Otto Nielsen
Encyclopedia
Otto Nielsen was a Norwegian songwriter, revue writer, cabaret singer and radio personality. He participated in Norwegian cultural life for five decades, starting from the 1930s, and played an important role behind the scene as program manager for the radio program series Søndagsposten for over twenty years.
as a son of Karl Otto Severin Nielsen and his wife Anna Louise Kaspersen Berg. He was married to dancer and choreographer
Elsa Emilie Ramberg from 1938 to 1945, and to nurse Aslaug Josefine Becker Fossum from 1953.
in Trondheim. Their first recordings were Et luftslott på månen/Haveorkesteret and På turné/Hans og Grete from 1934, and the duo issued several 78`` records during the 1930s. The duo also produced children's programs for Trøndelag Kringkaster in Trondheim, and Nielsen co-wrote the first Norwegian operetta for radio, Postboks 39. He also wrote a children's operatta, Spilledåsen in 1939.
, Nielsen was arrested in November 1942 and held at Møllergata 19
for three weeks, and again arrested in November 1943 and held at the Grini concentration camp until May 1945. While staying at Grini he orchestred several cabarets for the prisoners. His song Det har vi was first performed inside the camp in 1944, and the song found its way out and became very popular. Another of Nielsen's Grini songs was Grinimarsjen. The duo Gerd and Otto's most popular hit was the song En grønnmalt benk from 1948.
, Birgitte Grimstad, Lars Klevstrand and Stein Ove Berg. Among Nielsen's songs from the 1950s are Prinsessen i berget det blå (1952), Litjvisa mi (1958) and Gamlemor og Vesleblakken (1959).
's popular song Du skal få en dag i mårå (1966). He wrote the song text for Jeg vil være tung, with melody composed by Arne Bendiksen
. His book Søndagspostens bok was issued in 1967.
honorary award in 1975, and the revue award Leonard Statuette
for 1979. Nielsens and his sister Gerd (Røstad) made a re-recording of some of their best known songs in 1982, issued on the Polydor album Svanesang i stereo.
The street Otto Nielsens vei at Tyholt
in Trondheim is named after him.
Personal life
Nielsen was born in TrondheimTrondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
as a son of Karl Otto Severin Nielsen and his wife Anna Louise Kaspersen Berg. He was married to dancer and choreographer
Choreography
Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" ...
Elsa Emilie Ramberg from 1938 to 1945, and to nurse Aslaug Josefine Becker Fossum from 1953.
1930s
Nilsen co-formed the song duo Gerd og Otto in 1930, together with his younger sister Gerd. The group had its first appearance at Trøndelag TeaterTrøndelag Teater
Trøndelag Teater is a large theater in the city of Trondheim, in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway.-Background:Trøndelag Teater stages large-scale dance and musical performances. Originally built in 1816, the theater is the oldest stage in Scandinavia in continuous use...
in Trondheim. Their first recordings were Et luftslott på månen/Haveorkesteret and På turné/Hans og Grete from 1934, and the duo issued several 78`` records during the 1930s. The duo also produced children's programs for Trøndelag Kringkaster in Trondheim, and Nielsen co-wrote the first Norwegian operetta for radio, Postboks 39. He also wrote a children's operatta, Spilledåsen in 1939.
1940s
Following the outbreak of World War IIWorld 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...
, Nielsen was arrested in November 1942 and held at Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19 is an address in Oslo, Norway where the city's main police station and jail was located. The address gained notoriety during the German occupation from 1940 to 1945, when the Nazi security police kept its headquarters here...
for three weeks, and again arrested in November 1943 and held at the Grini concentration camp until May 1945. While staying at Grini he orchestred several cabarets for the prisoners. His song Det har vi was first performed inside the camp in 1944, and the song found its way out and became very popular. Another of Nielsen's Grini songs was Grinimarsjen. The duo Gerd and Otto's most popular hit was the song En grønnmalt benk from 1948.
1950s
Nilsen was program editor for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation's program series Søndagsposten from 1958 to 1979. In this position he played an important role behind the Norwegian cultural scene. Several singer-songwriters saw their first songs performed in this program, including Kari BremnesKari Bremnes
Kari Bremnes is a Norwegian singer and songwriter.She got an M.A. in language, literature , history and theater studies from the University of Oslo, and worked as a journalist for several years before deciding to dedicate herself to music full time.In 1987 she received the Spellemannprisen for the...
, Birgitte Grimstad, Lars Klevstrand and Stein Ove Berg. Among Nielsen's songs from the 1950s are Prinsessen i berget det blå (1952), Litjvisa mi (1958) and Gamlemor og Vesleblakken (1959).
1960s
In the 1960s Nielsen wrote songs such as Hemmeligheten from 1961 and Fiskeribølgen from 1964. His song Pappa'n til Tove Mette from 1964 had a melody composed by Willy Andresen, and På ski (1965) had a melody by Robert Normann. Nielsen composed the melody for Alf PrøysenAlf Prøysen
Alf Prøysen , was a writer and musician from Norway. He was born at Rudshøgda in Ringsaker. Prøysen was one of the most important Norwegian cultural personalities in the second half of the twentieth century, and he made significant contributions to literature, music, TV and radio.His childhood was...
's popular song Du skal få en dag i mårå (1966). He wrote the song text for Jeg vil være tung, with melody composed by Arne Bendiksen
Arne Bendiksen
Arne Joachim Bendiksen, born 19 October 1926 in Bergen, Norway, died 26 March 2009, was a Norwegian singer, composer and producer, described as "the father of pop music" in Norway....
. His book Søndagspostens bok was issued in 1967.
1970s and 1980s
The album Hajnhojnn i bajnn og 13 andre trønderviser was released in 1975. Nielsen received the SpellemannprisenSpellemannprisen
Spellemannprisen is an award presented to Norwegian musicians for their contributions.-Operation:The award was established on the initiative of International Federation of the Phonographic Industry , an organization that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide...
honorary award in 1975, and the revue award Leonard Statuette
Leonardstatuetten
Leonardstatuetten is a prize awarded by the Norwegian Comedy Writers' Association. The award is named after revue instructor, composer and director Einar Leonard Schanke, one of Norway's most important revue personalities. The prize is regarded the highest distinction in Norwegian revue...
for 1979. Nielsens and his sister Gerd (Røstad) made a re-recording of some of their best known songs in 1982, issued on the Polydor album Svanesang i stereo.
The street Otto Nielsens vei at Tyholt
Tyholt
Tyholt is an area located on the highest point in the city of Trondheim, Norway. It borders to Singsaker in the west, Strindheim in the north, Moholt in the south and Valentinlyst in the east. The area has a good view of Trondheim on the one side and to Lade and Strinda...
in Trondheim is named after him.