Carl Gustav Sparre Olsen
Encyclopedia
Carl Gustav Sparre Olsen (April 25, 1903 – November 8, 1984) was a Norwegian violin
ist and composer
. His composition style is lyrical with a strong grounding in Norwegian folk tunes.
, but settled in Oslo
during 1909. From 1922, he studied violin with Herman van der Vegt. In 1923, he became a violinist at the Oslo Philharmonic. He continued there for the next ten years. From 1926 until 1930, he received instruction in composition from Norwegian composer Fartein Valen
. He also traveled to Berlin
, Germany
to study with composer Max Butting
from 1930-31. He also traveled to London
to study with Australian-born composer and pianist Percy Grainger
in 1936. Starting in 1934, he accepted a teaching position at Griegakademiet
, the music conservatory in Bergen
, Norway
. His teaching position continued until the early 1940s. During the same period he conducted for the Bergen Trade Unions Choir. Olsen was also a critic for the newspaper Bergens Tidende
.
In 1936, he became a nationally sponsored artist (komponistgasje) and had started receiving state income for artists. After World War II
broke out in 1940, moved to Nordfjord
where he lived until 1947, when he settled in Gausdal
in Oppland
and lived there until 1966, he settled in Lillehammer
.
. His later music is miniaturist in nature, his compositional style likened to that of Fartein Valen
, his compositional instructor. In the 1930s, he composed large instrumental works inspired by Norwegian poet Olav Aukrust
. He also wrote Nine Wood-reliefs with Colours, music for paintings by Norwegian painter and sculptor Dagfinn Werenskiold (1892–1977) .
In 1937, he composed Draumkvædet and some cantatas. He composed music for orchestra, chamber ensembles, and choir and orchestra similar to Faure's Requiem. The most important work that stemmed after World War II
were the Seven Songs to Poems. The poems were written by Norwegian writer Inge Krokann
. Around this period he composed Nidarosdomen, an orchestral piece. Other important works include Ver Sanctum for choir and orchestra, Frå Telemark, a folk song for piano and Leitom-suite for piano.
(1968). In 1968, he received the honor of Knighthood in the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. When Sparre Olsen died in Lillehammer
during 1984, his urn was set down at the Lom stave church
in Gudbrandsdal
.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. His composition style is lyrical with a strong grounding in Norwegian folk tunes.
Life
Carl Gustav Sparre Olsen was born in Stavanger, Norway. When he was a year old, the family moved to CopenhagenCopenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, but settled in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
during 1909. From 1922, he studied violin with Herman van der Vegt. In 1923, he became a violinist at the Oslo Philharmonic. He continued there for the next ten years. From 1926 until 1930, he received instruction in composition from Norwegian composer Fartein Valen
Fartein Valen
Olav Fartein Valen was a Norwegian composer and musical theorist, notable for his work within atonal polyphonic music.-Background:...
. He also traveled to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to study with composer Max Butting
Max Butting
Max Butting was a German composer.-Life:Max Butting was the son of an ironmonger and of a piano teacher. He received his first musical instruction from his mother and later from the organist Arnold Dreyer...
from 1930-31. He also traveled to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to study with Australian-born composer and pianist Percy Grainger
Percy Grainger
George Percy Aldridge Grainger , known as Percy Grainger, was an Australian-born composer, arranger and pianist. In the course of a long and innovative career he played a prominent role in the revival of interest in British folk music in the early years of the 20th century. He also made many...
in 1936. Starting in 1934, he accepted a teaching position at Griegakademiet
Griegakademiet
The Grieg Academy is a name currently shared by music programs at two higher education institutions in Bergen, Norway. One prominent institution, which until recently has referred to itself in English as the "Grieg Institute" is the music conservatory in Bergen, Norway and a department of the...
, the music conservatory in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. His teaching position continued until the early 1940s. During the same period he conducted for the Bergen Trade Unions Choir. Olsen was also a critic for the newspaper Bergens Tidende
Bergens Tidende
Bergens Tidende is Norway's fourth largest newspaper and largest newspaper outside Oslo, with a circulation of about 87,000 copies . Founded in 1868, it is a Norwegian-language newspaper published daily in Bergen. It reaches approximately 260,000 readers every day , mainly in the counties of...
.
In 1936, he became a nationally sponsored artist (komponistgasje) and had started receiving state income for artists. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out in 1940, moved to Nordfjord
Nordfjord
Nordfjord is a fjord and a traditional district in the northern part of Sogn og Fjordane county in Western Norway. The district comprises the municipalities of Selje, Vågsøy, Bremanger, Eid, Gloppen, Hornindal, and Stryn. Nordfjord covers an area of and is home to a population of approximately...
where he lived until 1947, when he settled in Gausdal
Gausdal
Gausdal is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Segalstad bru...
in Oppland
Oppland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sør-Trøndelag, Møre og Romsdal, Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Akershus, Oslo and Hedmark. The county administration is in Lillehammer. Oppland is, together with Hedmark, one of the only two landlocked counties of Norway....
and lived there until 1966, he settled in Lillehammer
Lillehammer
is a town and municipality in Oppland county, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. As of May 2011, the population of the town of Lillehammer was...
.
Composer
Olsen wrote a significant amount of large choral pieces, orchestral works, and songs. In the 1920s, his music was primary inspired by Norwegian folk songs and is considered harmonically influenced by Norwegian composer Edvard GriegEdvard Grieg
Edvard Hagerup Grieg was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He is best known for his Piano Concerto in A minor, for his incidental music to Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt , and for his collection of piano miniatures Lyric Pieces.-Biography:Edvard Hagerup Grieg was born in...
. His later music is miniaturist in nature, his compositional style likened to that of Fartein Valen
Fartein Valen
Olav Fartein Valen was a Norwegian composer and musical theorist, notable for his work within atonal polyphonic music.-Background:...
, his compositional instructor. In the 1930s, he composed large instrumental works inspired by Norwegian poet Olav Aukrust
Olav Aukrust
Olav Aukrust was a Norwegian poet and teacher. He was born in Lom and wrote poems with a renewed national romantic style. His use of rural dialect contributed to the growth of Nynorsk as a literary language.-Life:...
. He also wrote Nine Wood-reliefs with Colours, music for paintings by Norwegian painter and sculptor Dagfinn Werenskiold (1892–1977) .
In 1937, he composed Draumkvædet and some cantatas. He composed music for orchestra, chamber ensembles, and choir and orchestra similar to Faure's Requiem. The most important work that stemmed after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
were the Seven Songs to Poems. The poems were written by Norwegian writer Inge Krokann
Inge Krokann
Inge Krokann was a Norwegian writer. Because his writing is so strongly tied in the use of dialect and idiosyncratic nynorsk, his works are largely inaccessible and arguably untranslatable.His work was characterized by:...
. Around this period he composed Nidarosdomen, an orchestral piece. Other important works include Ver Sanctum for choir and orchestra, Frå Telemark, a folk song for piano and Leitom-suite for piano.
Later years
Sparre Olsen was a member of the Norwegian National Broadcasting Council from 1950-58. He also published two biographical writings, George Percy Grainger (1963) and Tor JonssonTor Jonsson
Tor Jonsson was a Norwegian author and journalist. Tor Jonsson is known for simple, strongly worded lyric poetry, but his poems stir up conflicts and a sense of loneliness...
(1968). In 1968, he received the honor of Knighthood in the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. When Sparre Olsen died in Lillehammer
Lillehammer
is a town and municipality in Oppland county, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. As of May 2011, the population of the town of Lillehammer was...
during 1984, his urn was set down at the Lom stave church
Lom stave church
Lom Stave Church is a stave church situated in Lom municipality in the Gudbrandsdal district of Norway. The church is a triple nave stave church that uses free standing inner columns to support a raised section in the ceiling of the main nave. This type of church is amongst the oldest Stave Churches...
in Gudbrandsdal
Gudbrandsdal
The Gudbrandsdalen is a valley and traditional district in the Norwegian county of Oppland. The valley is oriented in a north-westerly direction from Lillehammer at Mjøsa, extending 230 km toward Romsdal...
.
Selected works
- Canto 1
- Draumkvædet
- Frå Telemark
- Leitom-suite
- Nidarosdomen
- Nine Wood-reliefs with Colours
- Nocturne for flute and horn, op. 57, no. 2
- Norsk kjærleikssong (Norwegian Love Song) for viola or cello and piano, Op.36 No.3
- Seven Songs to Poems
- Tre Dialoger (Three Dialogues) for flute and viola, Op.50 (1976)
- Ver sanctum
Other sources
- Gaukstad, Øystein Sparre Olsen bibliography (in "Metamorfose. Festskrift til C. G. Sparre Olsen". Universitetsforlaget, 1983) ISBN 82-7093-024-5