Pehr Henrik Nordgren


Pehr Henrik Nordgren was a Finnish composer.

Life

Pehr Henrik Nordgren was born in Saltvik, Åland Islands. received composition lessons starting from 1958 in Helsinki and studied musicology at the university from 1962 to 1967, as well as receiving private tuition from Joonas Kokkonen from 1965 to 1969. At the Tokyo University of the Arts, he supplemented his composition studies from 1970 to 1973 with Yoshio Hasegawa and became acquainted with traditional Japanese music, which soon became an influence in his works.
In 1973, he married Shinobu Suzuki in Tokyo, and returned to Finland where he established himself in Kaustinen, a small place in Ostrobothnia, as a freelance composer. Kaustinen is the center of folk music in Finland; folk music festivals take place all summer long with travellers coming from around the world. Thus Nordgren concerned himself now with the music of his country. On the other hand, he intensively began co-operation with the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra and its leader Juha Kangas, which led to an abundance of orchestral works.
Nordgren's style stems from the twelve tone technique, as well as the use of tone clusters by György Ligeti, while also utilising many other elements of contemporary composition instead of following any single designated tradition. Nordgren's music also features elements of traditional Japanese music, sometimes combining elements and instruments of Japanese music with those of Finnish folk music, particularly the kantele. Central to Nordgren's œuvre are works for strings, whether in concertos, pieces for string orchestra, string quartets or sonatas.
He died in Veteli, aged 64.

Works

Opera

  1. Miminashi-Hōichi, Op. 17
  2. Mugen-kane, Op. 28
  3. Mujina, Op. 30
  4. O-tei, Op. 29
  5. Oshidori, Op. 25
  6. Rokuro-kubi, Op. 32
  7. Yuki-onna, Op. 31
  8. Akinosuke-no-yume, Op. 35
  9. Jyūroku-zakura, Op. 36
  10. Jikininki, Op. 37