Simon Söfelde
Simon Söfelde (born 23 November 1988 in Gothenburg) is a Swedish composer.[1][2][3] and musician,[4] active in both art music[5] and popular music genres.
Biography
[edit]
Söfelde pursued his studies in composition at the Gotland School of Music Composition and the Malmö Academy of Music,[6] where he was mentored by composers such as Luca Francesconi, Bent Sørensen, Rolf Martinsson, and Hans Gefors. He furthered his education at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, studying under Detlev Müller-Siemens.
Career
[edit]Söfelde's compositional work includes a diverse range of genres, from chamber music to film scores. His compositions have been performed internationally by orchestras and ensembles such as the Brussels Philharmonic,[7] the Malmö Symphony Orchestra,[8] Ensemble mise-en (US), CHROMA (UK), the Béla Quartet (FR), the Kreutzer Quartet[9] and the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra.[10] Additionally, he has an substantial background as an arranger,[11] producer, and musical director, collaborating with artists like Albin Lee Meldau,[12][13] Arvid Nero,[14] and Elin Ruth Sigvardsson
As a performer he has appeared on international stages, including Tiny Desk,[15] SXSW,[16] Bonnaroo Music and Arts, Brooklyn Steel, the O2 Arena, Dreamland (UK), the Reeperbahn Festival, the Roskilde Festival and Funkhaus Berlin. In Sweden he has performed at some of the countrys biggest venues such as Gröna Lund, Liseberg,[17] Tele2 Arena, Scandinavium and Peace and Love. He has also appeared multiple times on television and radio, including Nyhetsmorgon, Inas Nacht with Ina Müller, and BBC2
Selected works
[edit]Orchestral works
[edit]- Minnenas Skeende (2019) for symphony orchestra[8]
- Åtta gester (Eight Gestures) (2018) for wind orchestra
- Fugato (2015) for symphony orchestra (revised in 2017, 2019, 2020)
- Six Movements for Orchestra (2014) for symphony orchestra
- Slitningar (2014) for string orchestra
- Overture (2012) for symphony orchestra
- Wind Orchestra Piece (2009)
Chamber music
[edit]- Gycklarmusik 17 (Passacaglia) (2022) for violin and piano
- Gycklarmusik 15 (Joker Music) (2021) for viola da gamba
- Fanfar (2018) for ensemble
- Gycklarmusik 16 (Joker Music) (2018) for string quartet
- Correspondences (2018)[18] for string quartet and piano
- Lika (2018) for guitar and accordion
- Gycklarmusik 11–14 (Joker Music) (2017) for flute
- Gycklarmusik 10 (Joker Music) (2018) for guitar
- Gycklarmusik 5–9 (Joker Music) (2015) for flute, clarinet, harp, vibraphone, and piano
- Gycklarmusik 1–4 (Joker Music) (2014) for solo violin
- Slitningar (2014) for string quartet or string orchestra
- Vändpunkter (Turning Points) (2014) for ensemble, inspired by Robert Azar's poem with the same name
- Trio for Bassoon, Violin and Piano (2012)
- Trio for Clarinet in Bb, Violoncello and Piano (2012)
- Kreutzer Variations (2011) for string quartet
Instrumental works
[edit]- Morendo (2015) for piano[19]
- Fantasia for Flute (2011) for solo flute
- Piece for Guitar (2010)
- Piano Suite (2010)
Vocal music
[edit]- Madrigalerna (Madrigals) (2025) for lyric soprano and piano, text by Karl Appelgren[20]
- Transatlantic Poems (2020) for 2 sopranos and mezzo a cappella
- Appelgrensånger (2014) for soprano, clarinet, trombone, violin, and piano, text by Karl Appelgren
- Staden (2012) for mixed choir
- Missa Brevis for mixed choir a cappella
- Schlussstück for soprano and chamber ensemble, text by R.M. Rilke
Other works
[edit]- Tillvaron (2014), chamber opera
- Triple Concerto (2012) for harpsichord, piano, Hammond organ, and electronics[21]
- Calm (2014) (EAM)
- Fly or Die Trying (2013) (EAM)
- Reflections on Reflections in Water (2011) (EAM and live electronics)
Film music
[edit]- Bang Bang (2023) (dir. Vincent Grashaw)
- After Work (2023)
- Rymdskrot (Miss Julie) (2013)
Selected discography
[edit]
As arranger and producer
[edit]- Tilde – Anywhere but Here (2025), Vacanze Records
- Arvid Nero – Just Idag Är Jag Stark (2025), Mayfly Recordings
- Albin Lee Meldau – Hommage på svenska[22] (2023), Universal / Mayfly Recordings
- Orchestral Awakenings (2023), Catapult Music/BMG
- Albin Lee Meldau – På svenska (2020), Sony Music Entertainment Sweden AB
- Albin Lee Meldau – Merry Little Christmas EP (2019), Sony Music Entertainment Sweden AB
- The Magnolia – First Time (2015), SwingKids
As musician
[edit]
- Tilde – Pink Moon (2021), Vacanze Records
- Albin Lee Meldau – På svenska (In Swedish) (2020), Sony Music Entertainment Sweden AB
- Tilde – Call My Name (2020), Vacanze Records
- The Beautiful Swedes – Applications (2020),[23] independent
- Albin Lee Meldau – About You (2019), Sony Music
- Tilde – Nothing Gold Can Stay (2018), Vacanze Records
- Various Artists – Så mycket bättre – Tolkningarna (2018), Sony Music Entertainment
- Various Artists – Christmas Rules Vol. 2 (2017), Capitol Records
- Albin Lee Meldau – Bloodshot – EP (2017), Sony Music Entertainment Sweden AB
- Ivanna – Leaving Town (2017),[24][25] Bakery Allstars Recordings
- Albin Lee Meldau – Lovers – EP (2017), Sony Music Entertainment Sweden AB
- Ivanna – The Broadway Show (2016), Bakery Allstars Recordings
Awards and recognitions
[edit]- First Prize, Fidelio Piano Composition Competition (2023)
- Third Prize, She Lives Budapest Prize International Composition Competition (2023)[19]
- STIM Grant Recipient (2018, 2021)[26]
- Runner-up International Acoustic Music Awards (Alternative)[27]
References
[edit]- ^ "Simon Söfelde | Föreningen Svenska Tonsättare". fst.se.
- ^ "Simon Söfelde drömmer om att skriva en opera". Sydsvenskan. 6 November 2019.
- ^ "Magasinet renomme v13 by JMG, Goteborg university". 15 February 2017 – via Issuu., see page 10.
- ^ "Beautiful Swedes vill tjusa världen | Mitt i Göteborg"., "In company. Kalle Stenbäcken and Simon Söfelde (here flanking Albin Lee Meldau) play together in numerous contexts."
- ^ "Simon SÖFELDE". ulysses-network.eu. "With music performed in countries like England, Austria, Germany, Iceland, Faroe Islands, China, USA, Kurdistan and of course Sweden, Simon can proudly present himself as an international composer and musician."
- ^ "Simon Söfelde uttagen till stor festival i New York | Musikhögskolan". mhm.lu.se. 12 February 2025.
- ^ "['tactus] | Forum for young composers with open rehearsals". Flagey. 25 September 2017.
- ^ a b "En världspremiär med déjà vu-känslor | Malmö Live". malmolive.se.
- ^ "| Peter Sheppard Skærved | name Malmö project-update November 2011 |"."This marks the final workshop before the quartet arrive with me in November for CONNECT Festival 2011. Today I workshoppped developing and sketch works by David Riebe, Simon Söfelde..."
- ^ "Nyskapat av kompositionsstudenter". Mynewsdesk. 12 May 2015., "Simon Söfelde was born in 1988 in Gothenburg and has, in addition to studying at the Malmö Academy of Music, studied composition at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna and at Gotland School of Composers. His music has been performed both in Sweden and internationally. In Fugato, he has, in his own words, 'sought to find new or “unusual" connections between completely ordinary fundamental musical properties, such as pauses, motifs, and timbre.'"
- ^ Lindqvist, Anton (8 April 2024). "Albin Lee Meldau tokhyllas – efter känslostarka tolkningen av ABBA: "Rös i hela kroppen""., "– The Winner Takes It All. A big thank you to SVT for a magical evening, Simon Söfelde who arranged the music, and of course, ABBA! Thank you for the music!!!" writes Albin Lee Meldau after the concert on Instagram."
- ^ "Albin Lee Meldau". Stora Teatern. 21 October 2019."Together with a band consisting of Kalle Stenbäcken (piano), Simon Söfelde (guitar), and Samuel Runsteen (strings and bass), Albin Lee Meldau will brighten up the December darkness and offer this year’s warmest and most atmospheric Christmas coziness."
- ^ "Albin Lee Meldau för den svenska vistraditionen vidare med slösande karisma". Dagens Nyheter. 3 November 2023.
- ^ "Arvid Nero tolkar Kenta Gustafssons klassiker". 26 January 2025."These two singles have been created by Arvid in collaboration with the producer and musician Simon Söfelde, who has also arranged and mixed the songs."
- ^ https://www.npr.org/2017/07/20/538090328/albin-lee-meldau-tiny-desk-concert, "Musicians Albin Lee Meldau (vocals, guitar); Kalle Stenbäcken (keys, drums); Simon Andermo (bass, auxiliary percussion); Simon Söfelde (drums)"<
- ^ Andersson, Jan (24 March 2017). "De slutade tjöta och bara lyssnade". Göteborgs-Posten., "...'Simon Söfelde in the band. They soaked up every second. Afterwards, they jumped to their feet and looked like they wanted to applaud all night. 'So he's from Sweden...?' one of them asked. 'Yep!' I replied a bit casually, Texas-style. 'From Gothenburg!"
- ^ Martin, Kai (8 June 2019). "Soulfylld Albin Lee"., "On stage, he has his childhood companion, Kalle Stenbäcken, on keyboards, friends Arvid Nero and Simon Söfelde on guitars, along with the rhythm section Gibril Cham (drums) and Simon Andermo (bass)."
- ^ Åberg, Per A. F. (9 July 2018). "Energi och finess på helgjuten festival". unt.se., "It is pleasing to note that the sixth edition maintains the style and can well measure up to previous years (on Saturday, I was unable to attend due to another review assignment, and therefore, unfortunately, could not hear Simon Söfelde's 'World Premiere for Piano Quartet')."
- ^ a b "She Lives Budapest Prize – She Lives". shelivesmusic.it., "3rd PRIZE Simon Söfelde – SWEDEN "Morendo" We congratulate with the winners and we thank all the composers who entered the competition!"
- ^ "Lördagsmusik: Madrigalerna". svenskakyrkan.se., "World premiere of parts of the song cycle Madrigalerna, where the composer Simon Söfelde has set Karl Appelgren's mythological poetic work to music. The madrigal, which has its origins in 14th-century Italy, is based on a strong connection to the mother tongue – here Swedish. The music reflects the themes of the poem, such as family, journey, seasons, and love, and unites the mythological with the everyday life."
- ^ "Att ta ton är hans melodi – Lundagard.se". lundagard.se.
- ^ https://www.norran.se/kultur/recension/artikel/ingela-lekfalk-vackelsemote-nar-visan-kom-till-stan-/jv4kkdpj, "Musicians: Simon Söfelde, band leader and guitar."
- ^ "The Beautiful Swedes – Applications". NÖJESGUIDEN.
- ^ "Swedish Alt/Pop: IVANNA – Leaving Town (Bakery Allstars Recordings: 4 January 2017)". 25 January 2017.,"IVANNA is fronted by Ludvig Sersam who composed and produced the album, followed by his two brothers Jonatan (piano, harmonicas) and Valdemar Sersam (drums) and also Johan Dahlbom from the synth pop band Alice in Videoland and Simon Söfelde (guitars)."
- ^ Shapiro, Eileen (16 January 2017). "Interview: Ivanna".
- ^ "Stipendiater 2021". Stim., Swedish Performing Rights Society: "Here is the list of all recipients of the Stim Scholarship 2021:"
- ^ "Rod Abernethy Wins Top Honors in 17th Annual Acoustic Music Awards"., "AAA/ALTERNATIVE FIRST PRIZE: “Bed of Waves” by Marco Perfetti RUNNER-UP: “Lighthouse” by Simon Söfelde"