Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

October 30, 1942 in Motala, Sweden

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Choral

 

Sven-David Sandström was a Swedish composer who was born on October 30, 1942, in the town of Jönköping, Sweden. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a church organist and his mother a choir singer. Sandström began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the organ, which would become a significant influence on his compositions. Sandström studied music at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, where he was taught by some of Sweden's most prominent composers, including Ingvar Lidholm and Karl-Birger Blomdahl. After completing his studies, Sandström worked as a music teacher and choir conductor before devoting himself entirely to composition. Sandström's early works were influenced by the avant-garde music of the 1960s, but he later developed a more tonal style that incorporated elements of traditional Swedish folk music. His compositions often featured large choral forces, and he was particularly interested in exploring the possibilities of the human voice. One of Sandström's most significant works is his Requiem, which was composed in 1988 and has since become one of the most frequently performed choral works of the 20th century. The Requiem is a setting of the Latin Mass for the Dead, and it features a large choir, soloists, and orchestra. The work is notable for its use of extended vocal techniques, including whispering, shouting, and singing through a megaphone. Sandström's other notable works include his High Mass, which was composed in 1993 and is also a setting of the Latin Mass. The High Mass features a large choir, soloists, and orchestra, and it incorporates elements of Swedish folk music. Sandström's other choral works include his Four Songs of Love, which were composed in 1996 and are settings of poems by the Swedish poet Erik Johan Stagnelius. Sandström also composed several instrumental works, including his Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, which was composed in 1990 and has become a popular work in the cello repertoire. The concerto features a solo cello accompanied by a large orchestra, and it is notable for its use of extended techniques, including harmonics and glissandi. In addition to his work as a composer, Sandström was also a respected music educator. He taught composition at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and was a visiting professor at several universities in the United States, including the University of California, Berkeley, and the Eastman School of Music. Sandström received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Swedish Academy's Music Prize in 1995 and the Nordic Council Music Prize in 2004. He was also a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Sven-David Sandström passed away on June 10, 2019, at the age of 76. His legacy as a composer and educator continues to inspire musicians around the world, and his works remain an important part of the contemporary classical music repertoire.

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