Nordqvist, Gustaf (Lazarus)

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Nordqvist, Gustaf (Lazarus)

Nordqvist, Gustaf (Lazarus), Swedish organist, teacher, and composer; b. Stockholm, Feb. 12, 1886; d. there, Jan. 28, 1949. He studied organ (diploma, 1903), piano (with Lundberg), and composition (with Ellberg) at the Stockholm Cons. (1901–10) before completing his training with Willner in Berlin (1913–14). Returning to Stockholm, he served as organist of the Adolf Fredrik Church (1914–49), as a teacher (1925–44) and a prof. (1944–49) of harmony at the Cons., and as a teacher of organ at Wohlfart’s music school (1926–49). In 1932 he was made a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in Stockholm. He composed some chamber music, piano pieces, organ music, and choral works, but it was as a composer of art songs that he established his reputation in Sweden.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire