Mellnäs, Arne

Mellnäs, Arne, Swedish composer and teacher; b. Stockholm, Aug. 30, 1933. He entered the Stockholm Musikhögskolan in 1953, where he studied composition with Koch, Larsson, Blomdahl, and Wallner (1958–61). He also was a student of Blacher at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik (1959) and of Deutsch in Paris (1961). After further training with Ligeti in Vienna (1962), he worked at the San Francisco Tape Music Center (1964). He made Stockholm the center of his activities, where he taught at the Citizen’s School (1961–63) and at the Musikhögskolan (from 1963). From 1983 he also served as chairman of the Swedish section of the ISCM. In 1984 he was elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. He was awarded the Atterberg Prize in 1994. Mellnäs is one of Sweden’s most innovative composers, and has done much to advance the cause of contemporary music in his homeland.

Works

dramatic:Minibuff, opera (1966); Kaleidovi-sion, television ballet (1969); Erik den helige, church opera (1975; Stockholm, May 18, 1976); Spöket p°a Canterville, opera (Ume°a, April 25, 1981); Dans p°a rosor, opera buffa (1984); Doktor Glas, opera (1987–90). orch.: Concerto for Clarinet and Strings (1957); Music (1959); Chiasmos (1961); Collage (1962); Aura (Malmö, June 5, 1964); Transparence (1972); Blow for Wind Orch. (1974); Moments musicaux (1977; Lillehammer, March 12, 1978); Besvärjelser (1978); Capriccio (Stockholm, May 6, 1978); Ikaros, sym. (1986; Stockholm, March 18, 1987); Passages (1989; Sydney, April 21, 1990). chamber: Oboe Sonata (1957); Per caso for Saxophone, Trombone, Violin, Double Bass, and 2 Percussionists (1963); Tombola for Horn, Trombone, Electric Guitar, and Piano (1963); Sic transit for Instruments and Tape (1964); Siamfoni for Trumpet, Horn, and Trombone (1964); Quasi niente for 1 to 4 String Trios (1968); Capricorn Flakes for Piano, Harpsichord, and Vibraphone (1970); Cabrillo for Clarinet, Trombone, Cello, and Percussion (1970); Ceremus for Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone, Double Bass, and Percussion (1973); The Mummy and the Hummingbird for Flute and Harpsichord ad libitum (1974); Riflessioni for Clarinet or Bass Clarinet and Tape (1981); 31 Variations on C A G E for 2 Pianos and Percussion (1982); Rendez-vous for 2 Flutes and Percussion (1983); Stampede for Saxophone Quartet (1985); Gardens for Flute, Clarinet, Percussion, Violin, Cello, and Piano (Stockholm, April 13, 1987); No roses for Madame F for Saxophone Quartet (1991); Rolando furioso for Violin and Harpsichord (1991); String Quartet No. 1, Hommages (1993); Estampes for Horn (1995); piano pieces. other: Choral works; songs; electronic music.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire