Composer Allan Petterson from Sweden who uplift you with depression

One of Swedens most prolific and great classical music composers, in the 20th century, is Allan Petterson. Very dramatic, heavy music, almost depressing compositions sometimes. So tough it make you happy listening to them.

I remember visiting a friend who was an opera singer, in downtown Stockholm, Sweden. Close to Clara Kyrka (Clara Church). He was playing an LP record, back in 1995-ish. We talked about art and other opera singers. And I remember telling him: ”But you have to press them to pay the invoice. You were there and sang the opera songs at the Church concert, and did your part. And you havent got payed for three months. Outrageous. Call them up and put you feet down. Send them a reminder. Or better, send them the debt collector if they dont pay. After all its 60 days AFTER you sang at the concert, right?”

He didnt. He waited until the Church people payed the invoice, when they decided they wanted to. 90 days after.

Allan Petterson symphony nr 7 was playing in the background. Maybe it was the  music that got me going extra furioso about the injustice my friend the opera singer was experiencing. The injustice, as he claimed, was that he and other Opera Singers did not dare to be trouble in the eyes of the church adminstration people, because, according to him, he feared it could mean they would´nt get any more concerts at the church, being seen as problematic to work with – a.k.a getting payed on time like everyone else.

I would´nt buy that situation myself, although I fully understood the situation and respected his worries.

As the tension increased while we talked over the injustice, we noticed it came in tandem with what was being played in the background. We smiled and my friend said: ”Some say they get depressed when they listen to his music”. And I answered and he agreed: ”- depressed? No, its great dramatic music. I feel uplifted by this depressing music”.

I know, it sounds so odd, but at that time and that situation, it was uplifting. It was like a force of nature coming from the notes/composition score written down by Allan Pettersson, and played so brilliantly by the orchestra. I can´t vouch for wether my friend actually started to practise sending the debt collector on various churches for not paying his invoice in time. But he seemed stronger and more aware of the injustice. And uplifted. Encouraged to someday change the situation. And I hope he was. We never talked about it again. Although I talked with other createives about it afterwards, about not being payed on time. Just like many other creatives, business owners. And sadly, its a constant discussion still.

It might be a surprice to many, but very big international swedish corporations, companies made several small businesses, suppliers, go bust, bankrupt. Simply because they practised to not pay on time. But rather wait 90 days after invoce had been sent their way. Keep in mind that for over 90 days, the small businesses still had to pay taxes for their invoices to the tax man, with money they didnt have basically, while waiting for their own invoices to get payed. People lost their jobs. Companies drowned.

And that all while the beautiful music of Allan Petterson was playing.

Who was Allan Petterson? Born 1911 in very dire situations, poor, at Södermalm, today a very hip area in Stockholm. And passed away 1980. He recieved a very large international following of fans who loved his music. He is today one of the most important swedish composers lived. For more reading about Allan Pettersson the composer, Wikipedia.

Stefan Lindblad
Illustration, graphic design and art
www.stefanlindblad.com
www.canvas.nu