Johnson, Bengt-Emil

views updated

Johnson, Bengt-Emil

Johnson, Bengt-Emil, Swedish composer and poet; b. Ludvika, Dec. 12, 1936. He studied piano and composition with Knut Wiggen (1956-62), at the same time pursuing his abiding interest in modernistic poetry. In 1966 he joined the staff of the Swedish Radio in Stockholm, where he later was named director of the music dept. (1979) and program director (1984). He publ. 14 collections of poetry (1963-86). Many of his compositions take the form of text-sound scores.

Works

Disappearances for Piano and Tape (1974); Alpha for Chorus (1975); Escaping (Memories 1961-1977) for 5 or More Performers (Swedish Radio, April 6, 1978); Night Chants I, radio piece (Swedish Radio, Aug. 19, 1981) and II for Voice and Tape (1985); Döden sopran, radio opera (Swedish Radio, Sept. 7, 1986); various text-sound scores.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

About this article

Johnson, Bengt-Emil

Updated About encyclopedia.com content Print Article