Role

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Composer

Birth

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1924

 

Else Marie Pade was a Danish composer who is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of electronic music. Born on December 2, 1924, in Aarhus, Denmark, Pade grew up in a family that was deeply interested in music. Her father was a music teacher, and her mother was a pianist. Pade started playing the piano at a young age and showed a keen interest in music from an early age. Pade's musical education began at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, where she studied piano and composition. She graduated in 1952 and went on to study with the French composer Pierre Schaeffer at the Studio d'Essai in Paris. It was here that Pade was introduced to the world of musique concrète, a form of electronic music that uses recorded sounds as its raw material. Pade was fascinated by the possibilities of electronic music and began experimenting with tape recorders and other electronic equipment. In 1955, she composed her first electronic piece, "Syv Cirkler" (Seven Circles), which was based on recordings of water, birds, and other natural sounds. The piece was well-received and marked the beginning of Pade's career as an electronic composer. Over the next few years, Pade continued to experiment with electronic music and developed her own unique style. She was particularly interested in the use of sound as a means of expressing emotions and ideas. Her compositions often featured abstract sounds and noises, as well as more recognizable sounds such as voices and instruments. One of Pade's most famous works is "Faust Suite," which she composed in 1962. The piece was based on the story of Faust, a German legend about a man who sells his soul to the devil in exchange for knowledge and power. Pade's interpretation of the story was highly original and featured a range of electronic sounds and effects. The piece was performed at the World's Fair in Brussels in 1958 and was later released on vinyl. In addition to her work as a composer, Pade was also a pioneer in the field of electronic music education. In 1962, she founded the Electronic Music Studio at the Danish Radio, which was one of the first of its kind in Europe. The studio provided a space for composers to experiment with electronic music and helped to establish Denmark as a center for electronic music. Pade continued to compose and experiment with electronic music throughout her career. In 1995, she composed "Glasperlespil" (Glass Bead Game), which was based on the novel of the same name by Hermann Hesse. The piece was performed at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark and was later released on CD. Pade's contributions to the field of electronic music were recognized in 2013 when she was awarded the Carl Nielsen and Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen Foundation's Music Prize. The prize is awarded to Danish composers who have made significant contributions to the field of music. Else Marie Pade passed away on January 18, 2016, at the age of 91. Her legacy as a pioneer of electronic music continues to inspire composers and musicians around the world.

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