Håkanson, Knut (Algot)

Håkanson, Knut (Algot), Swedish composer, pianist, conductor, teacher, and music critic; b. Kinna, Nov. 4, 1887; d. Göteborg, Dec. 13, 1929. He studied composition and counterpoint with Johan Lindegren in Stockholm (1906–08) and piano with Knut Bäck (1909–10). He also took courses in languages and philosophy at the Univ. of Uppsala (1906–13) before completing his musical training with Ruben Liljefors (1913–15) and on the Continent. He settled in Boras, where he was director of the orch. soc. (1916–25). He also was founder-director of the Boras Music Inst. (1922–25) and music critic of the Göteborgs Handels-och sjöfarts-tidning (from 1927). His most important compositions were classically inclined and often incorporated folk tunes he had collected.

Works

dramatic: Ballet: Mylitta (1918). ORCH.: Sérénade dramatique for Violin and Orch. (1914); Fest-marsch (1914; arranged as Bröllopsmarsch[Wedding March] for Organ or Piano); Från skogstemplet (From the Forest Temple; 1921-22; also for Piano); Svensk svit No. 1 for Piano and Orch. (1923; also for Piano and String Trio) and No. 2 (1925); Marbolåtar (Marbo Melodies; 1923; also for Piano); Variationer och final över ett tema αν Lomjansguten (Variations and Finale on a Theme by Lomjansguten; 1926-28); Divertimento (1927). CHAMBER: 2 string trios; 2 string quartets; Midsom-markransen (Midsummer Wreath) for Clarinet Quintet (1921; also for Piano); Prelude and Fugue for String Trio (1928; also for Piano); piano pieces, including 10 variationer och fuga över en svensk folkvisa (10 Variations and Fugue on a Swedish Folksong; 1929). VOCAL: Skåne for Solo Voices, Chorus, and Orch. (1928); 4 madrigaler for Chorus (1929); 3 Karlfeldtskörer for Chorus (1929); other choral pieces; about 120 solo songs; folk song arrangements.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire