Franz Syberg

Franz Adolf Syberg (5 July 1904 - 11 December 1955) was a Danish composer.

Life Syberg was born in Kerteminde, Funen, to the painters Anna and Fritz Syberg. He moved to Leipzig in 1922 where he studied musical composition and music theory at the Leipzig Conservatory with Sigfrid Karg-Elert and Werner Hübschmann. He left for Copenhagen in 1928, where he studied organ with Peter Thomsen.

He was appointed organist at Kerteminde in 1932, where he remained for the rest of his life. His 1931 Quintet for flute, clarinet and string trio was chosen in 1938 to be performed at the International Society for Contemporary Music in London and the Nordic Music Days in Copenhagen. The years following this saw the composition of his most mature works, ending in 1942, when he stopped composing. His work was largely forgotten until 1990, when seven of his compositions were performed at the Musikhøst festival in Odense. Much of his work has now been published and performed.

His music has much in common with German neo-classicism similar to Hindemith, with much counterpoint and dense linearity, resulting in some harsh and dissonant harmonies. His more mature works show the influence of Carl Nielsen.

Compositions Manuscripts are in the Kongelige Bibliotek, Copenhagen Publisher: Kontrapunkt

Stage Uffe hin Spage (marionette play, S. Clausen), 1929 Leonce og Lena (G. Büchner), 1931 Ett drömspel (A. Strindberg), 1941–1942

Orchestral Music for oboe and string orchestra, 1933 Sinfonietta, 1934–1935 Adagio for string orchestra, 1938 Symphony, 1939

Chamber String Quartet, 1930 Quintet for flute, clarinet, and string trio, 1931 Concertino for oboe and string quintet, 1932 String Trio, 1933 Quartet for oboe and string trio, 1933 Wind Quintet, 1940 Octet for wind instruments, 1941

Organ Chaconne, 1933 Prelude, Intermezzo, and Fugato, 1934