Wirén was born at Striberg near Nora. His father had a roller blind factory, and there were various musical activities in the family home; he took piano lessons, and was a student at the Karolinska school in Örebro, and played the bass drum and celesta in the town orchestra.[1]
Wirén studied at the Stockholm conservatory from 1926 to 1931, which gave him much exposure to music from all periods; hearing Arthur Honegger's oratorio King David in 1927 was an important experience.[1]
In 1932 he won the state stipend and used the award money to continue his studies in Paris, where he lived from 1931 to 1934. While there, he studied composition under the Russian composer Leonid Sabaneyev, though he admitted later that his endless attendance of concerts, and not his tutoring with Sabaneyev, had the greater impact on his own work. In Paris he met Igor Stravinsky (as well as his compatriot Gösta Nystroem) and was exposed to the music of Stravinsky, Sergei Prokofiev and the French composers of Les Six.[2][3]
In 1934, Wirén moved to Stockholm with his bride, the Irish cellist, Noel Franks, whom he had met in Paris; their daughter, Annika, was born in 1947.[1] In 1937, the couple set up home permanently in Danderyd, just north of Stockholm.[3] As well as composing, Wirén regularly played his main instrument, the piano, on Swedish Radio during the 1930s; he also devoted himself to chamber music in the 1930s and 40s; although he conducted in a recording of his Sinfonietta, he hated conducting.[4] He was music critic at the "Svenska Morgonbladet" from 1938 to 1946, and in 1947 became vice-chairman of the Society of Swedish Composers.[5] From 1948, he spent summers on the island of Björkö, in Stockholm's archipelago. He served as a member of the board of directors of the Royal Swedish Opera from 1962 to 1971. His TV ballet Den elaka drottningen (The Evil Queen) won the 1960 Prix Italia.[1] He also wrote the music for the Swedish entry for the 1965 Eurovision Song Contest, Annorstädes vals (Absent Friend), sung by Ingvar Wixell. He retired from composing in 1970, commenting, "One should stop in time, while one still has time to stop in time."[3]
He died at Danderyd on 19 April 1986.
Music
Wirén's output, which ranges from serious to popular, is notable for its quality rather than quantity, and a number of his works were refused opus numbers or withdrawn.[5] He once commented that his first desire was to entertain and please, and compose listener-friendly "modern" music.[5] He was reluctant to write for the voice (in the 1965 Eurovision Song Contest entry, Alf Henrikson wrote the lyrics after Wirén had composed the music).[3]
Neoclassical pieces from Wirén's early Parisian period, including the Piano Trio (1933) and the Sinfonietta (1933–34), are melodically and rhythmically entertaining.[6]
Upon his return to Sweden, he composed his first two symphonies and his most famous work, the Serenade for Strings (1937); the spirit of this serenade may also be found in the finale of his second symphony (1939).[5] Wirén went on to compose five symphonies, concertos and other orchestral works, including music for the stage and film scores, as well as instrumental and chamber music, including a series of string quartets.
His musical style on return from Paris remained broadly neoclassical; melodic, energetic and with high spirits. Towards the mid-1940s Wirén became more serious in style, perhaps under the influence of Jean Sibelius.[2] Wirén also developed a personal technique, first used in the third string quartet (1941–45), of gradual motivic transformation, avoiding repetition (metamorphosis technique).[6] He pursued this approach in his third symphony (1944), where the first motif in the first movement, based on a step-wise Dorian mode progression, is transformed during the movement and then echoed in the last three movements.[5] Motivic tautness also characterizes the deeply expressive fourth symphony (1952), as well as his rather cooler later works, including the fifth symphony (1964) and fifth string quartet (1970).[6]
Recordings
As conductor Wirén recorded his Sinfonietta in May 1948 for Cupol, reissued on Phono Suecia PSCD 79, 1995.
^ abCnattingius CM. Contemporary Swedish Music. The Swedish Institute, Stockholm, 1973.
^ abcdJacobsson, Stig. Dag Wirén – life and works. CD notes for CPO 999 563-2, 1998.
^Åhlén C. G. Swedish composers conduct their own works 1937-1950. CD notes for Phono Suecia PSCD 79, 1995.
^ abcdeBrandel Å. A Mature Generation: Larsson, Wirén, de Frumerie, Koch. In: Sweden in music. Musikrevy International, Stockholm, 1960.
^ abcHaglund, Rolf. "Wirén, Dag". Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online, Oxford University Press. Retrieved 17 September 2013.(subscription required)
External links
with some information about dates
Broadcast from 1960 of Wirén's Violin Concerto Op. 23 (British Library)
wirén, ivar, wirén, october, 1905, april, 1986, swedish, composer, wirén, circa, 1960, contents, life, music, recordings, references, external, linkslife, editwirén, born, striberg, near, nora, father, roller, blind, factory, there, were, various, musical, act. Dag Ivar Wiren 15 October 1905 19 April 1986 was a Swedish composer Wiren circa 1960 Contents 1 Life 2 Music 3 Recordings 4 References 5 External linksLife EditWiren was born at Striberg near Nora His father had a roller blind factory and there were various musical activities in the family home he took piano lessons and was a student at the Karolinska school in Orebro and played the bass drum and celesta in the town orchestra 1 Wiren studied at the Stockholm conservatory from 1926 to 1931 which gave him much exposure to music from all periods hearing Arthur Honegger s oratorio King David in 1927 was an important experience 1 In 1932 he won the state stipend and used the award money to continue his studies in Paris where he lived from 1931 to 1934 While there he studied composition under the Russian composer Leonid Sabaneyev though he admitted later that his endless attendance of concerts and not his tutoring with Sabaneyev had the greater impact on his own work In Paris he met Igor Stravinsky as well as his compatriot Gosta Nystroem and was exposed to the music of Stravinsky Sergei Prokofiev and the French composers of Les Six 2 3 In 1934 Wiren moved to Stockholm with his bride the Irish cellist Noel Franks whom he had met in Paris their daughter Annika was born in 1947 1 In 1937 the couple set up home permanently in Danderyd just north of Stockholm 3 As well as composing Wiren regularly played his main instrument the piano on Swedish Radio during the 1930s he also devoted himself to chamber music in the 1930s and 40s although he conducted in a recording of his Sinfonietta he hated conducting 4 He was music critic at the Svenska Morgonbladet from 1938 to 1946 and in 1947 became vice chairman of the Society of Swedish Composers 5 From 1948 he spent summers on the island of Bjorko in Stockholm s archipelago He served as a member of the board of directors of the Royal Swedish Opera from 1962 to 1971 His TV ballet Den elaka drottningen The Evil Queen won the 1960 Prix Italia 1 He also wrote the music for the Swedish entry for the 1965 Eurovision Song Contest Annorstades vals Absent Friend sung by Ingvar Wixell He retired from composing in 1970 commenting One should stop in time while one still has time to stop in time 3 He died at Danderyd on 19 April 1986 Music EditWiren s output which ranges from serious to popular is notable for its quality rather than quantity and a number of his works were refused opus numbers or withdrawn 5 He once commented that his first desire was to entertain and please and compose listener friendly modern music 5 He was reluctant to write for the voice in the 1965 Eurovision Song Contest entry Alf Henrikson wrote the lyrics after Wiren had composed the music 3 Neoclassical pieces from Wiren s early Parisian period including the Piano Trio 1933 and the Sinfonietta 1933 34 are melodically and rhythmically entertaining 6 Upon his return to Sweden he composed his first two symphonies and his most famous work the Serenade for Strings 1937 the spirit of this serenade may also be found in the finale of his second symphony 1939 5 Wiren went on to compose five symphonies concertos and other orchestral works including music for the stage and film scores as well as instrumental and chamber music including a series of string quartets His musical style on return from Paris remained broadly neoclassical melodic energetic and with high spirits Towards the mid 1940s Wiren became more serious in style perhaps under the influence of Jean Sibelius 2 Wiren also developed a personal technique first used in the third string quartet 1941 45 of gradual motivic transformation avoiding repetition metamorphosis technique 6 He pursued this approach in his third symphony 1944 where the first motif in the first movement based on a step wise Dorian mode progression is transformed during the movement and then echoed in the last three movements 5 Motivic tautness also characterizes the deeply expressive fourth symphony 1952 as well as his rather cooler later works including the fifth symphony 1964 and fifth string quartet 1970 6 Recordings EditAs conductor Wiren recorded his Sinfonietta in May 1948 for Cupol reissued on Phono Suecia PSCD 79 1995 References Edit a b c d Dag Wiren Foundation website biography a b Cnattingius CM Contemporary Swedish Music The Swedish Institute Stockholm 1973 a b c d Jacobsson Stig Dag Wiren life and works CD notes for CPO 999 563 2 1998 Ahlen C G Swedish composers conduct their own works 1937 1950 CD notes for Phono Suecia PSCD 79 1995 a b c d e Brandel A A Mature Generation Larsson Wiren de Frumerie Koch In Sweden in music Musikrevy International Stockholm 1960 a b c Haglund Rolf Wiren Dag Grove Music Online Oxford Music Online Oxford University Press Retrieved 17 September 2013 subscription required External links EditA list of Wiren autographs with some information about dates Broadcast from 1960 of Wiren s Violin Concerto Op 23 British Library Dag Wiren at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dag Wiren amp oldid 1119673811, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
