Bo Linde

Swedish composer and music critic, born January 1, 1933 in Gävle, died October 2, 1970 in Gävle (suicide).

His style resembled that of notable 20th century neoclassical composers like Benjamin Britten and Samuel Barber.

Linde studied music theory with Ingmar Bengtsson before enrolling at the Stockholm Academy of Music in 1948, where he studied composition with Lars-Erik Larsson and piano with Olof Wibergh. In 1953, one year after leaving the academy, he went to Vienna to study conducting 1953-1954 and traveled around Europe before returning to Sweden. His most performed piece is probably his violin concerto.

His first music teachers, while he was still at school, were Eric Bengtsson and May Bökman. He taught the theory of music at the Stockholm Citizens’ School 1957-1960 and subsequently worked mainly in Gävle as a composer, pianist and music reviewer for the Gefle Dagblad Newspaper.

A relaxed, fresh elegance was the leitmotiv of his approach to music, but this is not to say that his moods are invariably carefree. Quiet reflection and melancholy radiate from his mode of expression without ever going to the extreme of dismal gloom. This happiness at coming to terms with the potentialities of the musical craft invests his compositions with the dual character of inspiration and thorough knowledge. He composed in classically conceived forms with moderate thematic development, a conversation in the relationship between dignified melodies and other, more boisterously conceived phrases.

Despite being a quite technically gifted pianist, Bo Linde rapidly abandoned the idea of a solo career. That would merely interfere with his work as a composer. He was a great
admirer of Benjamin Britten.