Biography of John Fernström (1897-1961)

John Fernström conducting
Photography kindly provided by Christer Fernström
Self portrait of composer Fernström
With kind allowance of Christer Fernström
John Fernström (self portrait)
With kind allowance of Christer Fernström
Smoking John Fernström
Photography kindly provided by Christer Fernström
1897
Born in Ichang (China) son of a missionary
1907
Return to Sweden
1913
Student of Malmö conservatory, violin lessons from Carl Nordberger
1916
Violinist of the Helsingborg symphony orchestra (for 23 years)
1918
His older brother, who had supported him financially, dies of the Spanish flu. The loss makes Fernström compose
1923
Studies composition with Peder Gram in Copenhagen
1930
Studies composition and conducting in Sondershausen
1932
Head of the students concerts of his orchestra
1939
Conductor of Malmö broadcasting orchestras (until 1941)
1943
Woodwind Quintet op. 56
1950
Founder of the Nordic Youth Orchestra
1953
Member of Swedish Academy
Studies painting in Paris
19.10.1961
Dies

Sheet music for flute:

Blåskvintett op. 59 (F-Dur)
CD-Aufnahmen bei jpc.deMP3-Download bei amazon.de
(flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn)
Svensk Musik
Rating: mid-grade
  1. Allegro molto
  2. Adagio
  3. Scherzo - Allegro molto
  4. Final - Rondo: Vivace
Very melodic, the many changes of metrum are easy to play, because you have always to count quarter notes. Technically not that difficult, only the french horn has to play some high notes. It is modern music but it is nevertheless singing. All of us five decided, this is something we wanna work on.

CDs with/from John Fernström

John Fernström (1999)
Symfoni No. 6 - Concertino op. 52 - Den Kapriciöse Trubaduren
jpc
Musica Sveciae
    Symphony No. 6 (1938):
  1. I (13:19:00)
  2. II (15:26:00)
  3. III Scherzo (07:47:00)
  4. IV Finale (11:18:00)
  5. Concertino for Flute with Small Orchestra and Womens Choir Op. 52 (1941) (10:10:00)
  6. The Capricious Troubadour - Serenade in Four Movements Op. 21 (1931) (14:10:00)
Oslo Wind Ensemble
Scandinavian Wind Quintets (1993)
jpc
Naxos
    John Fernström: Wind Quintet Op. 59:
  1. Allegro molto (05:11:00)
  2. Adagio (05:37:00)
  3. Scherzo (02:49:00)
  4. Finale - Rondo Vivace (04:28:00)
    5. Johan Kvandal: Wind Quintet Op. 34:
  5. Preludium Largo (04:53:00)
  6. Presto (03:35:00)
  7. Adagio ma non troppo (04:24:00)
  8. Allegro assai (05:05:00)
    9. Johan Kvandal: Three Hymn Tunes Op. 23b:
  9. Vor Gud er tro i liv og dod - Con moto (02:12:00)
  10. Lover nu Herren - Maestoso (02:05:00)
  11. Det koster mer end man først betenker - Langsomt - poco lento (02:22:00)
    12. Carl Nielsen: Wind Quintet Op. 43:
  12. Allegro ben moderato (09:02:00)
  13. Menuett (04:55:00)
  14. Præludium - Adagio (02:00:00)
  15. Tema con variazioni (10:45:00)
Außer dem Nielsen-Quintett sind die anderen Werke hierzulande weitgehend unbekannt. Ich habe das Quintett von Kvandal lieben gelernt. Es hat einen fast symphonischen Klang, vergleichbar mit Werken der Böhmen Pilss oder Foerster, dabei aber eine etwas finsterere, weniger optimistische Grundfärbung. Die relativ günstigen Naxos-Ausgaben nutze ich schon mal gerne, um neue Literatur kennenzulernen.
Last edit 07.01.2021