Andreas Munch
Encyclopedia
Andreas Munch was a Norwegian poet, novelist, playwright and newspaper editor. He was the first person to be granted a poet's pension by the Parliament of Norway.
, as son of poet, priest and later Lutheran
Bishop Johan Storm Munch
and his wife Else Petronelle Hofgaard. He was married to Charlotte Amalie Juul from 1844 until her death in 1850. One of his sons also died in 1850, and a second son died a few years later. In 1865 he married Danish citizen Anna Marie Amalie Raben. He died in Vedbæk
in Denmark in 1884.
). His first play was Kong Sverres Ungdom from 1937, written to the opening of Christiania Theater´s new building. In 1840 he published the one-act play Donna Clara, set in Spain. He edited the newspaper Den Constitutionelle
from 1841 to 1846. His story Den Ensomme. En Sjælehistorie was first printed in Den Constitutionelle in 1846. From 1846 to 1848 he made an educational European tour together with his family, and visited France, Italy, Switzerland and Germany. He published the poetry collection ¨Digte, gamle og nye in 1848, and Nye Digte in 1850. His poetry collection Sorg og Trøst from 1852 was written after the death of his wife and son. In 1866 Edvard Grieg
composed music to the poem "Vuggesang" from this collection, published as Opus 9 together with three other songs with text by Munch. In "Vuggesang" the father sings for his newborn son after the mother's death. In the 1850s he wrote three historic plays on verse, Salomon de Caus (1854), En Aften paa Giske (1855), and Lord William Russell (1857).
Munch was granted a poet's pension by the Parliament of Norway from 1860, the first as such in Norway, and was titled professor from 1866.
He was decorated Commander, First Class of the Order of St. Olav for literary merits in 1880, and was also a Commander of the Danish Order of the Dannebrog
, and a Knight of the Swedish Order of the Polar Star
.
Personal life
Munch was born in ChristianiaOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, as son of poet, priest and later Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
Bishop Johan Storm Munch
Johan Storm Munch
Johan Storm Munch was a Norwegian poet, playwright, magazine editor and priest. He published the poetry collection Fjeldblomster in 1813, edited the magazine Saga from 1816 to 1820, and published the play Præsten i Hallingdal in 1825. He served as Lutheran bishop of Christiansand from...
and his wife Else Petronelle Hofgaard. He was married to Charlotte Amalie Juul from 1844 until her death in 1850. One of his sons also died in 1850, and a second son died a few years later. In 1865 he married Danish citizen Anna Marie Amalie Raben. He died in Vedbæk
Vedbæk
Vedbæk is a small town in the municipality of Rudersdal , Denmark. It is located on the Øresund coast of Zealand, between Rungsted to the north and Skodsborg to the south. The town has a station on the busy Kystbanen railway line, approximately midway between Copenhagen and Helsingør...
in Denmark in 1884.
Career
Munch made his literary debut in 1836 with the poetry collection Ephemerer (EphemeraEphemera
Ephemera are transitory written and printed matter not intended to be retained or preserved. The word derives from the Greek, meaning things lasting no more than a day. Some collectible ephemera are advertising trade cards, airsickness bags, bookmarks, catalogues, greeting cards, letters,...
). His first play was Kong Sverres Ungdom from 1937, written to the opening of Christiania Theater´s new building. In 1840 he published the one-act play Donna Clara, set in Spain. He edited the newspaper Den Constitutionelle
Den Constitutionelle
Den Constitutionelle is a former Norwegian daily newspaper, published in Christiania, Norway from 1836 to 1847. The newspaper was founded by bookseller Johan Fjeldsted Dahl, and its first editor was Ulrik Anton Motzfeldt from 1836 to 1840. Andreas Munch edited the newspaper from 1841 to 1846...
from 1841 to 1846. His story Den Ensomme. En Sjælehistorie was first printed in Den Constitutionelle in 1846. From 1846 to 1848 he made an educational European tour together with his family, and visited France, Italy, Switzerland and Germany. He published the poetry collection ¨Digte, gamle og nye in 1848, and Nye Digte in 1850. His poetry collection Sorg og Trøst from 1852 was written after the death of his wife and son. In 1866 Edvard Grieg
Edvard Grieg
Edvard Hagerup Grieg was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He is best known for his Piano Concerto in A minor, for his incidental music to Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt , and for his collection of piano miniatures Lyric Pieces.-Biography:Edvard Hagerup Grieg was born in...
composed music to the poem "Vuggesang" from this collection, published as Opus 9 together with three other songs with text by Munch. In "Vuggesang" the father sings for his newborn son after the mother's death. In the 1850s he wrote three historic plays on verse, Salomon de Caus (1854), En Aften paa Giske (1855), and Lord William Russell (1857).
Munch was granted a poet's pension by the Parliament of Norway from 1860, the first as such in Norway, and was titled professor from 1866.
He was decorated Commander, First Class of the Order of St. Olav for literary merits in 1880, and was also a Commander of the Danish Order of the Dannebrog
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
, and a Knight of the Swedish Order of the Polar Star
Order of the Polar Star
The Order of the Polar Star is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim....
.