Born in Drammen, he was an accomplished violinist from a very early age and became a prominent figure in Norwegian musical life. He received his musical education in Kristiania (now Oslo) and Stockholm, and was a concertmaster in Bergen before joining the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. He was a concertmaster in Aberdeen, then a professor of music in Helsinki, and finally became a student once again, in St Petersburg, Leipzig (with Adolph Brodsky), Berlin (with Adolf Becker), and Liège (with César Thomson).
Returning to Norway in 1893, he worked as conductor of the theatre orchestra at Den Nationale Scene in Bergen and of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. He became concertmaster of the Bergen Philharmonic in 1885, and principal conductor in 1893. In 1899 he was appointed conductor of the orchestra at the newly opened National Theatre in Kristiania,[2] a position he held for 30 years until his retirement in 1929.
As well as theatre music, Halvorsen conducted performances of over 30 operas and also wrote the incidental music for more than 30 plays. Following his retirement from the theatre he finally had time to concentrate on the composition of his three symphonies and two well-known Norwegian rhapsodies.
Halvorsen's compositions were a development of the national romantic tradition exemplified by Edvard Grieg though written in a distinctive style marked by innovative orchestration. Halvorsen married Grieg's niece, and orchestrated some of his piano works, such as a funeral march which was played at Grieg's funeral. Five days after Halvorsen died, Grieg's cousin and widow Nina Grieg also died.
In early 2016, librarians at the University of Toronto announced that they had located the manuscript score of his violin concerto, performed only three times in 1909 and considered lost. The piece received its fourth performance, 107 years later, in 2016.[3]
Selected compositions
Operetta
Mod Nordpolen, in 3 acts (1911); libretto by Vilhelm Dybwad
Norske rapsodie No. 1 (Norwegian Rhapsody No. 1) in A major (1919–1920)
Springar
I went so lately to my bed
Halling - Springar
Norske rapsodie No. 2 (Norwegian Rhapsody No. 2) in G major (1919–1920)
Dance tune from Åmot
Han Ole
Springar
Symphony No. 1 in C minor (1923)
Symphony No. 2 "Fatum" in D minor (1924, revised 1928)
Symphony No. 3 in C major (1929)
Norske eventyrbylleder (Norwegian Fairy-tale Pictures), Op. 37 (1933); reworking of 1925 incidental music
Peik, prinsessen og stortrollet (Peik, the Princess and the Big Troll)
Prinsessen kommer ridende på bjørnen (The Princess Comes Riding on a Bear)
Trollenes inntog i berget det blå (Entry of the Trolls into the Town Hall)
Dans av småtroll (Dance of the Little Trolls)
Festovertyre (Norwegian Festival Overture), Op. 38
Elegi for string orchestra
Forspill til den hvite Ring
Rabnabryllaup uti Kraakjalund, Norwegian Folk-Song Arrangement for string orchestra
Concert band
Hallingdal Bataljon's Marsj (1882–1883)
Gatemarsj (Street March)
Norwegian Sea Picture
Salutation to the Royal Couple of Norway
Concertante
Air norvégien (Norwegian Air) for violin and orchestra, Op. 7 (1896/1903).
Veslemøy's Song for violin and orchestra (1898); dedicated to Kathleen Parlow
Norwegian Song "The Old Fisherman's Song" for violin and string orchestra, Op. 31 (1901, 1913)
Andante Religioso for violin and orchestra (1903)
Concerto in G minor for violin and orchestra, Op. 28 (1909); dedicated to Kathleen Parlow[6]
Bryllupsmarsch, Norwegian Wedding March for violin and orchestra, Op. 32 No. 1
Danses norvégiennes No. 1 for violin and orchestra (1915)
Danses norvégiennes No. 2 for violin and orchestra (1915)
Chamber music
6 Stimmungsbilder (6 Mood Pieces) for violin and piano (1890)
Suite in G minor for violin and piano (1890)
Danses norvégiennes for violin and piano (1897)
Elegie (Andante) for violin and piano (1897)
Passacaglia in G minor on a Theme by George Frideric Handel (from Harpsichord Suite in G minor, HWV 432) for violin and viola (1897)
Sarabande con variazioni in D minor on a Theme by George Frideric Handel for violin and viola (1897)
Crépuscule for violin and piano (c. 1898)
Suite Mosaïque for violin and piano (1898)
Intermezzo orientale
Entr'acte
Scherzino – "Spurven" (The Sparrow)
Veslemøys sang (Veslemøy's Song)
Fête nuptial rustique (An Old-fashioned Wedding)
String Quartet in E, Op. 10
Little Dance Suite for violin and piano, Op. 22
Slåtter, Peasant Dances for violin solo (1903)
Miniatures, 5 Easy Pieces for 2 violins and piano, Op. 29 (1910)
To serenader (Two Serenades) for violin and piano
Norske viser og danse (Norwegian Folk Songs and Dances), 30 Folk Arrangements for violin and piano
Concert Caprice on Norwegian Melodies for 2 violins
Choral
Varde, Cantata for male chorus and orchestra, Op. 11 (1904); words by Per Sivle
Alrune for soprano solo, female chorus and chamber orchestra, Op. 20 No. 1
Kantate ved kroningen i Trondhjems Domkirke den 22 juni 1906 for soprano, baritone, mixed chorus, orchestra, harp and organ, Op. 27 (1906); words by Sigvald Skavlan
Bergensiana for mixed chorus
Media
Passacaglia on a theme by Handel
Performed by Roxana Pavel Goldstein (violin) and Elias Goldstein (viola)
johan, halvorsen, confused, with, john, halvorsen, march, 1864, december, 1935, norwegian, composer, conductor, violinist, background, informationborn15, march, 1864drammen, norwaydied4, december, 1935, oslo, norwaygenresclassicaloccupation, conductor, pedagog. Not to be confused with John Halvorsen Johan Halvorsen 15 March 1864 4 December 1935 was a Norwegian composer conductor and violinist Johan HalvorsenBackground informationBorn15 March 1864Drammen NorwayDied4 December 1935 age 71 Oslo NorwayGenresClassicalOccupation s Conductor pedagogue violinistInstrument s Violin Contents 1 Life 2 Selected compositions 3 Media 4 References 5 External linksLife EditBorn in Drammen he was an accomplished violinist from a very early age and became a prominent figure in Norwegian musical life He received his musical education in Kristiania now Oslo and Stockholm and was a concertmaster in Bergen before joining the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra He was a concertmaster in Aberdeen then a professor of music in Helsinki and finally became a student once again in St Petersburg Leipzig with Adolph Brodsky Berlin with Adolf Becker and Liege with Cesar Thomson 1898 Music festival in Bergen by Agnes Nyblin Left to right Christian Cappelen Catharinus Elling Ole Olsen Gerhard Rosenkrone Schelderup Iver Holter Agathe Backer Grondahl Edvard Grieg Christian Sinding Johan Svendsen and Halvorsen 1 Card Party in Leipzig c 1887 showing Nina and Edvard Grieg Johan Halvorsen Frederick Delius and Christian Sinding Returning to Norway in 1893 he worked as conductor of the theatre orchestra at Den Nationale Scene in Bergen and of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra He became concertmaster of the Bergen Philharmonic in 1885 and principal conductor in 1893 In 1899 he was appointed conductor of the orchestra at the newly opened National Theatre in Kristiania 2 a position he held for 30 years until his retirement in 1929 As well as theatre music Halvorsen conducted performances of over 30 operas and also wrote the incidental music for more than 30 plays Following his retirement from the theatre he finally had time to concentrate on the composition of his three symphonies and two well known Norwegian rhapsodies Halvorsen s compositions were a development of the national romantic tradition exemplified by Edvard Grieg though written in a distinctive style marked by innovative orchestration Halvorsen married Grieg s niece and orchestrated some of his piano works such as a funeral march which was played at Grieg s funeral Five days after Halvorsen died Grieg s cousin and widow Nina Grieg also died His best known works today are the Bojarenes inntogsmarsj Entry March of the Boyars and Bergensiana along with his Passacaglia and Sarabande duos for violin and viola based on themes by George Frideric Handel In early 2016 librarians at the University of Toronto announced that they had located the manuscript score of his violin concerto performed only three times in 1909 and considered lost The piece received its fourth performance 107 years later in 2016 3 Selected compositions EditOperettaMod Nordpolen in 3 acts 1911 libretto by Vilhelm DybwadIncidental musicGurre Op 17 music for the play by Holger Drachmann Nordraakiana Askeladden Reisen til Julestjernen Journey to the Christmas Star music for the play by Sverre Brandt Tordenskjold Op 18 music for the historical play by Jacob Breda Bull Kongen The King Op 19 music for the play by Bjornstjerne Bjornson Fossegrimen Op 21 music for the play by Sigurd Eldegard 4 Vasantasena music for the old Indian play The Merchant of Venice music for the Shakespeare play Much Ado about Nothing 1915 music for the Shakespeare play Livet i skogen Op 33 music for William Shakespeare s As You Like It Dronning Tamara Queen Tamara music for the play by Knut Hamsun Macbeth 1920 music for the Shakespeare playOrchestraBojarenes inntogsmarsj Entry March of the Boyars for orchestra or concert band 1895 5 Festovertyre Norwegian Festival Overture Op 16 1899 Nachtlicher Zug from Miniatures for string orchestra Op 29 No 2 1910 arrangement by the composer Bjornstjerne Bjornson in Memoriam Op 30 1910 Norway s Greeting to Theodore Roosevelt Op 31 1910 Suite ancienne to the Memory of Ludvig Holberg Op 31 1911 Festmarsj Festival March Op 32 Scene funebre Serenade Op 33 1913 Bergensiana Rococo Variations on an Old Melody from Bergen Jeg tog min nystemte Cithar i Haende I Took Up My Newly Tuned Zither 1913 Norske rapsodie No 1 Norwegian Rhapsody No 1 in A major 1919 1920 Springar I went so lately to my bed Halling SpringarNorske rapsodie No 2 Norwegian Rhapsody No 2 in G major 1919 1920 Dance tune from Amot Han Ole SpringarSymphony No 1 in C minor 1923 Symphony No 2 Fatum in D minor 1924 revised 1928 Symphony No 3 in C major 1929 Norske eventyrbylleder Norwegian Fairy tale Pictures Op 37 1933 reworking of 1925 incidental musicPeik prinsessen og stortrollet Peik the Princess and the Big Troll Prinsessen kommer ridende pa bjornen The Princess Comes Riding on a Bear Trollenes inntog i berget det bla Entry of the Trolls into the Town Hall Dans av smatroll Dance of the Little Trolls Festovertyre Norwegian Festival Overture Op 38 Elegi for string orchestra Forspill til den hvite Ring Rabnabryllaup uti Kraakjalund Norwegian Folk Song Arrangement for string orchestraConcert bandHallingdal Bataljon s Marsj 1882 1883 Gatemarsj Street March Norwegian Sea Picture Salutation to the Royal Couple of NorwayConcertanteAir norvegien Norwegian Air for violin and orchestra Op 7 1896 1903 Veslemoy s Song for violin and orchestra 1898 dedicated to Kathleen Parlow Norwegian Song The Old Fisherman s Song for violin and string orchestra Op 31 1901 1913 Andante Religioso for violin and orchestra 1903 Concerto in G minor for violin and orchestra Op 28 1909 dedicated to Kathleen Parlow 6 Bryllupsmarsch Norwegian Wedding March for violin and orchestra Op 32 No 1 Danses norvegiennes No 1 for violin and orchestra 1915 Danses norvegiennes No 2 for violin and orchestra 1915 Chamber music6 Stimmungsbilder 6 Mood Pieces for violin and piano 1890 Suite in G minor for violin and piano 1890 Danses norvegiennes for violin and piano 1897 Elegie Andante for violin and piano 1897 Passacaglia in G minor on a Theme by George Frideric Handel from Harpsichord Suite in G minor HWV 432 for violin and viola 1897 Sarabande con variazioni in D minor on a Theme by George Frideric Handel for violin and viola 1897 Crepuscule for violin and piano c 1898 Suite Mosaique for violin and piano 1898 Intermezzo orientale Entr acte Scherzino Spurven The Sparrow Veslemoys sang Veslemoy s Song Fete nuptial rustique An Old fashioned Wedding String Quartet in E Op 10 Little Dance Suite for violin and piano Op 22 Slatter Peasant Dances for violin solo 1903 Miniatures 5 Easy Pieces for 2 violins and piano Op 29 1910 To serenader Two Serenades for violin and piano Norske viser og danse Norwegian Folk Songs and Dances 30 Folk Arrangements for violin and piano Concert Caprice on Norwegian Melodies for 2 violinsChoralVarde Cantata for male chorus and orchestra Op 11 1904 words by Per Sivle Alrune for soprano solo female chorus and chamber orchestra Op 20 No 1 Kantate ved kroningen i Trondhjems Domkirke den 22 juni 1906 for soprano baritone mixed chorus orchestra harp and organ Op 27 1906 words by Sigvald Skavlan Bergensiana for mixed chorusMedia Edit Passacaglia on a theme by Handel source source Performed by Roxana Pavel Goldstein violin and Elias Goldstein viola Problems playing this file See media help References Edit Norske komponister ved Musikkfesten i Bergen 1898 Document dk Retrieved 22 May 2016 Lionel Carley 1 January 2006 Edvard Grieg in England Boydell Press pp 337 ISBN 978 1 84383 207 2 Reynolds Christopher U of T Librarian chances upon lost 1909 concerto Toronto Star January 6 2016 Margaret Hayford O Leary 2010 Culture and Customs of Norway ABC CLIO pp 155 ISBN 978 0 313 36248 4 Percy Grainger Malcolm Gillies Bruce Clunies Ross 1999 Grainger on Music Oxford University Press pp 198 199 ISBN 978 0 19 816665 8 Lost Halvorsen violin concerto unearthed in Canada The Strad 2016 01 06 Retrieved 2017 11 30 External links EditJohan Halvorsen Beyond the Transitory Free scores by Johan Halvorsen at the International Music Score Library Project IMSLP Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Johan Halvorsen amp oldid 1125401409, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
