Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Finland

Birth

:

November 24, 1911 in Uusikaarlepyy, Finland

Death

:

April 24, 2006 in Helsinki, Finland

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Choral

 

 

Vocal

 

Erik Bergman was a Finnish composer who was born on November 24, 1911, in Nykarleby, Finland. He was the son of a Lutheran pastor and grew up in a musical family. His mother was a pianist, and his father played the organ. Bergman began his musical studies at an early age, learning to play the piano and the violin. He also sang in the church choir and played in the school orchestra. Bergman studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, where he was a student of Aarre Merikanto. He graduated in 1936 and went on to study in Paris with Nadia Boulanger. During his time in Paris, Bergman was exposed to the music of Stravinsky, Bartok, and Schoenberg, which had a significant influence on his own compositions. Bergman's early works were influenced by the neoclassical style, but he later moved towards serialism and atonality. His music is characterized by its complexity and its use of unconventional techniques, such as microtonality and aleatoric elements. One of Bergman's most significant works is his opera "Det sjungande trädet" (The Singing Tree), which was premiered in 1958. The opera is based on a Finnish folk tale and tells the story of a magical tree that can sing. The work is notable for its use of electronic music and its incorporation of Finnish folk music. Bergman also wrote a significant amount of choral music, including his "Laudatio Domini" for mixed choir and orchestra, which was premiered in 1963. The work is based on a text from the Book of Psalms and is characterized by its use of complex harmonies and rhythms. In addition to his compositions, Bergman was also a respected music educator. He taught at the Sibelius Academy from 1948 to 1978 and was a professor of composition from 1963 to 1978. Many of his students went on to become successful composers in their own right. Bergman received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Pro Finlandia medal in 1961 and the Nordic Council Music Prize in 1980. He was also a member of the Finnish Academy of Arts and Letters. Bergman continued to compose until his death on October 24, 2006, at the age of 94. His legacy as one of Finland's most important composers lives on through his music and the many students he taught over the course of his career.

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