Fredrik Gran

Fredrik Gran is a composer originally from Stockholm, Sweden. He is interested in the musical potential of  mechanical processes and in experimenting with new performative strategies. His music and research intersect acoustic and electroacoustic sound ideas, employing mechanic/robotic interactive units, amplified instruments and objects, computer-assisted transcription of his own electroacoustic music and purpose-made electronic models into the notated sphere of acoustic instruments. His work covers orchestral, chamber, vocal, electroacoustic and live electronic music, as well as music for installations, dance, digital and visual art. 

Fredrik’s music has been recognized internationally, performed at festivals such as Warsaw Autumn (PL), ISCM World New Music Days (CA), Nordic Music Days (DK,FI,NO), SICMF (KR), ICMC (N-IR), MANCA (FR), Tage Neue Musik (DE), Druskomanija (LT), NoiseGate (US) and concerts for example in Tokyo, Vienna, Matera, Vilnius and Paris.

Fredrik has composed for and worked with, among others, Ballet and Orchestra of the Staatstheater am Gärnerplatz (DE), Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra (NO), International Contemporary Ensemble (US), London City Philharmonics (UK), Malmö Opera Orchestra (SE), Ensemble Platypus (AT), Ensemble Kwartludium (PL), NOW Ensemble (CA), KammarensembleN (SE) and Treitler string quartet (SE). 

Fredrik was awarded 1st prize in London Music Society International Composers Competition, 1st prize in Eleanor Stubley Recording Award, 1st prize in Codes d’accès Composer’s Competition, GRAME finalist and with the CIRMMT Research award.

Periodically since 2009, Fredrik have been doing research around robotic playing techniques on the cello, and their compositional implications. His doctoral project introduces the ’robot cellist’, a non-human entity at the intersection of performer and instrument, which consists of two industrial robotic arms playing a cello. Through the composition of the piece “Cello Concerto No. 1” (2019) and the doctoral thesis “Implementation of Robotics in Music Performance”, his research explores the specific and unique playing techniques afforded by this system, underlines the idiomatic potential of the robot cellist and investigates its anthropomorphic characteristics and their scenographic implications. Through Fredrik Gran’s research, the robot cellist has developed a playing style and techniques along with a reflexive compositional perspective. 

He studied composition at the Music Academy in Stockholm and at McGill University in Montreal, where his doctoral research is connected to the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology.

ROBOT SYNTH MUSICIAN robot synth musician 2024
MOTHER VISITS EVERY MONDAY, JUST STAYS UNTIL NOON, PERIOD pump organ 2023
STARLIGHTS. SILHOUETTES, AND YOU acousmatic 2023
CORRIDOR LIGHTS string quartet 2023
CELLO INTERVENTION NO. 1 robot cellist and piano 2021
PROTHESIS three arm double bass (robotics and human) 2021
CELLO SUITE NO. 1 industrial robot and string quintet 2019
DEPLYOMENT ROLL four laptops with motion sensors 2019
HERE IN MY ARMS composition for industrial robot and speaker dome 2018
TO LINGER installation for industrial robot and speaker dome 2018
VOLD violin, clarinet, piano, percussion and surface transducer 2018
ECONOMY OF LEISURE laptop and motion sensor 2017
MAINS HUM saxophone quartet and haptic notifiers 2017
VOX TERMINUS ensemble and animated graphic score 2015
MUSIC BEYOND THE SURFACE ensemble and animated graphic score 2015
CHAMP MAGNÉTIQUE saxophone quartet and haptic notifiers 2015
LIMINALITY viola, cello, passive double bass and surface transducer 2015
84°03’N 174°51’W reactable electronic musical instrument and percussion quartet 2015
RESIDUAL PRODUCTIVITY percussion quartet and electronics 2014
LABOUR percussion and electronics 2013
DARK LEAVES female choir a cappella 2013
SEVEN EVES chamber ensemble (12) and electronics (13) 2013
AUTOKINETIC NESTS viola, cello and electronics 2012
PORTMANTEAU MORPHEMES string orchestra 2012
OTHER HAND electric guitar, bass recorder and electronics 2012
INGENSTANS flute and double bass 2011
ALTERED GREY cello and electronics 2010
IRB 140 industrial robot and cello 2010
IN JUNE AND ON MONDAY acousmatic 2009
GREY MATTERS cello and electronics, 2009
GLARE, ADO AND A VICIOUS CIRCLE chamber ensemble (16) 2009
CREPUSCULAR RAYS, prepared disklavier 2008
IMMINENT CROSSINGS symphony orchestra 2008
EL ALGORITMO DEL ANTAGONISTA acousmatic 2008
TIME, TONE, MESSAGE acousmatic 2008
AN HOUR AND A HALF acousmatic 2007
HELIX REVOLVER violin and electronics 2007
TIME CODEC chamber ensemble (14), 2007
PICTURES OF FIELDS WITHOUT FENCES string orchestra 2006
REVOLVERING HELICES string orchestra 2006
FRAU TOT IST TOT. SIE LEBT NICHT MEHR. acousmatic 2006
PAINTED DESERT chamber ensemble (18), 2006
AERODYNAMIK acousmatic 2005
CONCERNING ANSWERING WALLS, LATELY symphonic wind orchestra 2005 
STRIMMOR AV KORRIDORLJUS accordeon 2004
THREADS chamber ensemble (5) 2004
AMONG HILLS acousmatic 2003
DEED flute, violin, cello and piano 2003
ATER IMBER mixed choir a cappella 2003
REVERBERATIONS chamber ensemble (6) 2003
BREVITY IS THE SOUL OF WIT acousmatic 2002
WIT piano 2001
LJUS NATT soprano and piano 2001
A.D. church organ quartet 2001
C.S.N. string quartet 2001