Arne Eggen

Arne Eggen (28 August 1881 in Trondheim, Norway – 26 October 1955 in Bærum, Norway) was a Norwegian composer and organist, married in 1916 to Engel Johanne Othilie Sparre Gulbranson (1878–1918), the brother of musicologist and composer Erik Eggen (1877–1957), and brother-in-law to the opera singer Ellen Gulbranson (1863–1947).[1][2]

Arne Eggen
Arne Eggen in 1927.
Background information
Born(1881-08-28)28 August 1881
Trondheim, Sør-Trøndelag
OriginNorway
Died26 October 1955(1955-10-26) (aged 74)
Bærum, Akershus
GenresClassical, church music
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
InstrumentsChurch organ

Biography

Eggen studied at the Conservatory of Music in Oslo with Catharinus Elling (1858–1942), Peter Brynie Lindeman (1858–1930), and graduated as organist in 1905. He also studied at the Leipzig Conservatory (1906–1907) with Stephan Krehl and Karl Straube (1873–1950). He worked as organist in Bragernes Church (1908–1924), Drammen Church (1908–1924), Bryn Church (1924–1955) and Tanum Church, Bærum. He was chairman of the Norwegian Society of Composers (1927–1945), Honorary Chairman 1945 in TONO 1928–1930. Of his compositions include Oratorio King Olav (1930), the operas Olav Liljekrans (lyrics by Ibsen, 1931–1940) and Cymbelin (lyrics by Shakespeare, 1943–1950), premiered in 1951, with Aase Nordmo Løvberg in the role of Imogen, the choral Mjøsen (mixed choir with piano, 1922), the melodrama Liti Kersti, Cantata to Drammens 100th anniversary (soli, choir and orchestra), music to Liti Kjersti (1915), Symphony in G minor (1920), 2 violin sonatas, cello sonatas, organ works (Ciaconna) and a numerous romances. Stylistically Eggen continued Grieg and Svendsen's national romantic line, and he has been particularly known for his great ability to create beautiful melodies.[2]

He died at Bærum Hospital.[3]

Works
  • Cymbeline, opera after Shakespeare 1951

Recordings

The orchestral work Bjørgulv spelemann (Liti Kersti-suite) ("Bjorgulv the Fiddler") was recorded by the Oslo Philharmonic under conductor Odd Grüner-Hegge in 1951, and again by the Iceland Symphony Orchestra. The psalm-hymn "Ære det evige forår i livet" ("Praise the eternal spring of life") to a text by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, was recorded by Kirsten Flagstad with the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Øivin Fjeldstad.[4]

References
  1. White, John David, & Jean Christensen. 2002. New Music of the Nordic Countries, p. 399 "Among these was Arne Eggen (1881–1955) who composed in a post-Griegian musical style. He crowned his career in 1951 with the premier of his second opera Cymbeline, based on the Shakespeare play."
  2. Pedersen, Morten Eide (2009-02-13). "Arne Eggen". Biography (in Norwegian). Norsk Biografisk Leksikon. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  3. "Bærumsmannen, komponisten Arne Eggen død". Asker og Bærums Budstikke (in Norwegian). 28 October 1955. p. 2.
  4. International Record Review 2000– Volume 1, Issues 7–12, Page 118 "The song by Eggen, Song of the eternal spring in life ('Aere det evige forar I livet') will, I hope, grab you wholly and carry you along on a great burst of heart-warming vision. Far better, in my view, that Olympic organizers discard the dreary Olympic anthem heard recently in Sydney and replace it with something as ennobling as this song."


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