Gunnar de Frumerie

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Per Gunnar Fredrik de Frumerie, (20 July 1908 in Nacka, Stockholm County, - 9 September 1987 in Täby, Stockholm County, was a Swedish composer and pianist. He was the son of architect Gustaf de Frumerie and Maria Helleday.

After studying piano in Stockholm and Vienna, he studied under Alfred Cortot in Paris. He then studied at the Royal College of Music, Stockholm 1923-1928. His works for piano are technically difficult. His repution in Sweden has never been strongly established. His compositions covered a wide area, from grand opera to piano miniatures, but he is best remembered for his piano works. The main influences in his work are Brahmsian complexity and impressionistic elegance.

Although not noted for his theatre work, he did write an opera, Singoalla (1940). He wrote many songs (often to words by Pär Lagerkvist. From 1945 he worked at the Royal College of Music, Stockholm. The cello concerto (1984) has an interesting history. It was adapted from his 2nd cello sonata. He then adapted it into a trombone concerto, and was his last completed work.It was specifically written for the Swedish trombone virtuoso Christian Lindberg.

Anne Sofie von Otter, the Swedish mezzo-soprano is related to Frumerie, as she is descended from the Frumerie family. They were both members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.

[edit] Selected compositions

• 1st Piano Trio (op 7)
• Suite (op 13b)
• Violin Concerto (1936, rev. 1975-6) (op 19)
• Symphonic Variations (1940-41) (op 25)
• 2nd Piano Trio (op 45)
• Singoalla (1940)
• 2nd Cello Sonata (1949)
• Musica per nove (Nonett) (op 75)
• Dante op. 76 (1977, for voice and orchestra)
• Cello Concerto (1984) (op 81)
• Trombone concerto (op 81) (poshumous)
• Sonata for trombone and piano (Poshumous) (op 81b)
• Organ overture, aria and fugue
• Piano Quartet no.1 in C minor (op.23)