Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Norway

Birth

:

July 19, 1906

Death

:

March 7, 1979

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

Klaus Egge was a Norwegian composer who was born on March 19, 1906, in Gransherad, Telemark, Norway. He was the son of a farmer and grew up in a rural area. Egge showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of six. He received his first formal music education at the age of 12 when he began taking lessons from a local organist. In 1924, Egge moved to Oslo to study music at the Oslo Conservatory of Music. He studied composition with the renowned Norwegian composer, Bjarne Brustad, and piano with Einar Steen-Nøkleberg. Egge was a talented student and quickly gained recognition for his compositions. In 1928, he won the prestigious Lindeman Prize for his String Quartet No. 1. After completing his studies at the Oslo Conservatory, Egge traveled to Berlin to study with the German composer, Paul Hindemith. Hindemith was a major influence on Egge's music, and he incorporated many of Hindemith's techniques into his own compositions. Egge's early works were heavily influenced by Norwegian folk music and the music of Edvard Grieg. However, as he matured as a composer, he began to incorporate more modernist techniques into his music. His music became more complex and dissonant, and he began to experiment with different forms and structures. One of Egge's most significant works is his Symphony No. 1, which he composed in 1934. The symphony is a powerful and dramatic work that showcases Egge's skill as a composer. It is a four-movement work that features a large orchestra and incorporates elements of Norwegian folk music. During World War II, Egge was active in the Norwegian resistance movement. He composed music for underground radio broadcasts and wrote patriotic songs to boost morale. After the war, he continued to compose music and became one of Norway's most respected composers. In 1953, Egge was appointed as a professor of composition at the Oslo Conservatory of Music. He held this position until his retirement in 1976. During his tenure at the conservatory, he taught many of Norway's most prominent composers, including Arne Nordheim and Ketil Hvoslef. Egge's later works continued to explore new forms and techniques. He was particularly interested in the use of electronic music and incorporated electronic sounds into many of his compositions. One of his most significant works from this period is his Symphony No. 4, which he composed in 1966. The symphony is a groundbreaking work that incorporates electronic sounds and features a large orchestra. Egge's music has been performed by many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra. He received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the King's Medal of Merit in Gold and the Order of St. Olav. Klaus Egge died on December 7, 1979, in Oslo, Norway. He is remembered as one of Norway's most important composers and a pioneer of modernist music in Norway. His music continues to be performed and recorded today, and his legacy as a composer and teacher lives on.

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