Brännpunkter, blomstringstid

Kring konstmusiken under 1950-talet

Abstract

The study treats the development of Swedish art music during the 1950’s. The title - Focus points, heyday - alludes partly to the then prevalent optimism but also to the tensions between tradition and renewal, one of the reasons for which lies in the fact that the
majority of Swedish composers of the older as well as the younger generations reached the climax of their creative achievement during the 50’s. The new music to a large extent makes its break-through at this time. After a discussion of the conditions and objectives of modern research - some have named the need to ”create sources” - the study is given the form of a sketch or outline
of future research. Eleven areas are named and deployed: 1. Structures (instrumental, vocal, electronic). 2. External impulses. 3. Impulses from the domestic tradition and cultural environment. 4. Jazz, folk music and the composers. 5. The message. 6. Interpreters and enthusiasts. 7. The new tonal language and musical life in Sweden. 8. Pedagogical currents. 9. Sociological aspects. 10. Publications, the language. ll. The commonwealth of the arts. Of these, four are selected for closer description and proposals. They are Structures (where not least the role of twelve-tone technique is treated as it its relation to the Darmstadt School). The message (where the presentation partly concerns the composers’ choice of subject and texts for vocal works and musical drama, and partly which statments are conceivable in purely instrumental works). Interpreters and enthusiasts; the new concert series and finally Publications, the language (a survey of the most important literature in the Swedish language on the new music and a classification of new subject areas and changes in attitude, literary style etc.).