Karin Rehnqvist facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Karin Rehnqvist
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Gannevik Talks, 2015
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| Background information | |
| Born | 21 August 1957 Stockholm, Sweden |
| Genres | Classical |
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Karin Rehnqvist, born on August 21, 1957, is a talented Swedish composer and conductor. She writes many kinds of music, including pieces for orchestras and stage shows. She especially loves creating vocal music, often using sounds from traditional Swedish folk music, like a special singing style called Kulning. In 2009, she made history by becoming the first female professor of composition at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm.
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Karin Rehnqvist's Musical Journey
Karin Rehnqvist was born in Stockholm and grew up in a town called Nybro. She started her music studies at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm in 1976. She first learned about music teaching, and then focused on composition until 1984. During this time, she learned from famous composers like Brian Ferneyhough.
From 1976 to 1991, Karin was the artistic director and conductor for a choir named Stans Kör. This means she was in charge of how the choir sounded and led their performances.
Composing for Orchestras
Between 2000 and 2003, Karin was a "Composer in Residence" for two orchestras: the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Svenska Kammarorkestern. Being a Composer in Residence means she worked closely with these orchestras to create new music just for them.
For these orchestras, she wrote several important pieces. One was a concerto, which is a musical piece for a solo instrument and orchestra, featuring the talented clarinettist Martin Fröst. Another big work was Arktis Arktis!, a symphonic piece inspired by a trip to the Arctic in 1999. These two pieces were recorded in 2005.
In 2004, her choral symphony Light of Light was performed for the first time in Paris. A choral symphony is a large musical work for both a choir and an orchestra. This particular piece even included a children's choir!
A Historic Professor Appointment
In 2006, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra held a special event to celebrate Karin's music. This showed how important her work was in the music world. Then, in 2009, she achieved a major milestone: she became the first woman ever to be appointed a professor of composition at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. This was a big step forward for women in classical music.
Exploring Karin Rehnqvist's Compositions
Karin Rehnqvist is known for her unique way of blending classical music with traditional Swedish folk sounds. Many of her pieces were written for singers like Lena Willemark and Susanne Rosenberg, who are both folk singers.
The Sound of Kulning
One special technique Karin uses in her music is called kulning. This is a very old, high-pitched vocal style that shepherds in Scandinavia used to communicate across long distances. They would use it to call their livestock down from the mountains or even to scare away predators.
Karin's piece Puksånger & lockrop (which means "Timpanum Songs – Herding Calls") is a great example of her use of kulning. This piece is for two singers and percussion instruments. The kulning sounds start the piece and create a special atmosphere. Later in the piece, the kulning comes back, almost like a strong protest against old sayings about women.
The Sun Song
In 1994, Karin composed Solsången (Sun Song). This piece is for a chamber orchestra, one female solo singer, and two narrators. The words for the song are partly based on an old Icelandic poem from around the year 1200 called Sólarljóð (The Song of the Sun). This poem has a traditional style but also includes ideas from Christian visionary poems.
Awards and Recognition
Karin Rehnqvist has received many awards for her amazing contributions to music.
- In 1996, she won the Läkerol Arts Award for how she brought together folk music and classical music. She also received the Spelmannen Prize from the newspaper Expressen.
- In 1997, her piece Solsången (Sun Song) earned her the Christ Johnson Prize.
- She received the Kurt Atterberg Prize in 2001 and the Rosenberg Award in 2005/06.
- In 2007, she was honored with the Hugo Alfvén Prize.
- In 2014, Karin won a Grammis (a Swedish music award, similar to a Grammy) in the Classical category for her CD titled Live.
The Nordic Council Music Prize
In 2022, Karin Rehnqvist was awarded the prestigious Nordic Council Music Prize. This award was given for her oratorio Silent Earth. An oratorio is a large musical work for voices and orchestra, usually telling a story. Silent Earth focuses on the ecological crisis, which means it's about the problems facing our planet's environment.
This important work was first performed on January 29, 2022, at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. It was performed by the Dutch Radio Choir and the Dutch Radio Philharmonic Orchestra.
