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Allan Pettersson

Gustav Allan Pettersson (September 19 1911June 201980) was a Swedish composer born in Uppland. He composed 17 symphonies, of which the first and last may not be in performing condition, as well as some other orchestral works (concerti mainly) and some chamber and vocal works, including his Vox Humana and the Barefoot Songs. He contracted arthritis in his fifties around the time of his fifth symphony. His greatest success came a few years later with his seventh symphony (which has also received more recordings than his other works.)

He landed in the hospital in 1970 for much of a year soon after the composition of his ninth and longest symphony, writing the tenth in his sickbed.

His music is tonal, but very strenuous and often has many polyphonic lines going on at once, with occasional quiet oases common in his later works. Most of his music has now been recorded at least once and much of it is now available in published score.

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