Olsen, (Carl Gustav) Sparre

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Olsen, (Carl Gustav) Sparre

Olsen, (Carl Gustav) Sparre, Norwegian composer; b. Stavanger, April 25, 1903; d. Oslo, Nov. 8, 1984. He studied composition with Valen and Brustad in Christiania (1925–30), Butting in Berlin, in Vienna, and with Grainger in London. He was violinist in the Christiania Phil. (1923–33); was active as a music teacher, music critic, and choral conductor in Bergen (1934–40). In 1936 he received a government life pension, and in 1968 he was awarded the Order of St. Olav. He publ. the books Percy Grainger (Oslo, 1963), Tor Jonsson-Minne (Oslo, 1968), and Sparretonar (Oslo, 1973). His music followed in the national tradition.

Works

orch.:Symphonic Fantasia I (Oslo, Sept. 21, 1939), II (Oslo, Oct. 6, 1957), and III (1973; Bergen, Nov. 28, 1974); Serenade for Flute and Strings (1954); Intrada (1956); Canticum (1972). chamber: Wind Quintet (1946); String Quartet (1972); Metamorfose for Cello (1982). vocal:2 Edda Songs for Voice and Orch. or Piano (1931); Draumkvedet (The Dream Ballad) for Narrator, Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (Bergen, April 19, 1937); sacred choruses; other songs.

—Nicolas Slominsky/Laura Kaun/Dennis McIntire