Koch, (Sigurd Christian) Erland von

Koch, (Sigurd Christian) Erland von, Swedish composer, son of (Richert) Sigurd (Valdemar) von Koch; b. Stockholm, April 26, 1910. He studied music with his father, then at the Stockholm Cons. (1931–35). He went to Germany, where he studied composition with Paul Höffer and conducting with Clemens Krauss and Gmeindl (1936–38), and also had piano lessons with Arrau. He subsequently taught at Wohlfart’s Music School in Stockholm (1939–53), and also was a sound technician with the Swedish Radio (1943–45). In 1953 he joined the faculty of the Stockholm Musikhögskolan, becoming a prof, in 1968. In 1957 he became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in Stockholm.

Works

dramatic: Children’s Opera: Pelle svanslös (Tailless Peter; 1948; Göteborg, Jan. 7, 1949; rev. 1966). Ballet: Askungen (Cinderella; 1942; also an orch. suite); Samson and Delila (1963; orch. suite, 1964; rev. 1972). incidental Music: For the radio play Bjälbojarlen, after Strindberg (Swedish Radio, Jan. 25, 1968). orch.:Little Suite for Chamber or String Orch. (1933); 3 piano concertos: No. 1 (1936), No. 2 (1962), and No. 3 for Wind Orch. (1970; for Full Orch., 1972); 2 violin concertos (1937; 1979-80); 6 syms.: No. 1 (1938), No. 2, Sinfonia Dalecarlia (1944), No. 3 (1948), No. 4, Sinfonia seria (1952-53; rev. 1962), No. 5, Lapponia (1976-77; Stockholm, Oct. 30, 1977), and No. 6, Salvare la terra (1991–92); Nordic Capriccio (1943); Rural Suite for Strings (1945); Viola Concerto (1945; rev. 1966); Sinfonietta (1949); Triptychon for Violin and Orch. (1949); Arkipelag (1950); Musica intima for Strings (1950; rev. 1965); Cello Concerto (1951); Musica malinconica for Strings (1952); Concert Music (1955); Concerto for Small Orch. (1955); the Oxberg trilogy: Oxberg Variations (1956), Lapland Metamorphoses (1957), and Dance- Rhapsody (1957); Concerto for Saxophone and Strings (1958); Concerto lirico for Strings (1959; rev. of 4^th String Quartet); Concerto piccolo for Soprano and Alto Saxophones and Strings (1962); Fantasia concertante for Violin and Orch. (1964); the Impulsi trilogy: Impulsi (1964), Echi (1965), and Ritmi (1966); Arioso e Furioso for Strings (1967); Polska svedese (1968); Musica concertante for 8 Winds, Strings, and Percussion (1969); Double Concerto for Flute, Clarinet, and Strings (1971); A Swede in New York (1973); Concerto for Oboe and Strings (1978); Tuba Concerto (1978); 4 Symphonic Myths (Stockholm, Oct. 9, 1982); Guitar Concerto (Göteborg, Feb. 3, 1983); Svenska danser 1-6 (1982–83); Trombonia for Trombone and Strings (1983); Romanza for Violin and Orch. (1984); Serenade for Double Bass and Strings (1985); Midvinterblot-Sommarsolstând, 2 Nordic frescoes (1986–87); Presto for Violin and Strings (1990); Whirl Dance (1991); Dalarondo (1993); Lamentoso (1994); Flute Concerto (1998); Rondinato (1998). chamber: 7 string quartets: No. 1 (1934), No. 2 (1944), No. 3, Musica intima (1950), No. 4 (1956; rev. 1959), No. 5 (1961), No. 6, Serenata espressiva (1963), and No. 7, Arstidspas-toraler (1997); Larghetto for Cello or Viola and Piano (1937; rev. 1965); Berceuse for Violin and Piano (1953); Sonatina semplice for Violin and Piano (1960); Varianti virtuosi II for Violin and Piano (1968); Quattro tempi for Wind Quintet (1968); Miniatures for Saxophone Quartet (1970); Canto e danza for Flute and Guitar (1975); Karaktarer for Violin and Piano (1980: Auda for Brass Quintet (1981); Polysaxo for Saxophone Ensemble (1981); Tubania for Tuba and Piano (1983); Alto Saxophone Sonata (1985); Fantasia melodica for Guitar and Wind Quintet (1986–89); Capricietto for Flute and Piano (1992); Suonata per tre for Piano Trio (1993); piano pieces; organ music. vocal:Midsommardalen for Baritone, Chorus, and Orch. (1960–61); Sängarkvall for Baritone, Men’s Chorus, and Wind Orch. (1972); Te Deum for Chorus and Orch. or Organ (1994–95); songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire