Leif Christensen
Encyclopedia
Leif Christensen was a Danish
classical guitar
ist.
Christensen was born in Århus, Denmark
, where he studied theory and history of music at the University of Århus and guitar at the Royal Academy of Music. He then studied with Konrad Ragossnig
at the Basel
Music Academy, after which he returned to Århus. His recording debut came in 1981 with an LP of music by the 19th-century composer and guitarist Giulio Regondi
.
Christensen was the first guitarist to record both of the Royal Winter Music
sonatas by Hans Werner Henze
, and also made recordings of music by Fernando Sor
and Vasilii Sarenko
, the latter on a Russian seven-string guitar.
In addition to his solo performances and recordings, Christensen played in a duo with his wife Maria Kämmerling
, also a respected solo artist. They made three records together.
Christensen died in a car crash in Norway
in 1988.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
classical guitar
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
ist.
Christensen was born in Århus, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, where he studied theory and history of music at the University of Århus and guitar at the Royal Academy of Music. He then studied with Konrad Ragossnig
Konrad Ragossnig
Konrad Ragossnig is a classical guitarist and lutenist.He was born in Klagenfurt, Austria, in 1932. He taught at City of Basel Music Academy, University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna and The University of Zurich. He is editor of several books on guitar music such as "Step by step...
at the Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
Music Academy, after which he returned to Århus. His recording debut came in 1981 with an LP of music by the 19th-century composer and guitarist Giulio Regondi
Giulio Regondi
Giulio Regondi was an Italian classical guitarist, concertinist and composer.Regondi was a child prodigy. Fernando Sor dedicated his Souvenir d'amitié, op. 46 to Regondi in 1831, when the boy was just nine.There is a reference to his appearing in London in 1831, presented as a child prodigy of the...
.
Christensen was the first guitarist to record both of the Royal Winter Music
Royal Winter Music
Royal Winter Music is the name given to two solo works for classical guitar by the German composer Hans Werner Henze.Both works are inspired by characters from Shakespeare. The first work was completed in 1976, and is in six movements...
sonatas by Hans Werner Henze
Hans Werner Henze
Hans Werner Henze is a German composer of prodigious output best known for "his consistent cultivation of music for the theatre throughout his life"...
, and also made recordings of music by Fernando Sor
Fernando Sor
Josep Ferran Sorts i Muntades was a Spanish classical guitarist and composer. While he is best known for his guitar compositions, he also composed music for a wide range of genres, including opera, orchestra, string quartet, piano, voice and ballet...
and Vasilii Sarenko
Vasilii Sarenko
Vasilii Stepanovich Sarenko was a Russian guitarist and composer.Sarenko was born in Voronezh. He played and wrote music for the Russian seven-string guitar, much of which has now been published. Leif Christensen recorded a selection of Sarenko's music on a seven-string guitar for the Paula...
, the latter on a Russian seven-string guitar.
In addition to his solo performances and recordings, Christensen played in a duo with his wife Maria Kämmerling
Maria Kämmerling
Maria Kämmerling is a German classical guitarist.She is best known for her interpretations of contemporary guitar music, including pieces by Gunnar Berg, Axel Borup-Jørgensen, Cristóbal Halffter, Vagn Holmboe and Bruno Maderna...
, also a respected solo artist. They made three records together.
Christensen died in a car crash in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
in 1988.
External links
- LP covers with Liner Notes (Oviatt Library Digital Collections)