Role

:

Composer Performer

Birth

:

October 28, 1935

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

Folke Rabe was a Swedish composer born on September 28, 1935, in Stockholm, Sweden. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a composer and his mother a pianist. Rabe began playing the piano at a young age and showed an early interest in music composition. Rabe studied at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, where he received a degree in composition in 1960. During his time at the college, he studied under the tutelage of Karl-Birger Blomdahl, one of Sweden's most prominent composers. Blomdahl's influence can be seen in Rabe's early works, which were characterized by their use of electronic music and avant-garde techniques. In the 1960s, Rabe began experimenting with new forms of music composition, including aleatoric music and minimalism. His most famous work from this period is "Basta," a piece for orchestra and tape that was first performed in 1968. "Basta" is a minimalist work that features a repeating pattern of notes that gradually builds in intensity over the course of the piece. The work was well-received by critics and helped establish Rabe as one of Sweden's most innovative composers. In the 1970s, Rabe continued to explore new forms of music composition, including microtonal music and musique concrète. His most famous work from this period is "What?," a piece for four trombones and tape that was first performed in 1970. "What?" is a microtonal work that features a series of glissandos and other extended techniques that push the boundaries of what is possible on the trombone. The work was highly influential and helped establish Rabe as one of the leading composers of microtonal music. In the 1980s, Rabe began to incorporate elements of world music into his compositions. His most famous work from this period is "Argh!" a piece for percussion and tape that was first performed in 1987. "Argh!" is a rhythmic work that features a variety of percussion instruments from around the world, including African drums, Indian tabla, and Japanese taiko drums. The work was highly praised for its innovative use of percussion and its incorporation of world music elements. In the 1990s, Rabe continued to experiment with new forms of music composition, including computer-generated music and interactive music. His most famous work from this period is "Komm," a piece for computer-generated sound that was first performed in 1995. "Komm" is a highly experimental work that features a series of computer-generated sounds that are manipulated in real-time by the performer. The work was highly praised for its innovative use of technology and its exploration of the boundaries between performer and composer. Throughout his career, Rabe was known for his innovative use of technology and his willingness to push the boundaries of what was possible in music composition. His works were highly influential and helped establish him as one of the leading composers of the 20th century. Rabe passed away on September 25, 2017, at the age of 81.

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