Sigurd Islandsmoen
Encyclopedia
Sigurd Islandsmoen was a Norwegian
composer
. Sigurd Islandsmoen made significant contributions to the music of the Church of Norway
. In all he wrote some 70 opus, among these five feature-length works for orchestra, choir and soloists. He is perhaps best known for his composition Requiem written between 1935-36 and first premiered in 1943.
(Sør-Aurdal
), in Oppland
county, Norway. He grew up on the family farm, the youngest of nine siblings. He was the brother of Norwegian educator and politician, Olaus Islandsmoen
. He studied at the music academy of Oslo, later as well in Leipzig
, where amongst others Max Reger
was his teacher. The time in Leipzig is believed to have had a great influence on his musical development, and especially the organist Karl Straube
(1873-1950) and conductor Arthur Nikisch
(1855-1922).
He took an exam at Elverum
Teacher Academy in 1904 and worked as a teacher from 1904-16. First he worked as a teacher and organist for some years in his home village of Bagn, and later he worked for the six years as music teacher in Gjøvik
. From 1916 to 1961 he was church organist in Moss, Norway
. Through his position as organist at Moss, he made a great effort for the city's musical life. He initiated the formation of Moss Orchestra Association in 1924 and served as conductor for a long series of years. He was also the leader of several local choir and bands as well.
. Other notable pieces included Requiem (premiered in 1943), an opera - Gudrun Laugar, two symphonies, oratorios, Israel i fangenskap (premiered in 1931) and Heimat frå Babel ( first performed in 1934), choral work Missa solemnis (premiered in 1954), two symphonies, Norsk Ouvertyre and other orchestral works, chamber music, piano and organ works and a number of choir.
Islandsmoen was knighted by First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav and from 1952 received a Government artist salary. Bagn Bygdesamling
containing an exhibition of Islandsmoen's work. This is a small museum on the home farm in Sør-Aurdal, which was created by his brother, Olaus Islandsmoen.
A teacher at Oslo Conservatory of Music his students include Bjørn Fongaard
.
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...
. Sigurd Islandsmoen made significant contributions to the music of the Church of Norway
Church of Norway
The Church of Norway is the state church of Norway, established after the Lutheran reformation in Denmark-Norway in 1536-1537 broke the ties to the Holy See. The church confesses the Lutheran Christian faith...
. In all he wrote some 70 opus, among these five feature-length works for orchestra, choir and soloists. He is perhaps best known for his composition Requiem written between 1935-36 and first premiered in 1943.
Background
Sigurd Islandsmoen was born in BagnBagn
Bagn is the administrative centre of Sør-Aurdal municipality, Norway. Its population is 607.Attractions include the Valdrestunet mall as well as Bagn Bygdesamling....
(Sør-Aurdal
Sør-Aurdal
Sør-Aurdal is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Valdres. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Bagn....
), 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....
county, Norway. He grew up on the family farm, the youngest of nine siblings. He was the brother of Norwegian educator and politician, Olaus Islandsmoen
Olaus Islandsmoen
Olaus Islandsmoen was a Norwegian educator, museologist and politician.He was headmaster at Vestoppland Folk High School from 1906 to 1939. He was a member of the Parliament of Norway from 1916 to 1918. He was a chairman of Noregs Mållag from 1917 to 1921. He co-founded of the organization Norske...
. He studied at the music academy of Oslo, later as well 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...
, where amongst others Max Reger
Max Reger
Johann Baptist Joseph Maximilian Reger was a German composer, conductor, pianist, organist, and academic teacher.-Life:...
was his teacher. The time in Leipzig is believed to have had a great influence on his musical development, and especially the organist Karl Straube
Karl Straube
Montgomery Rufus Karl/Carl Siegfried Straube was a German church musician , organist, and choral conductor, famous above all for championing the abundant organ music of Max Reger. He studied organ under Heinrich Reimann in Berlin from 1894 to 1897 and became a widely respected concert organist...
(1873-1950) and conductor Arthur Nikisch
Arthur Nikisch
Arthur Nikisch ; 12 October 185523 January 1922) was a Hungarian conductor who performed internationally, holding posts in Boston, London and - most importantly - Berlin. He was considered an outstanding interpreter of the music of Bruckner, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and Liszt...
(1855-1922).
He took an exam at Elverum
Elverum
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Østerdalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Elverum...
Teacher Academy in 1904 and worked as a teacher from 1904-16. First he worked as a teacher and organist for some years in his home village of Bagn, and later he worked for the six years as music teacher in Gjøvik
Gjøvik
is a town and a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Gjøvik.In 1861, the village of Gjøvik in the municipality of Vardal was granted town status and was separated from Vardal to form a separate municipality...
. From 1916 to 1961 he was church organist in Moss, Norway
Moss, Norway
is a coastal city and a municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Moss. The city of Moss was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
. Through his position as organist at Moss, he made a great effort for the city's musical life. He initiated the formation of Moss Orchestra Association in 1924 and served as conductor for a long series of years. He was also the leader of several local choir and bands as well.
Career
He composed numerous oratorio and orchestral works, chamber music, piano, organ and choir works. Perhaps his most popular work is the song Det lysnet i skogen with lyrics by Jørgen MoeJørgen Moe
right|thumb|Norske Folkeeventyr Asbjørnsen and Moe Jørgen Engebretsen Moe was a Norwegian bishop and author...
. Other notable pieces included Requiem (premiered in 1943), an opera - Gudrun Laugar, two symphonies, oratorios, Israel i fangenskap (premiered in 1931) and Heimat frå Babel ( first performed in 1934), choral work Missa solemnis (premiered in 1954), two symphonies, Norsk Ouvertyre and other orchestral works, chamber music, piano and organ works and a number of choir.
Islandsmoen was knighted by First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav and from 1952 received a Government artist salary. Bagn Bygdesamling
Bagn Bygdesamling
Bagn Bydesamling is a small museum located in the hamlet of Dolven, south of Bagn in Sør-Aurdal, Norway.-History:The museum was founded in 1920 on the Islandsmoen farm. It includes the farm itself, a saw mill, a flour mill and other furnished buildings. The museum consisting of 12 log buildings...
containing an exhibition of Islandsmoen's work. This is a small museum on the home farm in Sør-Aurdal, which was created by his brother, Olaus Islandsmoen.
A teacher at Oslo Conservatory of Music his students include Bjørn Fongaard
Bjørn Fongaard
Bjørn Fongaard was a Norwegian composer, guitarist, and teacher. In addition to being concerned with microtonal and electronic music, he was perhaps the first to use the prepared guitar....
.
Selected works
- Norsk Ouvertyre, (1913)
- Israel i fangenskap, (1931)
- Heimatt frå Babel, (1934)
- Requiem, (1943)
- Missa Solemnis, (1954)
- Gudrun Laugar, (1964)
- Israel i fangenskap, (1931)