Erland von Koch
Encyclopedia
Erland von Koch was a Swedish
composer
.
as the son of composer Sigurd von Koch (1879–1919), Erland von Koch studied at the Stockholm Conservatory
from 1931 to 1935 and subsequently passed the advanced choirmaster and organist
examinations. Between 1936 and 1938, he lived in Germany
and France
in order to pursue studies in composition
with Paul Höffer
, conducting
with Clemens Krauss
, and piano
with Claudio Arrau
. Later, he took private classes with Tor Mann
in Sweden.
Teaching at the Karl Wohlfarts Musikschule from 1939 to 1945, von Koch also spent the final two years of this period working as a sound expert and choirmaster for radio broadcasting. He composed much music for the Swedish film industry during a good forty years. From 1953 to 1975, he was lecturer in harmony
at the Stockholm Conservatory, where he was appointed a professor in 1968.
von Koch became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
in 1957. He has received numerous other honors and prizes at both national and international levels for his compositions. He has written six symphonies
(of which the fifth, Lapponica, is dedicated to the Sami people
), twelve Scandinavian Dances, one opera
(Pelle Svanslös), and five ballet
s, as well as music for wind
orchestra
.
Even in his nineties he composed/studied every day. His works can be described as uncomplicated and his motto was always to "keep the melody".
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
Life and career
Born in StockholmStockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
as the son of composer Sigurd von Koch (1879–1919), Erland von Koch studied at the Stockholm Conservatory
Royal College of Music, Stockholm
The Royal College of Music, Stockholm is the oldest institution of higher education in music in Sweden, founded in 1771 as the conservatory of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music...
from 1931 to 1935 and subsequently passed the advanced choirmaster and organist
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
examinations. Between 1936 and 1938, he lived in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in order to pursue studies in composition
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
with Paul Höffer
Paul Höffer
Paul Höffer was a German composer.He was born in Barmen and died in Berlin.In 1936 he won a gold medal in the art competitions of the Olympic Games for his Olympischer Schwur ....
, conducting
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
with Clemens Krauss
Clemens Krauss
Clemens Heinrich Krauss was an Austrian conductor and opera impresario, particularly associated with the music of Richard Strauss.-Biography:...
, and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
with Claudio Arrau
Claudio Arrau
Claudio Arrau León was a Chilean pianist known for his interpretations of a vast repertoire spanning from the baroque to 20th-century composers, especially Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Brahms and Debussy...
. Later, he took private classes with Tor Mann
Tor Mann
Tor Mann was a Swedish conductor.Mann was principal conductor of the Göteborgs Symfoniker from 1925 to 1939, and the Sveriges Radios Symfoniorkester from 1939 to 1959....
in Sweden.
Teaching at the Karl Wohlfarts Musikschule from 1939 to 1945, von Koch also spent the final two years of this period working as a sound expert and choirmaster for radio broadcasting. He composed much music for the Swedish film industry during a good forty years. From 1953 to 1975, he was lecturer in harmony
Harmony
In music, harmony is the use of simultaneous pitches , or chords. The study of harmony involves chords and their construction and chord progressions and the principles of connection that govern them. Harmony is often said to refer to the "vertical" aspect of music, as distinguished from melodic...
at the Stockholm Conservatory, where he was appointed a professor in 1968.
von Koch became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
Royal Swedish Academy of Music
The Royal Swedish Academy of Music or Kungl. Musikaliska Akademien, founded in 1771 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden...
in 1957. He has received numerous other honors and prizes at both national and international levels for his compositions. He has written six symphonies
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
(of which the fifth, Lapponica, is dedicated to the Sami people
Sami people
The Sami people, also spelled Sámi, or Saami, are the arctic indigenous people inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of far northern Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Kola Peninsula of Russia, and the border area between south and middle Sweden and Norway. The Sámi are Europe’s northernmost...
), twelve Scandinavian Dances, one opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
(Pelle Svanslös), and five ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
s, as well as music for wind
Wind instrument
A wind instrument is a musical instrument that contains some type of resonator , in which a column of air is set into vibration by the player blowing into a mouthpiece set at the end of the resonator. The pitch of the vibration is determined by the length of the tube and by manual modifications of...
orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
.
Even in his nineties he composed/studied every day. His works can be described as uncomplicated and his motto was always to "keep the melody".
Film music
- including for Ingmar Bergman: (Crisis, A Ship to IndiaA Ship to IndiaA Ship to India is a 1947 Swedish film directed and written by Ingmar Bergman. It is one of his earlier and lesser-known works.The film tells the story of the past of the character Johannes during an ocean voyage to India, along with his cruel father, his mother, and a female traveler with whom...
, It Rains on Our LoveIt Rains on Our LoveIt Rains on Our Love is a 1946 Swedish film by Ingmar Bergman. This is the first time Gunnar Björnstrand acted in a Bergman directed film...
, Music in DarknessMusic in DarknessMusic in Darkness is a 1948 Swedish film directed by Ingmar Bergman.-Synopsis:The screenplay was written by Bergman and Dagmar Edqvist....
, Port of CallPort of Call-Synopsis:Berit, a young woman living in a working-class port town begins a relationship with Gösta, a sailor newly returned from overseas and intent upon staying on land...
, PrisonPrison (1949 film)-Cast:* Doris Svedlund – Birgitta Carolina Soederberg* Birger Malmsten – Tomas* Eva Henning – Sofi* Hasse Ekman – Martin Grande* Stig Olin – Peter* Irma Christenson – Linnea* Anders Henrikson – Paul* Marianne Löfgren – Mrs. Bohlin* Bibi Lindqvist – Anna...
), as well as Kvinnan bakom alltKvinnan bakom alltKvinnan bakom allt is a 1951 Swedish-Finnish film directed by Hampe Faustman and starring Sonja Wigert.-Cast:* Sonja Wigert - Nina Lind* Georg Funkquist - Mayor* Bengt Logardt - First Aide* Börje Mellvig - Second Aide* Gyrd Løfquist - Third Aide...
, Den vita katten, Girl with HyacinthsGirl with HyacinthsGirl with Hyacinths is a 1950 Swedish drama film written and directed by Hasse Ekman, starring Eva Henning, Ulf Palme, Anders Ek and Birgit Tengroth. It follows a man who investigates the mysterious life of his neighbour who has committed suicide.-Plot:...
, Dynamit, När ängarna blommar
Orchestral music
- Ballett-overture for large orchestra (1943, rev 1956)
- Six symphonies: No 2 (1945) Sinfonia dalecarlia, No 4 (1952-53, rev 1963) Sinfonia seria, No 5 Lapponica (1977), No 6 Salvare la terra (1992)
- Viola concerto, Op 33 (1946, rev 1966)
- Sinfonietta, op 44 (1949)
- Cello concerto (1951, rev 1966)
- Oxbergvariationer (1956)
- Dance rhapsody (1957)
- Piano concertos (1956)
- 12 Scandinavian Dances for orchestra (1958)
- Saxophone concerto (1958) dedicated to Sigurd RaschèrSigurd RaschèrSigurd Manfred Raschèr was an American saxophonist of German birth. He became one of the most important figures in the development of the 20th century repertoire for the classical saxophone.-Career in Europe:...
- Concerto Lirico for string orchestra (1961)
Chamber music
- Six string quartets
- Violin Sonatas (1965), (1975)
- Partita Amabile and other works for guitar
- Larghetto for viola (or cello) and piano (1937, rev 1966)
- Lyrisk episod (Lyrical Episode) for viola and piano, Op.29 (1944)