Olav Gurvin
Encyclopedia
Olav Gurvin was a Norwegian
musicologist
, a professor at the University of Oslo
from 1957. He co-edited the first Norwegian music encyclopedia
in 1949, and edited the magazine Norsk Musikkliv from 1942 to 1951.
as the son of teacher Elling Olson Gurvin and Kristina Olsdatter Flugem. He married Dagny Siqveland in 1947.
in 1928. Between 1930 and 1947 he was a conductor for various choirs in Oslo. He delivered his doctoral thesis in 1938, titled . He lectured at the University of Oslo from 1937. He published the complete works of Rikard Nordraak
works in 1942, in cooperation with Øyvind Anker
.
During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
he was a member of the resistance movement, and from 1943 he represented musicians in the Coordination Committee's subgroup for culture.
He edited the magazine Norsk Musikkliv from 1942 to 1951, and was a music critic for the newspaper Verdens Gang from 1945 to 1958. Together with Øyvind Anker he also co-edited the first Norwegian music encyclopedia, titled Musikkleksikon and published in 1949.
His ethnomusicological
studies in the 1950s resulted in the development of an electroacustical apparatus
for melody analysis. He was appointed professor in musicology from 1957. He edited the first five volumes of a series of string
air
s for Hardingfele
, from 1958 to 1967. In 1962 he published a biography on Fartein Valen
. He was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1968.
.) (Book series on string
air
s for Hardingfele
. Editor of five volumes from 1958 to 1967). (Biography of Fartein Valen
).
Norwegians
Norwegians constitute both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway. They share a common culture and speak the Norwegian language. Norwegian people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in United States, Canada and Brazil.-History:Towards the end of the 3rd...
musicologist
Musicology
Musicology is the scholarly study of music. The word is used in narrow, broad and intermediate senses. In the narrow sense, musicology is confined to the music history of Western culture...
, a professor at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
from 1957. He co-edited the first Norwegian music encyclopedia
Encyclopedia
An encyclopedia is a type of reference work, a compendium holding a summary of information from either all branches of knowledge or a particular branch of knowledge....
in 1949, and edited the magazine Norsk Musikkliv from 1942 to 1951.
Personal life
Gurvin was born in TysnesTysnes
Tysnes is a municipality in the county of Hordaland, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sunnhordland. The administrative centre is the village of Uggdal....
as the son of teacher Elling Olson Gurvin and Kristina Olsdatter Flugem. He married Dagny Siqveland in 1947.
Career
Gurvin studied musicology at the Universities of Heidelberg and Berlin, and graduated from the University of OsloUniversity of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
in 1928. Between 1930 and 1947 he was a conductor for various choirs in Oslo. He delivered his doctoral thesis in 1938, titled . He lectured at the University of Oslo from 1937. He published the complete works of Rikard Nordraak
Rikard Nordraak
Rikard Nordraak was a Norwegian composer. He is best known as the composer of the Norwegian national anthem.-Biography:...
works in 1942, in cooperation with Øyvind Anker
Øyvind Anker
-Personal life:He was born in Frankfurt am Main as a son of engineer Nils Botvid Anker and artist and pianist Gudrun Nilssen . He grew up in Vestre Aker and Lillehammer. He was a brother of Synnøve Anker Aurdal, and through her a brother-in-law of Ludvig Eikaas. Through another sister Ella he was...
.
During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
he was a member of the resistance movement, and from 1943 he represented musicians in the Coordination Committee's subgroup for culture.
He edited the magazine Norsk Musikkliv from 1942 to 1951, and was a music critic for the newspaper Verdens Gang from 1945 to 1958. Together with Øyvind Anker he also co-edited the first Norwegian music encyclopedia, titled Musikkleksikon and published in 1949.
His ethnomusicological
Ethnomusicology
Ethnomusicology is defined as "the study of social and cultural aspects of music and dance in local and global contexts."Coined by the musician Jaap Kunst from the Greek words ἔθνος ethnos and μουσική mousike , it is often considered the anthropology or ethnography of music...
studies in the 1950s resulted in the development of an electroacustical apparatus
Melograph
The Melograph, similar to the Melodiograph, is a mechanical apparatus for ethnomusicological transcription usually producing some sort of graph that can be preserved and filed, similar to a recording of music...
for melody analysis. He was appointed professor in musicology from 1957. He edited the first five volumes of a series of string
String instrument
A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
air
Air (music)
Air , a variant of the musical song form, is the name of various song-like vocal or instrumental compositions.-English lute ayres:...
s for Hardingfele
Hardingfele
A Hardanger fiddle is a traditional stringed instrument used originally to play the music of Norway. In modern designs, the instruments are very similar to the violin, though with eight or nine strings and thinner wood...
, from 1958 to 1967. In 1962 he published a biography on Fartein Valen
Fartein Valen
Olav Fartein Valen was a Norwegian composer and musical theorist, notable for his work within atonal polyphonic music.-Background:...
. He was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1968.
Selected works
(thesis). (Norway's first music encyclopedia. Co-editor with Øyvind AnkerØyvind Anker
-Personal life:He was born in Frankfurt am Main as a son of engineer Nils Botvid Anker and artist and pianist Gudrun Nilssen . He grew up in Vestre Aker and Lillehammer. He was a brother of Synnøve Anker Aurdal, and through her a brother-in-law of Ludvig Eikaas. Through another sister Ella he was...
.) (Book series on string
String instrument
A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
air
Air (music)
Air , a variant of the musical song form, is the name of various song-like vocal or instrumental compositions.-English lute ayres:...
s for Hardingfele
Hardingfele
A Hardanger fiddle is a traditional stringed instrument used originally to play the music of Norway. In modern designs, the instruments are very similar to the violin, though with eight or nine strings and thinner wood...
. Editor of five volumes from 1958 to 1967). (Biography of Fartein Valen
Fartein Valen
Olav Fartein Valen was a Norwegian composer and musical theorist, notable for his work within atonal polyphonic music.-Background:...
).