Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

November 8, 1888

Death

:

February 20, 1974

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

David Monrad Johansen was a Norwegian composer born on November 8, 1888, in Vefsn, Norway. He was the son of a schoolteacher and grew up in a musical family. His father played the organ, and his mother sang in the church choir. Johansen showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of six. Johansen's musical education began at the age of 14 when he was sent to study at the Oslo Conservatory of Music. He studied piano, composition, and music theory under the guidance of some of Norway's most prominent musicians, including Catharinus Elling, Christian Sinding, and Johan Halvorsen. In 1912, Johansen traveled to Berlin to study with the renowned composer Max Bruch. He spent two years in Berlin, where he was exposed to the latest trends in European music. During this time, he also met and befriended other Norwegian composers, including Fartein Valen and Harald Sæverud. Johansen returned to Norway in 1914 and began his career as a composer. His early works were influenced by the Romantic tradition, but he soon began to experiment with new forms and techniques. In 1921, he composed his first major work, the Symphony in B-flat minor. The symphony was well-received and established Johansen as one of Norway's leading composers. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Johansen continued to compose works that blended traditional Norwegian folk music with modernist techniques. He was particularly interested in the music of the Sami people, the indigenous people of northern Norway, and incorporated Sami melodies and rhythms into many of his compositions. One of Johansen's most famous works is the ballet "The Song of the Earth," which he composed in 1933. The ballet tells the story of a young Sami girl who falls in love with a Norwegian man. The music is a fusion of Sami and Norwegian folk music, and the ballet was a critical and commercial success. Johansen's music was not without controversy, however. In the 1930s, he became involved in the Norwegian fascist movement and composed music for their rallies and events. He later renounced his fascist beliefs and apologized for his involvement in the movement. During World War II, Johansen's music was banned by the Nazi occupation authorities in Norway. He continued to compose in secret, however, and his music was performed in underground concerts and private homes. After the war, Johansen's music fell out of favor with the Norwegian musical establishment. He was seen as a controversial figure, and his fascist past was held against him. Despite this, he continued to compose and teach music until his death in 1974. Today, Johansen is recognized as one of Norway's most important composers of the 20th century. His music is characterized by its fusion of traditional Norwegian folk music with modernist techniques, and his works continue to be performed and recorded by orchestras and ensembles around the world.

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