Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

September 13, 1858 in Oslo, Norway

Death

:

January 8, 1942 in Oslo, Norway

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

Catharinus Elling was a Norwegian composer and musicologist who lived from 1858 to 1942. He was born in the town of Kragerø, Norway, and showed an early interest in music. His father was a church organist, and Elling began playing the organ at a young age. He also studied piano and violin, and showed a talent for composition. Elling studied music at the Leipzig Conservatory in Germany, where he was exposed to the works of the great composers of the time, including Wagner, Brahms, and Liszt. He also studied musicology, and became interested in the folk music of Norway and other countries. He returned to Norway in 1882, and began a career as a composer and musicologist. Elling's early works were influenced by the Romantic composers of the time, and he wrote a number of pieces for piano, violin, and voice. He also wrote several choral works, including a setting of the Norwegian national anthem. In 1890, he published a collection of Norwegian folk songs, which he had collected and arranged for piano and voice. Elling's interest in folk music led him to become involved in the movement to promote Norwegian national identity through music. He was a member of the Norwegian Society of Composers, and was involved in the organization of the Bergen International Festival, which was founded in 1898. He also served as the director of the Norwegian National Opera from 1919 to 1921. Elling's most famous work is his Symphony in G minor, which he composed in 1897. The symphony is a large-scale work for orchestra, and is considered one of the most important Norwegian symphonies of the late 19th century. The work is notable for its use of Norwegian folk melodies, which are woven into the fabric of the music. The symphony was premiered in Oslo in 1898, and was well-received by audiences and critics alike. Elling continued to compose throughout his life, and wrote a number of other works for orchestra, including a suite based on Norwegian folk songs, and a tone poem based on the legend of Peer Gynt. He also wrote a number of chamber works, including a string quartet and a piano trio. In addition to his work as a composer, Elling was also a respected musicologist. He wrote a number of articles and books on Norwegian folk music, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Norwegian Folk Music Archive in Oslo. He also served as a professor of musicology at the University of Oslo from 1917 to 1928. Elling's contributions to Norwegian music were recognized during his lifetime. He was awarded the Order of St. Olav in 1928, and was made a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog by the King of Denmark in 1933. He died in Oslo in 1942, at the age of 84. Today, Elling is remembered as one of the most important Norwegian composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His use of Norwegian folk melodies in his music helped to establish a distinct Norwegian musical identity, and his work as a musicologist helped to preserve and promote Norwegian folk music for future generations. His Symphony in G minor remains a beloved work in the Norwegian classical music repertoire, and his contributions to Norwegian music continue to be celebrated today.

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