCAL: La fine della diaspora for Chorus and Orch. (1958; Stockholm, Oct. 4, 1963); Eine lutherische Messe for Soloists, Mixed and Children’s Choruses, and Orch. (1972–73); Music for Lau for Children’s Chorus, Winds, Percussion, Double Basses, and Tape (1974–75); Panta rei for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1998–99); cantatas; choruses; songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire