F. Melius Christiansen
Encyclopedia
F. Melius Christiansen was a Norwegian-born
violin
ist and choral conductor in the Lutheran choral tradition.
county, Norway
and emigrated to the United States at the age of 17. He settled in Washburn, Wisconsin
. He studied at Augsburg College
. In 1897, he returned to Europe to study three years at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Leipzig, Germany.
president John N. Kildahl
. The St. Olaf Choir was founded as an outgrowth of the St. John's Lutheran Church Choir in Northfield. For the next 30 years, Christiansen led the St. Olaf Choir, striving for perfect intonation, blend, diction and phrasing. He was a skilled conductor, directing bands and choirs alike. He assumed direction of the St. Olaf Band
in 1903, and took the ensemble on tour to Norway
in 1906 to play for King Haakon VII, making it the first college music ensemble to conduct a tour abroad. Though his first love was the violin, he received international fame as founding director of the St. Olaf Choir
of St. Olaf College
in Northfield, Minnesota
, USA from 1912 to 1944. Christiansen was considered a pioneer in the art of a cappella
(unaccompanied) choral music. Christiansen composed and arranged over 250 musical selections and his choral techniques were spread throughout the U.S. by St. Olaf graduates. The great Christiansen choral tradition is a recognized feature of American Lutheranism.
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...
violin
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 choral conductor in the Lutheran choral tradition.
Background
Frederick Melius Christiansen, the son of a Norwegian factory worker, was born in Eidsvold, municipality in AkershusAkershus
- Geography :The county is conventionally divided into the traditional districts Follo and Romerike, which fill the vast part of the county, as well as the small exclave west of Oslo that consists of Asker and Bærum...
county, 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...
and emigrated to the United States at the age of 17. He settled in Washburn, Wisconsin
Washburn, Wisconsin
Washburn is a city in Bayfield County, in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 2,280 at the 2000 census. The city is just east of and adjacent to the Town of Washburn...
. He studied at Augsburg College
Augsburg College
Augsburg College is a selective liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Augsburg was named for the Augsburg Confession, the document of Lutheran belief. The school was founded in 1869 in Marshall, Wisconsin as Augsburg Seminary and moved...
. In 1897, he returned to Europe to study three years at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Leipzig, Germany.
Career
In 1901, Christiansen was recruited by St. Olaf CollegeSt. Olaf College
St. Olaf College is a coeducational, residential, four-year, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after Olaf II of Norway,...
president John N. Kildahl
John N. Kildahl
John Nathan Kildahl was an American Lutheran church minister, author and educator.-Background:Kildahl was born in Beitstaden parish , Nord-Trøndelag, Norway. Kildahl emigrated as a boy from Norway to rural Goodhue County, Minnesota. He was educated at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa...
. The St. Olaf Choir was founded as an outgrowth of the St. John's Lutheran Church Choir in Northfield. For the next 30 years, Christiansen led the St. Olaf Choir, striving for perfect intonation, blend, diction and phrasing. He was a skilled conductor, directing bands and choirs alike. He assumed direction of the St. Olaf Band
St. Olaf Band
The St. Olaf Band, an ensemble of approximately 90 musicians, is the touring concert band of St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota. The band was founded in 1891, and holds the honor of being the first music organization established at St. Olaf. F. Melius Christiansen assumed leadership of the...
in 1903, and took the ensemble on tour to 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...
in 1906 to play for King Haakon VII, making it the first college music ensemble to conduct a tour abroad. Though his first love was the violin, he received international fame as founding director of the St. Olaf Choir
St. Olaf Choir
The St. Olaf Choir, a 75 voice mixed ensemble, is the touring a cappella choir of St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota. Officially founded in 1912 by music faculty member F. Melius Christiansen as the St. Olaf Lutheran Choir, it began as an outgrowth of the local St. John's Lutheran Church,...
of St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College
St. Olaf College is a coeducational, residential, four-year, private liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1874 by a group of Norwegian-American immigrant pastors and farmers, led by Pastor Bernt Julius Muus. The college is named after Olaf II of Norway,...
in Northfield, Minnesota
Northfield, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 17,147 people, 4,909 households, and 3,210 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,452.2 people per square mile . There were 5,119 housing units at an average density of 732.1 per square mile...
, USA from 1912 to 1944. Christiansen was considered a pioneer in the art of a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
(unaccompanied) choral music. Christiansen composed and arranged over 250 musical selections and his choral techniques were spread throughout the U.S. by St. Olaf graduates. The great Christiansen choral tradition is a recognized feature of American Lutheranism.
Family Tradition
Four of Dr. Christiansen's children survived to adulthood each of them adding their own legacy to the Christiansen tradition of choral music in America.- Jake Christiansen -Coach and Athletic director at Concordia CollegeConcordia College, MoorheadConcordia College is a private liberal arts school located in Moorhead, Minnesota, United States. It is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and offers bachelors' degrees in the arts and music, as well as a master's degree in education. The college was founded by Norwegian...
. Jake Christiansen Stadium, "the Jake," was built in his honor. - Dr.Olaf Christiansen- Olaf Succeeded his father as head of the music department at St. Olaf College and conductor of the St. Olaf ChoirSt. Olaf ChoirThe St. Olaf Choir, a 75 voice mixed ensemble, is the touring a cappella choir of St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota. Officially founded in 1912 by music faculty member F. Melius Christiansen as the St. Olaf Lutheran Choir, it began as an outgrowth of the local St. John's Lutheran Church,...
. His accomplishments include many choral arrangements and more than twenty years of conducting the St. Olaf Choir. - Dr. Paul J. ChristiansenPaul J. ChristiansenPaul Joseph Christiansen was a noted American choral conductor and composer. As the youngest son of F. Melius Christiansen, he was brought up into the Lutheran Choral Tradition and quickly developed his own style of conducting and composing that furthered the tradition started by his father...
- Paul J. conducted The Concordia ChoirThe Concordia ChoirThe Concordia Choir is a critically acclaimed 75-voice ensemble known for its distinctive sound and regarded as one the finest a cappella choirs in the world. The ensemble is a highly selective mixed-voice choral ensemble composed entirely of students at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota.The...
from 1937–1986, developing the choir into what is now one of the worlds finest and most accomplished undergraduate acappella choirs. Paul J., like his father, composed and arranged hundreds of hymns and countless choral compositions. Paul J. Christiansen helped to spread his fathers music and tradition (as well as developing his own reputation of excellence) to generations. - Elsa Christiansen Wycisk- married Kurt Wycisk manager of the Concordia Choir.