Edvard Fliflet Bræin
Encyclopedia
Edvard Fliflet Bræin was a Norwegian composer
and conductor
. He is best remembered for the composition Ut mot havet and the opera Anne Pedersdotter.
as the son of composer, conductor and organist Edvard Bræin (1887–1957) and his wife Magnhild Fliflet. He married Karen Torjusen in 1946.
from 1942 to 1945, and musical composition
with Bjarne Brustad
and conducting
with Odd Grüner-Hegge. His debut as conductor was in Bergen in 1947, with Musikselskabet Harmoniens orkester
. His first compositions were De glade musikanter and Konsertouverture from 1948. He studied composition with Jean Rivier
in Paris from 1950 to 1951.
Bræin wrote symphonies
, compositions for piano and orchestra, for flute and orchestra, chamber music
and opera
s. His first symphony was finished in 1950, his second in 1954, and his third in 1968. His best known composition is Ut mot havet from 1964, originally a song melody (with lyrics by Henrik Straumsheim), and later versions include an arrangement for orchestra, a piano version, and several choir versions. He has further composed melodies for songs with lyrics by Einar Skjæraasen
, Jakob Sande
, Hartvig Kiran
and Johan Herman Wessel
.
He composed two operas. The opera Anne Pedersdotter was first performed at Den Norske Opera in 1971. It has a libretto by Hans Kristiansen based on a play
by Hans Wiers-Jenssen
, which was inspired by the witch trial
in 1590 against Anne Pedersdotter
, the widow after priest Absalon Pederssøn Beyer
. The comic opera Den Stundesløse, finished in 1975, is based on a comedy by Ludvig Holberg
.
Orchestral
Concertante
Chamber music
Piano
Vocal
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
. He is best remembered for the composition Ut mot havet and the opera Anne Pedersdotter.
Personal life
Bræin was born in KristiansundKristiansund
Kristiansund is a city and municipality on the western coast of Norway, in the Nordmøre district of Møre og Romsdal county. It was officially awarded township status in 1742, and it is still the major town for the region. The administrative center of the municipality is the city of Kristiansund...
as the son of composer, conductor and organist Edvard Bræin (1887–1957) and his wife Magnhild Fliflet. He married Karen Torjusen in 1946.
Career
Bræin studied at the institution Musikkonservatoriet i OsloNorwegian Academy of Music
The Norwegian Academy of Music is a music conservatory located in Oslo, Norway, in the neighbourhood of Majorstuen, Frogner. It is the largest music academy in Norway and offers the country's highest level of music education. As a university college, it offers both undergraduate and postgraduate...
from 1942 to 1945, and musical composition
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
with Bjarne Brustad
Bjarne Brustad
Bjarne Brustad was a Norwegian composer, violinist and violist. He played with symphonic orchestras in Stavanger and Oslo. In the 1920s he travelled to European cities such as Paris, Munich and Berlin, where he received musical inspiration and contacts...
and conducting
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
with Odd Grüner-Hegge. His debut as conductor was in Bergen in 1947, with Musikselskabet Harmoniens orkester
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the world's oldest orchestral institutions. It performs some 110 concerts a year, and is based at the 1,500-seat Grieg Hall in Bergen, Norway.-History:...
. His first compositions were De glade musikanter and Konsertouverture from 1948. He studied composition with Jean Rivier
Jean Rivier
Jean Rivier was a French composer of classical music.He composed over two hundred works, including music for orchestra, chamber groups, chorus, piano, and solo instruments....
in Paris from 1950 to 1951.
Bræin wrote symphonies
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
, compositions for piano and orchestra, for flute and orchestra, chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
and opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s. His first symphony was finished in 1950, his second in 1954, and his third in 1968. His best known composition is Ut mot havet from 1964, originally a song melody (with lyrics by Henrik Straumsheim), and later versions include an arrangement for orchestra, a piano version, and several choir versions. He has further composed melodies for songs with lyrics by Einar Skjæraasen
Einar Skjæraasen
Einar Skjæraasen was a Norwegian author and poet, a longtime resident of Trysil.He was a parliamentary ballot candidate for the Liberal Party from the constituency Oslo in 1957.-Bibliography:*Reflekser *Skritt forbi min dør...
, Jakob Sande
Jakob Sande
Jakob Sande was a Norwegian writer, poet and folk singer from Dale in Sunnfjord. His parents were Andreas Sande and Ragna Margrete . He married Solveig Ytterlid in 1942 and they had a daughter, Siri, in 1943....
, Hartvig Kiran
Hartvig Kiran
Hartvig Kiran was a Norwegian author, lyricist and composer from Ålesund.Kiran was brought up to introduce culture to the people. He was central in Visens Venner, and became involved in the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation where he long presented Ønskediktet where people were introduced to...
and Johan Herman Wessel
Johan Herman Wessel
thumb|Johan Herman WesselJohan Herman Wessel was a Norwegian-Danish poet. Some of his satirical poems are still popular.-Biography:...
.
He composed two operas. The opera Anne Pedersdotter was first performed at Den Norske Opera in 1971. It has a libretto by Hans Kristiansen based on a play
Anne Pedersdotter (play)
Anne Pedersdotter is a play written in 1908 by Norwegian playwright Hans Wiers-Jenssen...
by Hans Wiers-Jenssen
Hans Wiers-Jenssen
Hans Wiers-Jenssen was a Norwegian novelist, playwright, stage producer and theatre historian. Wiers-Jenssen was employed at the theatres Christiania Theatre, Nationaltheatret and Den Nationale Scene.-Personal life:...
, which was inspired by the witch trial
Witch trial
A witch trial is a legal proceeding that is part of a witch-hunt. * Witch trials in Early Modern Europe, 15th–18th centuries** Salzburg witch trials - 1675-1690, Salzburg, Austria** Spa witch trial - 1616, Belgium...
in 1590 against Anne Pedersdotter
Anne Pedersdotter
Anne Pedersdotter was an alleged Norwegian witch. Her case was one of the most documented of the many witch trials in Norway in the 16th and 17th centuries...
, the widow after priest Absalon Pederssøn Beyer
Absalon Pederssøn Beyer
Absalon Pederssøn Beyer was a Norwegian author, lecturer and Lutheran clergyman. Beyer contributed greatly to the spiritual Reformation in Norway. He is best known today for his diary or annal of contemporary events...
. The comic opera Den Stundesløse, finished in 1975, is based on a comedy by Ludvig Holberg
Ludvig Holberg
Ludvig Holberg, Baron of Holberg was a writer, essayist, philosopher, historian and playwright born in Bergen, Norway, during the time of the Dano-Norwegian double monarchy, who spent most of his adult life in Denmark. He was influenced by Humanism, the Enlightenment and the Baroque...
.
Selected compositions
Opera- Anne Pedersdotter, opera in 4 acts, Op. 18 (1971); libretto by Hans Kristiansen after the play by Hans Wiers-Jensen
- Den Stundesløse (The Fidget), Op. 21 (1975)
Orchestral
- Concert Overture, Op. 2 (1948)
- Symphony No. 1 (1950)
- Serenade, Op. 5 (1951–1952)
- Adagio for string orchestra, Op. 6 (1953)
- Symphony No.2, Op. 8 (1954)
- Symfonisk forspill (Symphonic Prelude), Op. 11 (1959)
- Largo for string orchestra, Op. 12 (1961)
- Liten Ouverture (Ouverture in Miniature), Op. 14
- Symphony No. 3, Op. 16 (1968)
- Ritmico e melodica, Op. 19 (1971)
- Havljom, Concert Overture, Op. 20 (1973)
Concertante
- Serenade for viola and orchestra (1947)
- Capriccio for piano and orchestra, Op. 9 (1958)
- Concertino for flute and orchestra, Op. 10
Chamber music
- The Merry Musicians for clarinet, violin, viola and cello, Op. 1 (1947)
- Divertimento for clarinet, violin, viola and cello, Op. 13 (1962)
- Trio for violin, viola and cello, Op. 15 (1964)
Piano
- 2 Klaverstykker (2 Piano Pieces)
- Bånsull og Scherzo, Op. 7
Vocal
- Einsleg for voice and orchestra, Op. 3
- Two Songs for voice and piano, Op. 17 (1968)
- Ut mot havet, Song for medium voice and piano; words by Henrik Straumsheim