Composer
Exchanging Culture
Bengt Hambraeus, born Stockholm,
Sweden, 1928, graduated M.A., 1950, and Ph.D., 1956, from Uppsala University
where his concentration centred on Musicology, History and Psychology of
Religion, and the History and Theory of Fine Arts. He studied the organ
with Alf Linder; he also studied Composition with Günter Raphael;
in Germany, he studied with Wolfgang Fortner, Olivier Messiaen and Ernst
Krenek, 1951-54. Since 1948, Dr. Hambraeus has been active both as writer
and composer and, as a young musician, became internationally recognized
in both disciplines. Working for National Swedish Broadcasting Corporation,
1957-72, Dr. Hambraeus introduced foreign cultures and experimental Western
Music for the first time to a Swedish audience. However, it was not until
1971 that Bengt Hambraeus discovered Canada. Selected by the Swedish Music
Information Centre to give an eight-week North American lecture tour offering
Swedish contemporary music, Dr. Hambraeus was made an offer, following
the tour de force lecture circuit, by McGill University, 1972, to teach
at the Faculty of Music as a Professor. Upon retirement, 1995, Dr. Hambraeus
was made Emeritus Professor. His commitment to Swedish and Canadian cultures,
including ethnical, aboriginal, and transcultural internationalism, are
well known. He was awarded, 1986, Sweden’s highest honour, the Royal Medal
“Litteris et Artibus’’ presented by the Swedish Ambassador on behalf of
the King of Sweden. In 1996 he received the rare award, The Swedish Tribute,
from the Swedish Embassy in Ottawa, for his contribution to cultural exchange
between Sweden and Canada. Many of his latter compositions such as Nocturnals
(1990), Piano Concerto (1992), and the Horn Concerto (1997) were created
with strong inspiration from both the Glengarry County landscape, eastern
Ontario, and the heritage and integrity of native peoples in different
worlds. [Photo by Michael B. Hambraeus (the late), courtesy Dr. Bengt Hambraeus]