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Erik Bergman

Erik Bergman (1911-2006) was a pioneer on the Finnish musical scene. With roots in the romantic era, he was named the enfant terrible of Finnish music in the 1960s and the Grand Old Man of modernism in the 1990s. He studied twelve-tone technique in the 1950s with Wladimir Vogel in Switzerland and even adopted strict serialism in some of his works. Later he arrived at a personal style of his own in which tone colours and the search for new expressive means played an important role.

The human voice never ceased to fascinate Erik Bergman; choral works constitute the bulk of his oeuvre and the unaccompanied male-voice choir was his core instrument. He exploited the whole gamut of vocal resources on a sliding scale from speech to song, and his spectrum is remarkable, ranging from the mischievous to the mystical.

Bergman was an exceptionally prolific composer who, apart from vocal music, composed a number of works for orchestra that provide a comprehensive cross section of his main stylistic periods. From the 1970s onwards he branched out into concertos and chamber music; during his last creative years, in 1996-2003, he wrote concertos for the violin (The Maestro and His Orchestra), oboe (Cadenza), cello (Concerto for Violoncello and String Orchestra) and trumpet (Fantasia per tromba e orchestra). He was constantly on the move, had a deep interest in distant cultures and was untiring in his search for the new. After his trip round the world he wrote the dance poem The Journey (1999) which has so far been premiered only in a stage version.

WORKS WITH OPUS NUMBER Op. 1 Suite for string orchestra M/s Op. 2 Piano Trio M/s Op. 3 Passacaglia and Fugue for organ NMS Op. 4 Six Songs to texts by Arvid Mörne WCMF Op. 5 Five Songs for voice and piano to poems by L. Onerva and Kaarlo Sarkia
	/1 Ilta (Kväll) WCMF /5 Leppäkerttu (Nyckelpiga) WCMF Other parts: M/s
Op. 6 Rakastetulle (To the Beloved), song cycle to poems by Yrjö Kaijärvi EWH Op. 7 Sonate concertante pour piano M/s Op. 8 Sonata for violin and piano M/s Op. 9 Three Dances for violin and piano WCMF Op. 10 Musica da camera for soprano and ensemble M/s Op. 11 Songs and arrangements for boys' choir M/s Op. 12 Five Songs for mixed chorus
	/1 Elegi M/s /2 Det kom ett brev (Came a Letter) WCMF /3 Lärkan (The Lark) NMS /4 Gammal sorg (An Old Grief) NMS /5 Mitt träd är pinjen (My Tree is the Stone-Pine) WCMF
Op. 13 Danze senza nome (Three Dances) for piano WCMF Op. 14 Four Songs for voice and piano NMS Op. 15 Five Songs for male chorus
	/2 Gammalt porslin (Old Porcelain) WCMF /3 Nocturne WCMF Other parts withdrawn
Op. 16 Five Psalms from the Psalter for voice and piano NMS Op. 17 Kotikylä (Home Village), suite for male chorus WCMF Op. 18 Cantata for the 100th Anniversary of Svenska Flicklyceet M/s Op. 19 Withdrawn Op. 20 Majnätter (May Nights) for soprano and piano/orchestra WCMF Op. 21 Two Songs for voice and piano WCMF Op. 22a Ungdomsdröm (En fri ung man) (Youth's Dream) for male choir WCMF Op. 22b Fyra mindre allvarliga sånger I (Four Less Serious Songs I) for male choir WCMF Op. 23 Biblical Fantasies for voice and piano M/s Op. 24 Six Songs for voice and piano
	/2 Som ett blommande mandelträd (Kuin mantelin kukka) WCMF Other parts: M/s
Op. 25 Eight Songs for mixed chorus
	/1 Jorden inunder min fot (The Ground Beneath My Feet) NMS /2 Höstens dagar (Autumn Days) NMS Other parts: M/s
Op. 26 Withdrawn Op. 27 Ensamhetens sånger (Songs of Solitude) for voice and piano or orchestra WCMF Op. 28 Livets träd (Elämän puu), chamber cantata M/s Op. 29 Three Pieces for piano M/s Op. 30 Three songs for male chorus
	/1 Aikainen aamu (Early Morning) Laulu-Miehet ry /2 Huhtikuun yössä (A Night in April) M/s /3 Pyörivä pannukakku (Den snurrande pannkakan) WCMF
Op. 31 Burla for orchestra WCMF Op. 32 Suite for guitar WCMF Op. 33 Six Songs for mixed chorus
	/6 Den enda stunden (The Single Moment) WCMF Other parts: M/s
Op. 34 Intervalles for piano WCMF Op. 35a Serenad for voice and piano (intended as part of Op. 21) WCMF Op. 35b Tre mindre allvarliga sånger II (Three Less Serious Songs II) for male choir WCMF Op. 35c Arkaisk bild (An Ancient Portrait) for male choir WCMF Op. 35d Metamorfos (Metamorphosis) for male chorus WCMF Op. 36 Sonatina for piano Gehrmans Musikförlag Op. 37a Nordisk vår (Northern Spring), fantasy for tenor, clarinet and male choir WCMF Op. 37b Two Folk Songs from Southern Ostrobothnia for male choir (arr.)
	/b1 Kun on oikeen hulivililuonto (Anyone, Who's a Proper Rascal) WCMF /b2 Hyssyttää (Lullaby) YL
Op. 37c Mir Senne hei's lustig, Swiss folk song arranged for tenor, male choir and alphorn M/s Op. 38a Four Songs for mixed chorus
	/1 Torgpumpen (The Village Pump) M/s /2 Barnet travar (The Trotting Child) FSSMF /3 Filmmanuskript (Film Script)WCMF /4 En vårvisa (Kevätlaulu) WCMF
Op. 38b Inbördes kritik (Mutual Criticism) for male chorus M/s Op. 39 Tre mindre allvarliga sånger III (Three Less Serious Songs III) for male choir WCMF Op. 40 Espressivo for piano WCMF Op. 41 Rubaiyat for baritone, male choir and orchestra WCMF Op. 42 Three Fantasies for clarinet and piano WCMF Op. 43 Exsultate for organ WCMF Op. 44a På berget ligger en gammal stad (On the Mountain Stands an Ancient City) for male choir WCMF Op. 44b Four Songs for mixed chorus
	/1 Akvarell (Akvarelli) WCMF /2 Opera Comique FSSMF /3 En visa (A Song)WCMF /4 Barnvers (A Chidren's Song) M/s
Op. 45 Med dig (With You) for mezzo-soprano/baritone and piano WCMF Op. 46 Tre aspetti d'una serie dodecafonica for orchestra WCMF Op. 47a Adagio for baritone, flute, male choir and vibraphone MM Op. 47b Svanbild (The Swan) for baritone, solo quartet and male choir WCMF Op. 47c Nu sjunger slätterna (Lakeuksien laulu) for male chorus WCMF Op. 48 Aubade for orchestra WCMF Op. 49 Aton for baritone, speaker, mixed choir and orchestra WCMF Op. 50a Psalm for mixed choir WCMF Op. 50b Junibastu (June Sauna) for male choir WCMF Op. 51a Drei Galgenlieder (Three Gallows Songs) for baritone, 2 speakers and male choir WCMF Op. 51b Vier Galgenlieder (Four Gallows Songs) for 3 speakers and speaking (mixed) choir WCMF Op. 52 Simbolo for orchestra Novello Op. 53 Concertino da camera for ensemble WCMF Op. 54 Bauta for baritone, male choir and percussion WCMF Op. 55 Sela for baritone, mixed choir and chamber orchestra WCMF Op. 56a Fåglarna (The Birds) for baritone, 5 solo voices, male choir, percussion and celesta WCMF Op. 56b Barnets dröm (The Child's Dream) for speakers, male choir and recorder MM Op. 57a Hä Li Bomp, suite for speaker, tenor and male choir WCMF Op. 57b Tuonelas hjordar (Herds of Hades) for male choir WCMF Op. 58 Circulus for orchestra WCMF Op. 59a En sådan kväll (On Such an Evening) for soprano and mixed choir WCMF Op. 59b Snö (Snow), suite for flute, baritone and male choir WCMF Op. 60 Springtime for baritone and mixed choir WCMF Op. 61 Jesurun for baritone, male choir and instrumental ensemble WCMF Op. 62 Canticum Fennicum for baritone, 2 solo quartets, male choir and orchestra WCMF Op. 63 Aspekter (Aspects) for piano Norsk Musikförlag Op. 64 Annonssidan (Small Ads) for baritone, 3 tenors, speakers, male choir WCMF Op. 65 Nox for baritone, mixed choir and instrumental ensemble WCMF Op. 66 Energien for harpsichord WCMF Op. 67 Requiem över en död diktare (Requiem for a Dead Poet) for baritone, mixed choir and instrumental ensemble WCMF Op. 68 Missa in honorem Sancti Henrici for mixed choir, soloists and organ WCMF Op. 69 Samothrake, musico-dramatic scene for speaker, mixed choir, instrumental ensemble and choreography WCMF Op. 70 Hathor Suite for soprano, baritone, mixed choir and instrumental ensemble WCMF Op. 71a Warum nicht? (Why not?) for male choir and 2 solo voices WCMF Op. 71b Auch so (Something else) for mixed choir WCMF Op. 72 Colori ed improvvisazioni for orchestra WCMF Op. 73a Vestenvinden (West Wind) for mixed choir and speaker NMS Op. 73b Tyttöset (The Lasses), three Finnish folk songs for mixed choir and soloists WCMF Op. 73c Kaksi karjalaista kansanlaulua (Two Karelian Folk Songs) for male choir WCMF Op. 74 Bardo Thödol for speaker, soloists, mixed choir and orchestra WCMF Op. 75 Loleila for choirs, soloists and orchestra M/s Op. 76 Lapponia for mezzo-soprano, baritone and mixed choir WCMF Op. 77a Min ros och lilja (My Rose and Lily), suite for solo voice and male choir WCMF Op. 77b Bon appétit! for speaker, baritone and male choir WCMF Op. 78 Noa for baritone, mixed choir and orchestra Novello Op. 79 À propos de B-A-C-H for piano WCMF Op. 80 Bim Bam Bum for tenor, reciter, male choir and instrumental ensemble WCMF Op. 81 Solfatara for alto saxophone and percussion WCMF Op. 82 Dialogue for flute and guitar WCMF Op. 83 Midnight for guitar WCMF Op. 84 Voices in the Night for baritone and male choir WCMF Op. 85 Dreams for children's or female choir and soloists WCMF Op. 86 Dualis for cello and orchestra Novello Op. 87 Triumf att finnas till (Triumph of Being Here) for soprano, flute and percussion WCMF Op. 88 Gudarnas spår (Traces of the Gods), suite for alto, baritone and mixed choir WCMF Op. 89 Birds in the Morning for flute and orchestra WCMF Op. 90 Arctica for orchestra WCMF Op. 91 Silence and Eruptions for ensemble Novello Op. 92 Janus for violin and guitar WCMF Op. 93 Tipitaka Suite for baritone and male choir WCMF Op. 94 Piano Concerto Novello Op. 95 In Springtime for tape M/s Op. 96 Mipejupa for ensemble Novello Op. 97 Ananke for orchestra Novello Op. 98 String Quartet Novello Op. 99 Violin Concerto Novello Op. 100 Four Vocalises for mezzo-soprano and male choir WCMF Op. 101 Borealis for 2 pianos and percussion Novello Op. 102 Quo Vadis for cello and piano Novello Op. 103 Lemminkäinen for speaker, mezzo-soprano, baritone and mixed choir WCMF Op. 104 Suite from Cantata Svep for mezzo-soprano, reciter and instrumental ensemble WCMF Op. 105 Loitsuja (Charms) for baritone, reciter and male choir WCMF Op. 106 Lament and Incantation for soprano and cello Novello Op. 107 Bygden, Årstidssånger (The Village) for soloists, reciter, choruses and instrumental ensemble FSSMF Op. 108 Etwas rascher for saxophone quartet Novello Op. 109 Första maj (The First of May) for tenor and male choir WCMF Op. 110 Det sjungande trädet (The Singing Tree), opera Novello Op. 111 Tule armaani (Come Dearest), suite for baritone and male choir WCMF Op. 112 Careliana, suite for six male voices Novello Op. 113 Tutti e soli for chamber orchestra Novello Op. 114 Karanssi for clarinet and cello WCMF Op. 115 Die Blume (The Flower) for mezzo-soprano and percussion WCMF Op. 116 Sub luna for orchestra Novello Op. 117 Mana for chamber ensemble Novello Op. 118 Petrarca-suite for baritone and mixed choir WCMF Op. 119 Omaggio a Cristoforo Colombo for piano WCMF Op. 120 Nein zur Lebensangst for reciter and chamber choir WCMF Op. 121 Tapiolassa (In Tapiola), suite for soloists and children's choir WCMF Op. 122 Poseidon for orchestra WCMF Op. 123 Quint-Essence for saxophone quartet and a percussionist WCMF Op. 124 Attention! for 5 percussionists WCMF Op. 125 Musica marina for string orchestra WCMF Op. 126 Nu (Now) for violin and piano WCMF Op. 127 Den heliga oron (The Holy Agitation) for mezzo-soprano and string quartet WCMF Op. 128 Ögonblicket (The Moment) for soprano and piano WCMF Op. 129 Aggadot for vocal quartet and instrumental ensemble WCMF Op. 130 Una fantasia for string quartet and piano WCMF Op. 131 Onni (Happiness), eight miniatures for baritone and piano WCMF Op. 132 Hommage à Béla Bartók for chamber choir and soloists WCMF Op. 133 Hommage à Paul Sacher for ensemble WCMF Op. 134 Sång och tystnad (Song and Silence), cantata WCMF Op. 135 Preisungen (Praises) for soloists, mixed choir and orchestra WCMF Op. 136 The Maestro and His Orchestra for violin and string orchestra WCMF Op. 137 Cadenza for oboe and orchestra WCMF Op. 138 Musica concertante (String Quartet No. 2) WCMF Op. 139 Yö (Night) for alto flute, countertenor, baritone and male choir WCMF Op. 140 Concerto for Chamber Orchestra WCMF Op. 141 Concerto for Violoncello and String Orchestra WCMF Op. 142 Le Voyage, dance poem WCMF Op. 143 Extase (1999) for guitar WCMF Op. 144 Vision for percussion WCMF Op. 145 Conjuration for mezzo-soprano and alto flute WCMF Op. 146 Vårt land (Our Land) for reciter and mixed choir WCMF Op. 147 Väinämöinen for reciter, mixed choir and 4 vocal soloists WCMF Op. 148 Meditation and Emotion for orchestra WCMF Op. 149a En sång om Bellman for male choir and narrator Op. 149c Hälsning till OD for baritone and male choir Op. 150 Fantasia per tromba ed orchestra

WORKS WITHOUT OPUS NUMBER

Stämningsbild (A Lyrical Picture) for piano (1935) WCMF
(arr.) Den vän jag älskat haver jag nu mist mist (I Have Lost the Friend I Loved) for mixed choir (1936) WCMF
(arr.) Och gossen gick sig ut i morgonstund (And the Lad Went Out at the Break of Day) for mixed choir (1937) WCMF
(arr.) Skärgårdsgossens visa (The Island Lad's Song) for mixed choir (1938) WCMF
En kung i Sachsen (There Was a King in Saxony) for male choir (ca 1938) M/s
(arr.) Jan Hinnerk for male choir (1938) WCMF
Nu är sommarn här (Now Summer Has Come) for mixed choir (1943) WCMF
(arr.) Sankt Staffans visa (St Stephen's Song) for male choir (1944) WCMF
Sommarnatt (Summer Night) for mixed choir (1945) WCMF
(arr.) Ramus virens olivarum for mixed choir (1946) M/s
(arr.) Dansvisa (A Dance Song) for voice and piano (1950) M/s
(arr.) Carl Nielsen: Den milde dag er lys og lang for tenor and male choir (1951) EWH
(arr.) Helan går for male choir (1951) WCMF
(arr.) Svanen (The Swan) for male choir (1955) WCMF
(arr.) Nu drickom for male choir (1955) MM
Punschens visa for male choir (1955) MM
Lamento - Burletta for mixed choir (1957) WCMF
(arr.) Santa Lucia for 4 male voices (1959) M/s
Regn (Rain) for mixed choir (1961) WCMF
Hevonen, hevonen (A Horse, A Horse) for male choir (1963) YL
Klockans ljud (The Sound of the Bell), cantata (1975) WCMF
Fanfare for chamber orchestra (1993) M/s

PUBLISHERS:
WCMF = Warner/Chappell Music Finland (Fennica Gehrman)
NMS = Nordiska Musikförlaget (Gehrmans Musikförlag)
FSSMF = Finlands svenska sång-och musikförbund
EWH = Edition Wilhelm Hansen
YL = Ylioppilaskunnan laulajat (Helsinki University Chorus)
MM = Muntra Musikanter Choir
M/s = Manuscript

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