Folke Rabe

Swedish composer, Stockholm, born 28 October 1935, died Stockholm, September 2017.

He studied at the Royal College of Music, Stockholm, where his teachers included Karl-Birger Blomdahl, Ingvar Lidholm, and György Ligeti.

Rabe started out as a jazz musician and trombonist in dixieland and swing bands in the 50's, later playing in big bands under the direction of Lulle Ellboj, Harry Arnold, Arne Domnérus and others. He is known best for his electronic drone piece What?? (originally released as Was??), recorded at the Swedish Radio studios in Stockholm in 1967.

During the late ‘70s, Rabe worked as the program director at the Swedish Institute for National Concerts, while from the years of 1980 – 2000 occupied a variety of positions at the Swedish National Broadcasting Corp, including editor-in-chief.