Sven Einar Englund

Sven Einar Englund (June 17, 1916–June 27, 1999) was a Finnish composer.

Life
Englund was born in Ljugam, and studied with Bengt Carlson at the Sibelius Academy. On a recommendation from Sibelius, possibly on the basis of his piano quintet ([1]) he continued his studies with Aaron Copland at Tanglewood. He fought in World War II, an experience which inspired at least some of his earlier works. He died in 1999, also in Ljugam.

He gained tumultous acclaim for his first two symphonies, but his fame was soon to be eclipsed by that of Sibelius, and he has still remained a somewhat neglected composer, in spite of the quality of his music.

Music
Englund's music can be called neo-classical, while maintaing the nationalism so prevalent in Sibelius' music. Harmonies tend to be fresh, giving it a Nordic flavour. He also highly respected composers like Igor Stravinsky and Dmitri Shostakovich, dedicating his Symphony No. 4 (Nostalgic) in memory of the latter.

Works

Ballets
Sinuhe
Odysseus (after Homer)

Orchestral
Symphonies
Symphony No. 1 The War Symphony (1946)
Symphony No. 2 Blackbird (1948)
Symphony No. 3 Barbarossa (1971)
Symphony No. 4 Nostalgic, for strings and percussion (1976)
Symphony No. 5 Fennica (1977)
Symphony No. 6 Aphorisms (1984)
Symphony No. 7 (1988)

Concertante
Piano Concerto No. 1
Piano Concerto No. 2
Violin Concerto
Cello Concerto
Flute Concerto
Clarinet Concerto

Chamber/Instrumental
Piano Quintet (1941)
String Quartet (1985, fp 1986)
Wind Quintet

Incidental music
The Great Wall of China

Film music
The White Reindeer