music.wikisort.org - Composer

Edvard Fliflet Bræin (23 August 1924 – 30 April 1976) was a Norwegian composer and conductor. He is best remembered for the composition Ut mot havet and the opera Anne Pedersdotter.

Edvard Fliflet Bræin
Born	(1924-08-23)23 August 1924 Kristiansund, Norway
Died	30 April 1976(1976-04-30) (aged 51)
Nationality	Norwegian
Occupation	Composer and conductor
Parent	Edvard Bræin

Personal life

Bræin was born in Kristiansund as the son of composer, conductor and organist Edvard Bræin (1887–1957)[1] and his wife Magnhild Fliflet. He married Karen Torjusen in 1946.[2]

Career

Bræin studied at the institution Musikkonservatoriet i Oslo from 1942 to 1945, and musical composition with Bjarne Brustad and conducting with Odd Grüner-Hegge.[2][3] His debut as conductor was in Bergen in 1947, with Musikselskabet Harmoniens orkester.[2] His first compositions were De glade musikanter and Konsertouverture from 1948. He studied composition with Jean Rivier in Paris from 1950 to 1951.[2]

Bræin wrote symphonies, compositions for piano and orchestra, for flute and orchestra, chamber music and operas.[4] 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.[2]

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 of priest Absalon Pederssøn Beyer.[2] The comic opera Den Stundesløse, finished in 1975, is based on a comedy by Ludvig Holberg.[2]

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, Op. 4 (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

References

External links

• Edvard Fliflet Bræin at the Music Information Centre Norway

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