Eyvind Alnæs
Encyclopedia
Eyvind Alnæs was a Norwegian
composer
, pianist
, organist
and choir director.
Alnæs studied music first in Oslo with Iver Holter
, then in Leipzig
with Carl Reinecke
and, after the première of his first symphony in 1896, in Berlin
with Julius Ruthardt
.
From 1895 to 1907 Alnæs served as an organist in Drammen
, and then for many years played the organ in several churches and conducted
choir
s in Oslo. He helped found the Norwegian Society of Composers.
Alnæs wrote music in a late Romantic style; his output included two symphonies
, one set of symphonic variations
, a piano concerto
, pieces for piano
, chorale preludes
for organ, choral works, and art songs
(in Norwegian
, romanser).
and Feodor Chaliapin
. In 2007 the first recording of Alnæs's Piano Concerto in D major, Op. 27 was released; it featured Piers Lane
as the piano soloist and the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
conducted by Andrew Litton
. In early 2010 the premiere recording of his two symphonies - no.1 in C minor, Op.7 and no.2 in D major, Op.43 - was released, with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Terje Mikkelsen.
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...
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...
, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, organist
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
and choir director.
Alnæs studied music first in Oslo with Iver Holter
Iver Holter
Iver Paul Fredrik Holter was a Norwegian composer. He was conductor and music director of the Oslo Philharmonic for a quarter century....
, then in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
with Carl Reinecke
Carl Reinecke
Carl Heinrich Carsten Reinecke was a German composer, conductor, and pianist.-Biography:Reinecke was born in Altona, Hamburg, Germany; until 1864 the town was under Danish rule. He studied with his father, Johann Peter Rudolph Reinecke, a music teacher...
and, after the première of his first symphony in 1896, in 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...
with Julius Ruthardt
Julius Ruthardt
Julius Ruthardt was a German violinist and composer.Born in Stuttgart to Friedrich Ruthardt, an oboist and composer, the younger Ruthardt became a violinist in the Stuttgart court orchestra at a young age in 1855, then Kapellmeister at the theatre in Riga from 1871 and in Leipzig from 1882...
.
From 1895 to 1907 Alnæs served as an organist in Drammen
Drammen
Drammen is a city in Buskerud County, Norway. The port and river city of Drammen is centrally located in the eastern and most populated part of Norway.-Location:...
, and then for many years played the organ in several churches and conducted
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
s in Oslo. He helped found the Norwegian Society of Composers.
Alnæs wrote music in a late Romantic style; his output included two symphonies
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
, one set of symphonic variations
Variation (music)
In music, variation is a formal technique where material is repeated in an altered form. The changes may involve harmony, melody, counterpoint, rhythm, timbre, orchestration or any combination of these.-Variation form:...
, a piano concerto
Piano concerto
A piano concerto is a concerto written for piano and orchestra.See also harpsichord concerto; some of these works are occasionally played on piano...
, pieces for piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, chorale preludes
Prelude (music)
A prelude is a short piece of music, the form of which may vary from piece to piece. The prelude can be thought of as a preface. It may stand on its own or introduce another work...
for organ, choral works, and art songs
Lied
is a German word literally meaning "song", usually used to describe romantic songs setting German poems of reasonably high literary aspirations, especially during the nineteenth century, beginning with Carl Loewe, Heinrich Marschner, and Franz Schubert and culminating with Hugo Wolf...
(in Norwegian
Norwegian language
Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language...
, romanser).
Discography
A number of songs by Alnæs have been recorded by the likes of Kirsten FlagstadKirsten Flagstad
Kirsten Målfrid Flagstad was a Norwegian opera singer and a highly regarded Wagnerian soprano...
and Feodor Chaliapin
Feodor Chaliapin
Feodor Ivanovich Chaliapin was a Russian opera singer. The possessor of a large and expressive bass voice, he enjoyed an important international career at major opera houses and is often credited with establishing the tradition of naturalistic acting in his chosen art form.During the first phase...
. In 2007 the first recording of Alnæs's Piano Concerto in D major, Op. 27 was released; it featured Piers Lane
Piers Lane
Piers Lane is an Australian classical pianist. His performance career has taken him to more than 40 countries. His concerto repertoire exceeds 75 works.- Early life :...
as the piano soloist and the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the world's oldest orchestral institutions. It performs some 110 concerts a year, and is based at the 1,500-seat Grieg Hall in Bergen, Norway.-History:...
conducted by Andrew Litton
Andrew Litton
Andrew Litton is an American orchestral conductor. Litton is a graduate of The Fieldston School, and holds both undergraduate and Masters degrees in music from Juilliard....
. In early 2010 the premiere recording of his two symphonies - no.1 in C minor, Op.7 and no.2 in D major, Op.43 - was released, with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra
Latvian National Symphony Orchestra
The Latvian National Symphony Orchestra is Latvia's main symphony orchestra. It was founded in 1926 as the Latvian Radio Centre Orchestra by the conductor, Arvīds Pārups. Its current Chief Conductor and Artistic Director is Karel Mark Chichon...
conducted by Terje Mikkelsen.