Harald Sæverud

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Harald Sæverud, 1967

Harald Sigurd Johan Sæverud (born April 17, 1897 in Bergen ; † March 27, 1992 there ) was a Norwegian composer .

Life

With nine symphonies, Sæverud is one of the most important Scandinavian symphonies of the 20th century. But his music for Peer Gynt (1947), his Rondo Amoroso and the ballad of the uprising ( Kjempeviseslåtten ), which was written during the Second World War and is the musical symbol of the Norwegian resistance against the German occupation, also became known.

Sæverud was born in the Nordnes district of Bergen. He lived many years in Rådal in the previous Fana - commune where his house Siljustøl now a museum.

In 1915 Sæverud began his training at the Bergen Music Academy. He studied piano and music theory with Borghild Holmsen, a recognized pianist and composer who graduated from the Leipzig Conservatory of Music . After completing his studies in Bergen, Sæverud went to Berlin (1920–1921) and Paris (1925).

Sæverud's music, which consists entirely of instrumental works, can be divided into two main categories: works for piano and works for orchestra. His orchestral works include nine symphonies, concertos for oboe , violin , piano and bassoon as well as a few smaller mostly one-movement works. His music for Ibsen's Peer Gynt is considered an "anti-romantic" counterpart to Edvard Grieg's well-known music for the same drama.

In addition, it is difficult to assign Sæverud's music to any particular style. He is often counted among the atonalists , although many of his works are clearly tonal. His frequent use of dissonance , predominantly linear compositional techniques and unconventional melody formations are perhaps what one could most likely see as typical of his music. In some works, especially in the symphonic, very original formal solutions stand out. Although Sæverud liked to be inspired by Norwegian folk music in melodic and rhythmic terms, most of his works (in contrast to those of his contemporary Geirr Tveitt ) hardly have a folkloric effect . He also did not use original folk melodies.

Sæverud named Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Haydn as his most important sources of inspiration.

Harald Sæverud died at the age of 94. He was the father of the composers Ketil Hvoslef and Tormod Sæverud .

Siljustøl Museum

The Sijustøl Museum in Rådal is a museum dedicated to the composer. In addition to the Edvard Grieg Museum in Troldhaugen, it is part of the Bergen Museum network .

Works

orchestra

Symphonies

  • 1st Symphony, Op. 1 (1916–1919)
  • 2nd symphony op.4 (1922)
  • 3rd Symphony op.5 (1926)
  • 4th Symphony op.11 (1937)
  • 5th Symphony, Op. 16 Quasi una fantasia (1941)
  • 6th Symphony op.19 Dolorosa (1942)
  • 7th Symphony op.27 Psalm (1944/45)
  • 8th Symphony, Op. 40 Minnesota (1958)
  • 9th Symphony, Op. 45 (1965/66)

Concerts

  • Cello Concerto op.7 (1931)
  • Oboe Concerto op.12 (1938)
  • Piano concerto op. 31 (1948–1950)
  • Violin Concerto op.37 (1956)
  • Bassoon Concerto op.44 (1965 / 1985–1987)

Other orchestral works

  • Ballad vom Aufstand op.22a (1943)
  • Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 op.28,1 (1947)
  • Peer Gynt Suite No. 2 op.28.2 (1947/54)

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Sæverud, Harald
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Sæverud, Harald Sigurd Johan
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Norwegian composer
DATE OF BIRTH April 17, 1897
PLACE OF BIRTH Bergen , Norway
DATE OF DEATH March 27, 1992
Place of death Bergen , Norway