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Johansen always strove to bring the best people to Madison and his contacts were extensive. Paul and Eva Badura Skoda came. Johansen tried to arrange a visit by Albert Schweitzer but who was, according to reports, declared 'too old' by a university committee. In 1958 Johansen interviewed Karlheinz Stockhausen for WHA radio and the tape reveals Johansen knew exactly what Stockhausen was getting at.

It was Johansen who arranged for Harry Partch to work at the University of Wisconsin. When the faculty voted on whether to continue supporting Partch, Gunnar's was the only vote in favour. Johansen then offered Partch use of the property he owned in California.

With the Pro Arte Quartet (as led by Rudolph Kolisch) Johansen played virtually the entire chamber music repertoire and then had time to play much of the solo repertoire. On WHA radio Johansen gave the following broadcasts (WHA Radio live broadcasts in Madison, broadcast state-wide):

1940/2	Complete chamber music of Beethoven and Brahms with the Pro Arte Quartet
1945	Evolution of the piano sonata
1946	Complete Beethoven Sonatas
1947	Complete Mozart Sonatas
1948	Complete Schubert Sonatas
1949	Complete Chopin piano literature
1950-3	Complete Bach keyboard literature

In 1943 Johansen didn't do much performing as he was taken on by the US government to teach German to soldiers.

During these first 10 years in Madison he composed feverishly: 31 piano sonatas, a piano concerto, the East-West Cantata and scores of character pieces.

Having completed the Piano Sonata II on December 6, 1941 he awoke the next morning to the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He realised his titanic composition was a terrifying premonition, with its finale a wild ride of stride jazz and the Dies Irae and the conclusion a terrible assault of sirens and bombs. There are few pieces like it in the whole repertoire.

Example 2:

Gunnar Johansen: Sonata II 'Pearl Harbor, Dec. 6, 1941' : Finale -- in modo ironico e tragico Series: Gunnar Johansen Piano Works, Album 2 Date of recording: unknown (live performance)

[listen]

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