Per Bolstad

Per Martin Ludvig Bolstad (born June 28, 1875 in Ålesund , † March 19, 1967 ibid) was a Norwegian composer and violinist.

Life

Monument to Per Bolstad in Ålesund

Monument in Stryn

Bolstad was born the son of the musicians Per Mathiasen Bolstad (1833-1910) and Ragnhild Nikoline Roald (1845-1905). He started playing the violin at the age of four. At six he could read music. His first teacher was an organist in his hometown, but Bolstad was only six and he soon died. His father then took over the further training. He had composed his first work before his 15th birthday. At the age of 15 he founded his first orchestra. Musically, he was based on German musical traditions, but then developed a new Norwegian dance music. In the 20th century he composed a large number of works and performed in many places in Norway and Scandinavia. He created almost 600 melodies. The waltz Fagre Stryn became particularly famous . Bolstad became known in particular through radio broadcasts. From 1928 Bolstad fell ill with an eye disease and after a while went blind.

Bolstad was married to Sofie Rødseth (1871–1955). In 1899 the marriage resulted in their son Per Bolstad junior, who was also a talented violinist. He was managed by his parents, who also accompanied him on concert tours to Budapest and America. Per Bolstad junior died surprisingly in 1931. His second younger son, Einar Bolstad, was a musician and composer who lived in Bergen and died in 1986.

Per Bolstads hometown Ålesund and the municipality of Stryn erected monuments in his honor.

Works (selection)

• Lette bygdeslåttar , 1927.
• Slåttar frå gamle dage , 1928.
• Slåtter i gammel style , 1946–57.

Web links

• Per Bolstad im Norsk biografisk leksikon (Norwegian)
• Per Bolstad in the store norske leksikon (Norwegian)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Asbjørn Gjærde : "Det glade Ålesund" and "Fagre Stryn" i 100 or 100 navn. Personer som har preget Nordvestlandet . Sunnmørsposten Forlag 2000.