Schultz, Svend (Simon)

Schultz, Svend (Simon), Danish composer, pianist, and conductor; b. Nykøbing Falster, Dec. 30, 1913; d. Klampenborg, June 6, 1998. He received training in piano and composition at the Copenhagen Cons. (1933–38), where his principal mentor was Schierbeck. After serving as music critic for Politiken (1942–49), he was a choral conductor with the Danish Radio in Copenhagen (from 1949). He also appeared as a pianist and conductor of his own works throughout Europe. His music is neo-Classical in style and is characterized by simplicity of form and a cumulative rhythmic drive.

Works

DRAMATIC : Opera : Bag kulisserne (Behind the Scenes; 1946; Copenhagen, May 26, 1949); Solbadet (The Sunbath; 1947; Århus, Nov. 26, 1949); Kaffehuset (The Coffee House; 1948); Host (Harvest; 1950); Bryllupsrejsen (The Honeymoon; 1951); Hyrdinden og skorstensfejeren (The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep), puppet opera (1953); Tordenvejret (The Thunderstorm; 1954); Hosekraemmeren (The Stocking Peddler; 1955; rev. 1985; Århus, May 4, 1990); The Marionettes, puppet opera (1957); Dommer Lynch (Judge Lynch; 1959); Konen i muddergrøften (The Woman in the Muddy Ditch), comic television opera (1964; Danish TV, April 18, 1965); Lykken og for-standen, children’s opera (1973). Chamber Operetta : Den käde Donna (Copenhagen, Aug. 30, 1957). Musical Church Play : Era (1968). ORCH .: Serenade for Strings (1940); 7 syms. (1941, 1949, 1955, 1957, 1960, 1962, 1973); Piano Concerto (1943); Storstmmsbroen (The Stor-stroem Bridge; 1951); Introduction and Rondo for Piano and Orch. (Danish Radio, Nov. 8, 1964); 2 Variations: Nocturne and Aubade (1965); Northern Overture (1975); Pale make (1981); Concertino for Clarinet and Strings (1982); Harp Concertino (1986); Hommage à Rossini (1986); Garde-Gratulation for Wind Orch. (1992). CHAMBER : 6 string quartets (1939, 1940, 1940, 1961, 1962, 1975); 2 piano trios (1942, 1963); Flute Quartet (1961); Romantic Trio for Piano Trio (1961); Quartet for Flute, Violin, Viola, and Cello (1962); Clarinet Quintet (1965); Music for Wind Players for Flute, Trumpet, Clarinet, Percussion, Vibraphone, and Piano (1966); Quintetto per Nefertite for Flute, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Piano (1985). Piano : Sonata (1931); 2 sonatinas (1940, 1950). VOCAL : Job, oratorio (1945); Sankt Hans Nat for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1953); Hymn for Chorus and Orch. (Copenhagen, March 13, 1957); Hr. Mortens klosterrov (Morten’s Pillage of the Monastery) for Soloists, Chorus, and Chamber Orch. (1958; Copenhagen, Oct. 13, 1960); 3 Pastorales for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (Danish Radio, May 28, 1962); The 4 Temperaments for Women’s Chorus, Men’s Chorus, and Orch. (Hillerad, Nov. 15, 1974); Jul, cantata (1981); It Is Perfectly True, scene for Soloists, Chorus, and Clarinet (1982); Davids salme 130 for Chorus and Organ (1994).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire