Irgens-Jensen, Ludvig (Paul)

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Irgens-Jensen, Ludvig (Paul)

Irgens-Jensen, Ludvig (Paul), Norwegian composer; b. Christiania, April 13, 1894; d. Piazza Armerina, Sicily, April 11, 1969. He received training in philosophy, music theory, and piano in Christiania, but was mainly self-taught in composition. In 1946 he received the Norwegian guaranteed income for art. His works were mainly influenced by late German Romanticism.

Works

ORCH.: Tema con variazioni (1925); Passacaglia (1926); Partita sinfonica (1937); Sym. (1942); Canto d’omaggio, festival overture (1950). CHAMBER: Violin Sonata (1924); Piano Quintet (1927). VOCAL: Japanischer Frühling for Voice and Piano (1918-19); Der Gott und die Bajadere, cantata (1921-32); Heimferd (The Journey Home), oratorio for Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. for the 900th anniversary of the death of St. Olav (1929; Oslo, 1930; also as an opera, Oslo, Aug. 27, 1947); choruses; songs.

Bibliography

H. Irgens, L. I.-J.: His Life and His Songs (thesis, Univ. of Iowa, 1994).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire