Thrane, Waldemar

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Thrane, Waldemar

Thrane, Waldemar, Norwegian violinist, conductor, and composer; b. Christiania, Oct. 8, 1790; d. there, Dec. 30, 1828. He studied violin with Henrik Groth in Christiania, and then with Claus Schall in Copenhagen (1814-15); then went to Paris, where he was a pupil of Baillot (violin) and of Reicha and Habeneck (composition). Returning to Christiania in 1818, he was made conductor of the orchs. of the Dramatical Society and of the Musical Lyceum; also toured as a violinist throughout his homeland and made appearances in Stockholm. He is historically important as the composer of the first Norwegian opera, Fjeldeventyret (A Mountain Adventure; 1824; Christiania, Feb. 9, 1825). Other works include a Concert Overture (1818), a Finale for Orch. (1818; not extant), a Cantata (1827; not extant), and some piano music.

Bibliography

F. Benestad, W. T: En pioner i norsk musikk (Oslo, 1961).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire