Musicatlas
Music
- Operas
- Baldurs draumar (ballet)
- Six piano concertos
- 3 symphonies
- 100 Folketonar frao Hardanger (arrangement of folk music)
Life
Made extended use of Norwegian folk music in his compositions. Studied music at the concervatory in Leipzig, Germany and in Paris. Moved to Norheimsund in Hardanger, Norway in 1942 and started working on collecting and arranging Norwegian folk music. After the war he toured Europe as concert pianist. For his songs he used text by Arnulf Øverland, Knut Hamsun and Herman Wildenwey. Most famous work: 100 Folketonar frao Hardanger and the song "Vi skal ikkje sova burt sumarnatta".
His house burned down along with most of his musical manuscripts in 1970, therefore, most of his music has been lost and friends and musicologists are trying to reconstruct some of his works. 2 CDs exist of his music on the Naxos label; Piano Concertos 1 and 5 on Naxos 8.555077 and A Hundred Hardanger Tunes - Suites 1 and 4 on Naxos 8.555078. Both CDs have Bjarte Engeset and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra playing the works.
(Contributed by Ralph Barrocas - U.S.A. - <RBarrocas
aol.com>)