Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

June 10, 1922 in Bergen, Norway

Death

:

March 15, 2012

 

Edvard Hagerup Bull was a Norwegian composer and pianist who was born on January 23, 1922, in Oslo, Norway. He was the son of the famous Norwegian violinist Ole Bull and his wife Sara Chapman Thorp. Edvard Bull was the youngest of their three children, and he grew up in a musical family where he was exposed to music from an early age. Edvard Bull began his musical education at the age of six when he started taking piano lessons from his mother. He showed great talent and quickly progressed, and by the age of 12, he was already performing in public. In 1934, he went to Paris to study with the renowned pianist Alfred Cortot, and he continued his studies with him for the next three years. In 1937, Edvard Bull returned to Norway and began studying composition with the composer and conductor Johan Halvorsen. He also continued his piano studies with Einar Steen-Nøkleberg. In 1940, he made his debut as a composer with his Piano Sonata No. 1, which was well received by critics and audiences alike. During World War II, Edvard Bull was active in the Norwegian resistance movement, and he was arrested by the Gestapo in 1943. He was imprisoned for several months before being released, and he continued his musical activities after the war. In 1947, Edvard Bull was awarded a scholarship to study composition with Aaron Copland in the United States. He spent two years studying with Copland, and during this time, he composed several works, including his Symphony No. 1, which was premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1949. After returning to Norway, Edvard Bull continued to compose and perform. He was appointed professor of composition at the Norwegian Academy of Music in 1963, and he held this position until his retirement in 1992. Edvard Bull's music is characterized by its lyrical and expressive qualities, and it often reflects his Norwegian heritage. His works include orchestral music, chamber music, piano music, and vocal music. Some of his most notable works include his Symphony No. 2, his Piano Concerto, his String Quartet No. 1, and his song cycle "Sanger om livet" (Songs about Life). Edvard Bull was also a respected pianist, and he often performed his own works in concert. He was known for his sensitive and nuanced interpretations, and he was highly regarded by his colleagues and audiences alike. Throughout his career, Edvard Bull received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to music. He was awarded the Order of St. Olav in 1972, and he was made a Commander of the Order of Merit in 1982. He was also awarded the Norwegian Music Critics' Prize in 1978 and the Lindeman Prize in 1987. Edvard Bull died on March 22, 2012, at the age of 90. He left behind a legacy of beautiful and expressive music that continues to be performed and enjoyed by audiences around the world.

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