Söderman, (Johan) August

views updated

Söderman, (Johan) August

Söderman, (Johan) August, Swedish composer; b. Stockholm, July 17, 1832; d. there, Feb. 10, 1876. He studied piano and composition at the Stockholm Cons. (1847–50), then joined Stjernstrom’s theater company as director of music and toured with it in Sweden and Finland. Following further studies with E.F. Richter in Leipzig (1856–57), he resumed his post with the Stjernstrom company; later was chorusmaster and deputy director at Stockholm’s Royal Theater. He was particularly influenced by the lyric works of Schumann, Wagner, and Liszt, an influence that is combined with Swedish national elements in his theater music. Among his works were the operettas Urdur, eller Neckens dotter Zigenarhofdingen Zohrab (Zohrab, the Gypsy Chief; Helsinki, 1852) and Hin Ondes första lärospan (The Devil’s First Lesson; Stockholm, Sept. 14, 1856); also incidental music to some 80 plays, orch. pieces, choral works, chamber music, and many ballads and songs.

Bibliography

G. Jeanson, A. S.: En svensk tondiktares liv och verk (Stockholm, 1926; includes a complete list of works).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire