Söderlind, Ragner

Söderlind, Ragnar, Norwegian composer; b. Oslo, June 27, 1945. He was a student of Baden (counterpoint), Hukvari (conducting), and Ulleberg (horn) at the Oslo Cons. (1966–67), of Bergman and Kokkonen (composition) at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki (1967–68), and of Fladmoe (conducting) at the Oslo Cons. (graduate degree, 1976). For all practical purposes, he was autodidact in composition. Söderlind eschewed the predominant avant-garde course blazed by his contemporaries to embrace a style akin to the new Romanticist persuasion. Programmatic elements are found in several of his scores.

Works

DRAMATIC : Esther and the Blue Serenity, opera (1971–72); Hedda Gabler, symphonic/choreographic drama (1978); Kristin Lavransdatter, ballet (1982); Victoria, ballet music (1985–86); Rose og Ravn, opera (1989). ORCH .: Jølsterslått (1962–63); Preludium (1964–65); Rokkomborre, symphonic poem (1967); Polaris, symphonic vision (1967–69); Trauermusik (1968); Fantasia borealis (1969); Sinfonia minimale for Youth Orch. (1971); International Rhapsody (1971–72); 2 Pieces from the Desert for Oboe and Small Orch. (1973–75); 6 syms.: No. 1 for Soprano and Orch. (1975–79), No. 2, Sinfonia breve (1981), No. 3, Les illuminations symphonique, for Soprano, Baritone, and Orch. (1984), No. 4 (1991), No. 5, Kvitsunn (1995), and No. 6, Todessahnung (1998–99); Amor et labor, symphonic poem (1979); Sinfonista for Brass and Percussion (1981–88); Kom Havsvindar, Kom!, symphonic poem (1982); Toccata brillante over “Seier’n er Vår” (1984); Eystradalir, nostalgic rhapsody (1984); Ecstasy for Strings (1988); Violin Concerto (1986–87); The Hour of Love, tone poem from the ballet Victoria (1990); Nach Bildern von Edvard Munch (1995). CHAMBER : Elegia I for Cello (1966) and II for Violin (1966); Intermezzo for Percussionist (1967); La poema battutta for Percussion (1973); 2 Pieces from the Desert: A Study in Arabian Music for Oboe and Piano (1973); 2 string quartets (1975, 1997); Quintet for 2 Trumpets, Horn, Trombone, and Tuba (1982). keyboard : Piano : Sonata (1999). Organ : Ciacona (1976–77); Preludium funèbre (1991). VOCAL : Pietá for Voice and String Orch. (1965–77); Körsbärsblommor for Baritone, Flute, English Horn, Cello, and 2 Percussion (1967–71); La mort des pauvres for Men’s Chorus, Percussion, and 4 Trombones ad libitum (1969); Vaer Utålmodig, Menneske for Children’s or Women’s Chorus and Orch. (1977); Olavs Hymne (Olav’s Hymn) for Voice, Chorus, and Orch. for the 80^th birthday of King Olav I (1983); Septemberlys for Voice and Orch. (1983); Nasadiya/ Upphavshymnia for 3 Choruses and Instrumental Ensemble (1984); Pasjonskantate for 2 Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1989); Tranströmer-Svit for Voice, Piano, 2 Percussion, and String Orch. (1991).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire