Paulson, Gustaf

Paulson, Gustaf , Swedish composer and organist; b. Hälsingborg, Jan. 22,1898; d. there, Dec. 17,1966. He studied composition in Copenhagen with Peder Gram. From 1929 until his death, served as church organist in Hälsingborg. He was an extraordinarily prolific composer. His music reflected the type of Scandinavian Romanticism associated with Sibelius and Nielsen, pervaded by streaks of coherent polyphony.

Works

orch.:13 syms.: No. 1 (1928), No. 2 (1933), No. 3, Sinfonia da chiesa (1945), No. 4, Uppstandelse (The Resurrection; 1947), No. 5, Aron Bergenson in memoriam (1948), No. 6 (1952), No. 7 (1953), No. 8 (1954), No. 9 (1956), No. 10 (1957), No. 11, Stabat Mater (1959; Hälsingborg, March 26,1961), No. 12 (1963; Hälsingborg, Nov. 28, 1963), and No. 13 (1966); 2 sinfonias for Strings (1953, 1954); 19 concertos: 2 for Piano (1940, 1961), 2 for Cello (1944, 1957), 2 for Oboe (1950, 1957), 2 for English Horn and Strings (1958, 1959), 2 for Clarinet (1958, 1959), and one each for Bassoon (1959), Saxophone (1959), Violin (I960), Flute and Women’s Chorus, Arets tider (1962), Horn (1964), Trombone (1965), Trumpet (1965), Viola (1965), and Double Bass (1965–66); Symphonic Variations (1934); Metamorphoses on a Theme by dementi (1951); Passion for Cello and Orch. (1961). chamber: 5 string quartets; Violin Sonata (1958); Cello Sonata (1960); piano pieces; organ pieces. vocal:Stabat Mater for Soloists, Women’s Chorus, Strings, and Percussion (1956; Hälsingborg, March 17, 1957); Vid korset, oratorio (1957); songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire