Born in Uppsala on 3rd February 1937. His early first-hand experience of jazz was supplemented by piano studies with two teachers: Herbert Westrell and Knut Wiggen. He graduated as a piano teacher from the Stockholm Citizens’ School and studied musicology at Uppsala University, where he took his B.A. degree, and qualified as a teacher of music theory at the State Academy of Music in Stockholm. His composing début was in 1967. He took part in concerts by the Uppsala-Ligan Group, 1967 1971, as pianist and composer. Chairman of Fylkingen, 1972-1973 Erikson has received awards for his music, viz. in 1977 in the Orphei Drängar Nordic male voice choir composers’ competition, and first prize for 20th century works at the choral festival in Pardubice, Czechoslovakia.

Åke Erikson’s music has been well received by both audiences, critics and musicians. His dynamic, imaginative treatment of sound is equally convincing in his chamber music, orchestral compositions and choral works. It is evident from his own words that his composition centres round such themes as expansion, growth, trials of strength, etc. Concerning the piano piece Regnskog he has said: “The musical content is to a great extent based on my own associations of ideas with natural sounds transformed into the acoustic potentialities of the piano. The purpose of the piece, though, is not to reproduce different sounds but rather to describe the intangibility of Nature.“ And concerning one of his orchestra pieces: “Colours in play is an attempt to depict some of the forces (tension, eruption, attack, retreat) at work in conflicts of an interpersonal and political nature.“
Hans-Gunnar Peterson