Werner Wolf Glaser (14 April 1910, Cologne – 29 March 2006, Västerås, Sweden) was a German-born Swedish composer, conductor, pianist, professor, music critic, and poet.
Glaser studied piano, conducting, and composition at the Cologne Conservatory, and art history afterwards in Bonn. He finally continued his studies in composition with Paul Hindemith in Berlin, where he also took courses in psychology. From 1929 to 1931, he worked as a conductor at the Chemnitz Opera and went to Cologne in 1932 to conduct choirs. Persecuted by the Nazis due to his Jewish descent, he fled Germany for Paris in 1933. He subsequently moved to Lyngby, Denmark and lectured at the Frederiksbergs Volksmusikhochschule in Copenhagen, before escaping during the rescue of the Danish Jews to Sweden in 1943. In Sweden, he conducted the Södra Västmanlands Orkesterförbund from 1944 to 1959 and also directed the Västerås Musikskola, where his colleagues included Ivar Andrén and Gunnar Axén, until 1975. He also wrote music reviews and poems for the regional daily Vestmanlans Läns Tidning. He died in 2006 and was buried in the Jewish Cemetery in Stockholm.
Glaser left an extensive oeuvre which spanned many different genres. His tonal language revealed the influence of Hindemith, but he also developed his individual style.
Symphony No. 1, op. 10 (1933–34)Symphony No. 3 (1936–40)Trilogy for Orchestra No. 1 (1939)5 Pieces for Orchestra (1940–42)Symphony No. 4 (1943)2 Short Orchestral Pieces (1945)Prelude for Orchestra (1947)Symphony No. 5 (1947–49)Idyll, Elegy and Fanfare for Orchestra (1954)Symphony No. 6 Sinfonia breve della transparenza (1955–57)Concerto for Orchestra No. 2 (1957)Sorgmusik över en flicka for String Orchestra (1957)Symphony No. 7 Azione tardante (1959)Symphony No. 8 Fyra dans-scener (Four Dance Scenes) (1964)Violin Concerto (1964)Concerto for Orchestra No. 3 Conflitti (1965–66)Förvandlingar (Transformations) for Orchestra (1966)Paradosso I for String Orchestra (1967)3 Symphonic Dances for Orchestra (1975)Symphony No. 9 (1976)Adagio for Strings Ruhe und Unruhe (1977)Symphony No. 10 (1979–80)Trilogy for Orchestra No. 2 (1981)Symphony No. 11 (1983)Nigeria (1986), suite based on ancient Nigerian sculpturesTheme and Variations (1987)Symphony No. 13 (1990)Baritone saxophone Concerto (1992)Sonata for viola and piano (1939)Gamle man (1943) for voice and pianoDansvisa (1945) for voice and pianoTranquillo for violin (or flute) and viola (1946)Allegro, Cadenza e Adagio for saxophone and piano (1950)Capriccio No.2 for viola and piano (1963)Duo for two violins (1966), recorded by Duo Gelland for NosagOrdo Meatus (1967) for oboe d'amoreSerioso (1969) for oboe and harpsichordAbsurt divertimento (1974) for soprano and wind quintetSommar (1975) for soprano and fluteSommar (Version 2, 1976) for voice and pianoMarsch i skrattspegel (1976) for wind quintetPer Sylvestrum (1977) for flute and pianoFågelliv (Vie d'oiseau) (1980), three pieces for soprano and string trioPensieri for viola solo (1981)Fanfara per ASEA (1983) for 3 trumpets and timpaniSolo for EuphoniumConcert band
Concerto della Capella (1960) for symphonic winds and pianoConcerto for Concert Band (1966)Marsch i blåsväder) (1974)Symphony for Wind Instruments (1980)3 Pieces for 11 Saxophones (1981) for 2 soprano, 4 alto, 2 tenor, 2 baritone, and 1 bass saxophonesDer Tod ist groß (1936) for mixed choirMelankolians visor Suite (1963)Dagen Suite (1964)Årskrets (1967) for children's choirVårmosaik (1968) for mixed choir and string quartetPersefone (1960), ballet in 3 actsEn naken kung (1971), opera in 2 actsMöten (1970), chamber opera for vocal soloists, flute, clarinet, and string orchestraLes cinq pas de l'homme (1973), balletCantatas, and religious music
Tystnad (1966), cantata for soprano, flute, alto saxophone, bass clarinet, drums, gong, violin, cello, and reel-to-reelPorten (1968), Advent cantata for soprano and organEn aftonkantat (1973), cantata for vocal soloists, two mixed choirs, flute, clarinet, horn, and organMeditationspsalm (1972) for mixed voices and organ