Symphony No. 13 was commissioned by the Bergen International Festival for its 25th anniversary, though Pettersson had already begun work on it.
Composer Biography
Allan Pettersson (1911-80) was deeply committed to the symphony genre, composing symphonies throughout his active career from 1953 until his death in 1980.
Composer Biography
Allan Pettersson suffered from chronic rheumatoid arthritis, which worsened in the 1960s, causing him pain and making composition more laborious.
Historical Context
In 1964, Allan Pettersson was among the first recipients of a Swedish government scheme guaranteeing artists a lifelong minimum income.
Compositional Technique
A characteristic feature of Allan Pettersson's musical language is the great contrasts it accommodates, often moving between radical, atonal, and traditional, tonal idioms within the same work.
Critical Reception
Allan Pettersson's Symphony No. 13 was described as 'a new major work - but inaccessible' after its premiere, being considered possibly the least approachable work in his entire output.
Compositional Technique
Allan Pettersson's Symphony No. 13 contains allusions to other composers, such as the rhythm from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and the musical cryptogram D-S-C-H representing Shostakovich's name.
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