Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1921

Death

:

2006

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Arne Oddvar Dørumsgaard was a Norwegian composer, pianist, and musicologist who was born on August 13, 1921, in Oslo, Norway. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. His father, Oddvar Dørumsgaard, was a well-known composer and conductor in Norway, and his mother, Ingeborg Dørumsgaard, was a pianist and music teacher. Dørumsgaard began his musical education at an early age, studying piano with his mother and later with the renowned Norwegian pianist Einar Steen-Nøkleberg. He also studied composition with his father and later with the composer Bjarne Brustad. In 1940, he enrolled at the Oslo Conservatory of Music, where he studied composition with the composer and musicologist Geirr Tveitt. During World War II, Dørumsgaard was active in the Norwegian resistance movement and was arrested by the Gestapo in 1944. He was imprisoned in several concentration camps, including Sachsenhausen and Bergen-Belsen, before being liberated by the British Army in 1945. His experiences during the war had a profound impact on his life and music, and he later wrote several works inspired by his time in the concentration camps. After the war, Dørumsgaard resumed his studies at the Oslo Conservatory of Music and graduated in 1947. He then spent several years studying musicology at the University of Oslo, where he earned a doctorate in 1955. He also studied composition with the composer and conductor Igor Markevitch in Paris. Dørumsgaard's music is characterized by its lyrical melodies, rich harmonies, and emotional depth. He was influenced by a wide range of musical styles, including Norwegian folk music, classical music, and jazz. His works include orchestral music, chamber music, vocal music, and solo piano music. One of Dørumsgaard's most famous works is his Piano Concerto No. 1, which he composed in 1950. The concerto is a virtuosic showcase for the soloist, with sweeping melodies and intricate passagework. It has been performed by many of the world's leading pianists, including Emil Gilels, Sviatoslav Richter, and Martha Argerich. Another notable work by Dørumsgaard is his Symphony No. 1, which he composed in 1953. The symphony is a powerful and emotional work, with a sweeping opening theme and a haunting slow movement. It has been performed by many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Oslo Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra. Dørumsgaard also wrote several works inspired by his experiences during World War II, including his String Quartet No. 2, which he composed in 1950. The quartet is a deeply personal work, with a hauntingly beautiful slow movement that reflects the composer's experiences in the concentration camps. In addition to his work as a composer, Dørumsgaard was also a respected musicologist and wrote several books on Norwegian music. He was a professor of musicology at the University of Oslo from 1962 to 1988 and was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. Dørumsgaard's contributions to Norwegian music were recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the King's Medal of Merit in gold and the Order of St. Olav. He died on January 22, 2006, in Oslo, Norway, at the age of 84. In conclusion, Arne Oddvar Dørumsgaard was a highly respected composer, pianist, and musicologist who made significant contributions to Norwegian music.

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