Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

Sweden

Birth

:

September 19, 1911 in Västra Rya, Sweden

Death

:

June 20, 1980 in Stockholm, Sweden

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Symphony

 

Allan Pettersson was a Swedish composer who was born on September 19, 1911, in the small town of Båstad, Sweden. He was the youngest of four children and grew up in a musical family. His father was a violinist and his mother was a pianist, and they both encouraged their children to pursue music. Pettersson began playing the violin at a young age and showed a talent for music. However, he soon switched to the viola, which would become his primary instrument. He studied at the Stockholm Conservatory and later at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. Pettersson's early compositions were influenced by the music of Jean Sibelius and Carl Nielsen, but he soon developed his own unique style. His music was often dark and intense, reflecting his own struggles with depression and physical illness. Pettersson's most famous work is his Symphony No. 7, which he composed in 1966. The symphony is a massive, hour-long work that is considered one of the greatest symphonies of the 20th century. It is a deeply emotional work that reflects Pettersson's own struggles with illness and mortality. Pettersson's other works include several other symphonies, as well as chamber music and vocal works. His music is often characterized by its use of dissonance and unconventional harmonies, as well as its intense emotional content. Despite his talent and critical acclaim, Pettersson struggled with poverty and illness throughout his life. He suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, which made it difficult for him to play the viola and eventually forced him to stop performing altogether. He also struggled with depression and alcoholism. Pettersson died on June 20, 1980, at the age of 68. Despite his struggles, he left behind a legacy of powerful and deeply emotional music that continues to be performed and admired today.

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