Tier 3 · vertical & regionalfull biography
Magnus Lindberg
Person · male · Finland · Helsinki · born 1958 · recording since 1988
Finnish composer and pianist
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Also known as Magnus Gustaf Adolf Lindberg · 芒努斯·林德貝里
Timeline
31 events▣ Album 26✦ Award 3◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1
1950s
1980s
· Debut release
Debut release: Action - Situation - Signification -- Kraft
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Biography
English biography753 words · 6 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1370780758
Biography
Magnus Gustaf Adolf Lindberg (born 27 June 1958) is a Finnish composer and pianist. He was the New York Philharmonic's composer-in-residence from 2009 to 2012 and the London Philharmonic Orchestra's composer-in-residence from 2014 to 2017.
Early life
Lindberg was born in Helsinki, where he studied at the Sibelius Academy under Einojuhani Rautavaara and Paavo Heininen, beginning with piano. He attended summer courses in Siena (with Franco Donatoni) and Darmstadt (with Brian Ferneyhough). After graduating in 1981, he traveled widely in Europe, attending private studies with Vinko Globokar and Gérard Grisey in Paris, and observing Japanese drumming and punk rock in Berlin.
Compositions and style
Lindberg's juvenilia include the large orchestral work Donor, composed at age 16. Quintetto dell’Estate (1979) is generally held to be Lindberg's first opus. His first piece performed by a professional orchestra was Sculpture II in 1982, the second part of a trilogy whose first and third sections were long unwritten. His first great success came with "Action-Situation-Signification" (1982), the first work in which he explored musique concrète. This piece was written for and premiered by the new-music ensemble Toimii ("It Works" in Finnish), which Lindberg founded in the summer of 1980. Around the same period, Lindberg founded an informal grouping known as the Ears Open Society including Lindberg and his contemporaries Eero Hämeenniemi, Jouni Kaipainen, Kaija Saariaho, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Herman Rechberger. He is a trained pianist and has performed several of his works as part of Toimii.
Kraft (1983–85), another piece written for Toimii, is Lindberg's largest work to date, with harmonies of over 70 notes and a meter-high score. It uses traditional instrumentation as well as percussion on scrap metal and spoken word. After finishing it Lindberg found it hard to compose, and with the exception of 1986's Ur, which he called "Kraft in chamber form", he entered a creative hiatus that lasted over two years. During this time he was not only rethinking his style but also recovering from a tropical disease contracted during travel in Indonesia.
Kraft made use of a chaconne-type structure where the progression of the piece is based on a repeated chain of chords. It was this idea that served as the basis for Lindberg's next style. He returned with an orchestral trilogy consisting of Kinetics (1988), Marea (1989–90), and Joy (1990). Though Lindberg became less interested in electronic manipulation of sound, he continued to explore the possibilities of compositional software, and Engine displays complex computer-generated counterpoint. Since Joy, Lindberg has gradually refined his style, orchestrations and harmonies. This showed itself first in Corrente for chamber ensemble (1992) and its subsequent orchestral version, Corrente II, and in Duo Concertante (1992). In these works Lindberg showed influences ranging from Pierre Boulez and Tristan Murail to Igor Stravinsky and minimalism. His symphonic work Aura (1994) reflects a newer, more eclectic style.
Lindberg has since built upon these developments, further refining his style, which now leans toward a type of new tonality hinted at in works such as Joy and Aura. This development has culminated in one of his most popular scores to date, his Clarinet Concerto (2002), which has a folk-like melody and rich orchestration. His recent work, Two Episodes, was premiered at the BBC Proms on 24 July 2016. It is a companion piece to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, containing allusions to both the symphony and other works by the composer, rather in the same way that I.M. Pei's Louvre Pyramid complements the Tuileries Palace in Paris.
Awards and honors
Lindberg has received a number of composition prizes, including the Prix Italia (1986), the UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers (1986), the Nordic Council Music Prize (1988) for Kraft, and the Royal Philharmonic Society Prize for large-scale composition (1992).
Lindberg became the new composer-in-residence at the New York Philharmonic for the 2009–2010 season at the invitation of the incoming music director Alan Gilbert. The Philharmonic's September 2009 opening night gala, which was Gilbert's debut as music director, featured a well-received new work by Lindberg, EXPO. Lindberg's fourth and final commission as composer-in-residence was the Piano Concerto No. 2, which was premiered on 3 May 2012.
Wind orchestra
Zungenstimmen for wind orchestra (1994)
Gran Duo for wind orchestra (1999–2000)
Ottoni for brass ensemble (2005)
Vocal
Jag vill breda vingar ut for mezzo-soprano and piano (1977–78)
Untitled for chamber chorus a cappella (1978)
Songs from North and South for children's chorus a cappella (1993–2008)
Graffiti for chamber chorus and orchestra (2008–09)
Accused for soprano and orchestra (2014)
Triumf att finnas till (Triumph to Exist) for chorus and orchestra (2018)
Like As The Waves for soprano and violin (2021)
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 23 | 84.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 28 | 89.8th |
| Studio albums | 26 | 97.7th |
| Awards recorded | 3 | 95.4th |
| Timeline events | 31 | 96.9th |
| Recording span (years) | 37 | 76.5th |
| Genres | 7 | 93th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (28 release groups · 26 studio albums)
Albums · 26
Action - Situation - Signification -- Kraft
1988 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 57:40
1Action - Situation - Signification (1982): Earth 12:582Action - Situation - Signification (1982): The Sea5:003Action - Situation - Signification (1982): Interlude: Wood0:544Action - Situation - Signification (1982): Rain4:395Action - Situation - Signification (1982): Interlude: Metal2:066Action - Situation - Signification (1982): Fire3:507Action - Situation - Signification (1982): Wind4:088Action - Situation - Signification (1982): Earth 24:499Kraft (1983-95): I15:2010Kraft (1983-95): II13:56UR / Corrente / Duo Concertante / Joy
1994 · studio album
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Tracklist · 4 tracks · 1:02:28
1UR13:412Corrente11:583Duo concertante10:064Joy26:43Society of Finnish Composers 50th Anniversary 1995
1995 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 1:08:50
1Tutta via4:292Konzertstück for Clarinet, Cello and Orchestra13:503Ululation14:274L'échelle de l'évasion / The Escape Ladder12:575Eilisen linnut / The Birds of Yesterday7:256...Like a Planet Silently Breathing...10:197Away5:23Arena 2 / Coyote Blues / Tendenza / Corrente
1997 · studio album
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Tracklist · 4 tracks · 49:36
1Arena 215:012Coyote Blues11:533Tendenza11:544Corrente10:481998 · studio album
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Tracklist · 3 tracks · 48:59
1Feria17:122Corrente II16:453Arena15:022000 · studio album
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Tracklist · 5 tracks · 51:20
1Aura: I12:552Aura: II12:303Aura: III6:074Aura: IV5:305Engine14:18Related Rocks / Clarinet Quintet
2000 · studio album
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Tracklist · 2 tracks · 35:45
1Related Rocks16:552Clarinet Quintet B-flat for clarinet & string quartet18:50Clarinet Concerto / Gran Duo / Chorale
2005 · studio album
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Tracklist · 3 tracks · 47:16
1Clarinet Concerto21:572Gran Duo19:223Chorale5:572007 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 58:24
1Violin Concerto in D minor: I. Allegro moderato16:172Violin Concerto in D minor: II. Adagio di molto8:343Violin Concerto in D minor: III. Allegro, ma non tanto7:364Violin Concerto: I. 1st movement12:055Violin Concerto: II. 2nd movement10:076Violin Concerto: III. 3rd movement3:452008 · studio album
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Tracklist · 17 tracks · 1:12:30
1Musik för två pianon7:242Klavierstück12:463Tre pianostycke: No. 10:384Tre pianostycke: No. 21:335Tre pianostycke: No. 32:046Play I: Movement 1 - Routes 1 - Movement 2 - Prism 1 - Routes 2 - Movement 37:437Play I: Figures and Points - Mirrors - Figures and Points6:338Play I: Movement 4 - Prism 2 - Routes 3 - Closure3:319Twine7:1310Jubilees: I. ♩ = 963:1211Jubilees: II. ♩ = 642:2012Jubilees: III. ♩ = 1281:1513Jubilees: IV. ♩· = 643:2114Jubilees: V. ♩ = 1621:1515Jubilees: VI. ♩ = 644:1716Etude no. 13:4817Etude no. 23:37Sculpture / Campana in Aria / Concerto for Orchestra
2008 · studio album
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Tracklist · 3 tracks · 1:04:08
1Sculpture23:062Campana in aria11:043Concerto for orchestra29:582010 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 57:18
1Graffiti:4:132Graffiti: (bar 111)4:173Graffiti: (bar 232)6:144Graffiti: (bar 403)4:425Graffiti: (bar 518)6:286Graffiti: (bar 682-end)5:477Seht die Sonne: First movement12:168Seht die Sonne: Second movement7:419Seht die Sonne: Third movement5:40Lindberg: Arena / Brahms: Second Symphony
2010 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 1:42:33
1Arena16:312Symphony no. 2 in D major, op. 73: I. Allegro non troppo21:573Symphony no. 2 in D major, op. 73: II. Adagio non troppo10:054Symphony no. 2 in D major, op. 73: III. Allegretto grazioso (Quasi andantino) - Presto ma non assai5:355Symphony no. 2 in D major, op. 73: IV. Allegro con spirito9:366String Sextet no. 2 in G major, op. 36: I. Allegro non troppo14:277String Sextet no. 2 in G major, op. 36: II. Scherzo: Allegro non Troppo7:198String Sextet no. 2 in G major, op. 36: III. Poco adagio8:539String Sextet no. 2 in G major, op. 36: IV. Poco allegro8:10The Season’s Finale: Lindberg & Beethoven
2010 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 1:38:59
1Al largo23:422Missa solemnis, op. 123: I. Kyrie8:213Missa solemnis, op. 123: II. Gloria17:054Missa solemnis, op. 123: III. Credo18:335Missa solemnis, op. 123: IV. Sanctus - Benedictus15:386Missa solemnis, op. 123: V. Agnus Dei15:40On the Cutting Edge: New Music from CONTACT!
2010 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 1:22:38
1Verge, for 18 Strings11:222Melodia, for Instrumental Ensemble14:313These Particular Circumstances, In Seven Uninterrupted Episodes: Floating — Circling — Spinning — Grinding — Sinking — Teetering — Soaring20:054Detailed Instructions, for Orchestra: I. All the Way Up6:055Detailed Instructions, for Orchestra: II. Tilt Your Head6:396Detailed Instructions, for Orchestra: III. Can’t Wait5:127Songs from Solomon’s Garden, for Baritone and Chamber Orchestra18:442011 · studio album
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Tracklist · 16 tracks · 4:17:47
Disc 11Tendenza12:042Kraft: I.16:043Kraft: II.14:134Kinetics12:385Marea10:30Disc 21Joy26:392Corrente10:483Corrente II16:454Coyote Blues12:04Disc 31Arena15:032Arena 215:113Feria17:124Gran Duo19:33Disc 41Chorale5:592Concerto for Orchestra29:583Sculpture23:062012 · studio album
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Tracklist · 16 tracks · 1:00:23
1Trio for clarinet, cello and piano: I. Sound big, sound8:192Trio for clarinet, cello and piano: II. Like the traquility we seek5:393Trio for clarinet, cello and piano: III. Crash wave, crash5:434Santa Fe Project (Konzertstück) for cello and piano: I.6:235Santa Fe Project (Konzertstück) for cello and piano: II.3:086Santa Fe Project (Konzertstück) for cello and piano: III.5:057Partia for cello solo: I. Sinfonia3:438Partia for cello solo: II. Coranto2:129Partia for cello solo: III. Aria2:3510Partia for cello solo: IV. Boria2:0311Partia for cello solo: V. Double1:1212Partia for cello solo: VI. Giga2:1713Dos Coyotes for cello and piano: I.5:2514Dos Coyotes for cello and piano: II.1:2515Dos Coyotes for cello and piano: III.4:0716Dos Coyotes for cello and piano: IV.1:072012 · studio album
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Tracklist · 5 tracks · 1:02:32
1Feria17:322Symphony no. 5 in B‐flat major, op. 100: I. Andante13:203Symphony no. 5 in B‐flat major, op. 100: II. Allegro moderato9:044Symphony no. 5 in B‐flat major, op. 100: III. Adagio12:405Symphony no. 5 in B‐flat major, op. 100: IV. Allegro giocoso9:56Dvorak, Magnus Lindberg, Tchaikovsky
2012 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 1:22:49
1Carnival, op. 929:332Piano Concerto no. 2: I11:493Piano Concerto no. 2: II - III16:504Symphony no. 4 in F minor, op. 36: I. Andante sostenuto — Moderato con anima19:545Symphony no. 4 in F minor, op. 36: II. Andantino in modo di canzona10:076Symphony no. 4 in F minor, op. 36: III. Scherzo. Pizzicato ostinato: Allegro5:387Symphony no. 4 in F minor, op. 36: IV. Finale: Allegro con fuoco8:58Violin Concerto / Jubilees / Souvenir
2013 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 1:06:50
1Violin Concerto: I.11:102Violin Concerto: II.9:183Violin Concerto: III.3:474Jubilees: I.3:475Jubilees: II.2:556Jubilees: III.1:107Jubilees: IV.3:388Jubilees: V.1:319Jubilees: VI.5:0310Souvenir: I.9:4011Souvenir: II.10:0412Souvenir: III.4:47EXPO / Piano Concerto no. 2 / Al largo
2013 · studio album
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Tracklist · 5 tracks · 1:02:31
1EXPO10:072Piano Concerto no. 2: 1st movement11:493Piano Concerto no. 2: 2nd movement8:434Piano Concerto no. 2: 3rd movement8:095Al Largo23:432015 · studio album
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Tracklist · 5 tracks · 1:07:12
1Deuxième Sonate, BB 85: Molto moderato - Allegretto20:402Sonatas: Mäßig - aussi léger que possible - Molto agitato9:473Sonata no. 9, op. 47 "Kreutzer": Adagio sostenuto - Presto13:564Sonata no. 9, op. 47 "Kreutzer": Andante con variazioni14:225Sonata no. 9, op. 47 "Kreutzer": Presto8:27Al Largo / Cello Concerto No. 2 / Era
2016 · studio album
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Tracklist · 5 tracks · 1:06:10
1Al largo24:532Cello Concerto No. 2: I. —9:503Cello Concerto No. 2: II. —6:094Cello Concerto No. 2: III. —4:595Era20:19Tempus Fugit / Violin Concerto No. 2
2018 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 58:14
1Tempus fugit: Pt. 13:312Tempus fugit: Pt. 27:533Tempus fugit: Pt. 39:194Tempus fugit: Pt. 45:435Tempus fugit: Pt. 56:516Violin Concerto No. 2: 1st Movement9:077Violin Concerto No. 2: 2nd Movement10:468Violin Concerto No. 2: 3rd Movement5:04Viola Concerto / Absence / Serenades
2024 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 1:02:04
1Viola Concerto: I. —9:302Viola Concerto: IIa. —7:133Viola Concerto: IIb. Trio3:084Viola Concerto: IIc. Quasi una cadenza0:445Viola Concerto: IId. Interlude2:446Viola Concerto: IIe. Cadenza4:537Viola Concerto: III. —5:258Absence11:189Serenades17:092025 · studio album
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Tracklist · 5 tracks · 31:35
1Tempus fugit: I. Part 13:112Tempus fugit: II. Part 27:393Tempus fugit: III. Part 39:114Tempus fugit: IV. Part 44:465Tempus fugit: V. Part 56:48
Album · 2
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Debussy: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun / Lindberg: KraftSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 3 tracks · 42:451Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun10:22 2Kraft : I.17:11 3Kraft : II.15:12 | Live | 18 January 2011 | |
| 2021 | Aura / Marea / Related RocksSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 6 tracks · 1:06:421Aura: I13:46 2Aura: II12:07 3Aura: III6:51 4Aura: IV5:50 5Related Rocks16:16 6Marea11:52 | Live | 7 May 2021 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Magnus Lindberg head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 23 | 84.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 28 | 89.8th |
| Studio albums | 26 | 97.7th |
| Awards recorded | 3 | 95.4th |
| Timeline events | 31 | 96.9th |
| Recording span (years) | 37 | 76.5th |
| Genres | 7 | 93th |
Awards & honours
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Nordic Council Music Prize | won | |
| 2003 | Wihuri Sibelius Prize | won | |
| 2012 | Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland | won |
Line-up
| Name | From | To | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cult of Luna(band) | 1998 | present | guitar,original,percussion |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Magnus_Lindberg_3811.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/ca23d6ea-6e57-4636-b285-4dd35fc354d3discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/ca23d6ea-6e57-4636-b285-4dd35fc354d3core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q503672genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q503672seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_Lindbergbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_Lindberg
Why this artist is in the database
- List of composers by name
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Sigurd Gartmann from Trondheim, Norway · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q503672 · MusicBrainz: ca23d6ea-6e57-4636-b285-4dd35fc354d3
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