Tveitt, (Nils) Geirr

Tveitt, (Nils) Geirr, Norwegian composer, teacher, and pianist; b. Kvam, Oct. 19,1908; d. Oslo, Feb. 1, 1981. He learned to play the piano and violin in childhood. Following studies with Grabner and Weninger in Leipzig (1928-32), he pursued his training in Vienna with Wellesz and in Paris with Honegger and Villa-Lobos (1932-35). Returning to Norway, he devoted himself mainly to composition, producing over 300 works. He also made some tours abroad as a pianist. In 1941 the Norwegian government granted him an annual income. However, his activities during the German occupation of Norway led to his loss of the Norwegian government grant after the liberation in 1945. It was finally restored in 1958. In his study Tonalitätstheorie des parallelen Leittonssystems (Oslo, 1937), Tveitt attempted to formulate the foundation of his own compositional style by claiming that the modal scales are in actuality old Norse keys. Many of his works employ modal scales.

Works

dramatic: Opera: Nordvest—Sud—Nor-daust—Nord (1939); Dragaredokko (1940); Roald Amundsen (n.d.); Stevleik,chamber opera (n.d.); Jeppe (1964; Bergen, June 10,1966; rev. 1968). Ballet: Baldurs draumar (1935); Birgingu (1939); Husguden (1956). Incidental Music: Jonsoknatt (1936). ORCH.: 6 piano concertos (1930, 1933, 1947, 1947, 1954, 1960); Concerto for String Quartet and Orch. (1933); Variationsfor 2 Pianos and Orch. (1937); Violin Concerto (1939); 2 Hardanger fiddle concertos (1956); 3 syms.; 5 Hardanger suites (based on a set of piano pieces). CHAMBER: Quartet for 4 Violins; 2 string quartets; 3 string sextets. Piano : 29 sonatas; 200 Folk Tunes from Hardanger. VOCAL: Various pieces.

Bibliography

R. Storass, Tonediktaren G. T.: Songjen i fossaduren (Oslo, 1990).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire