Edvard Fliflet Bræin

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
Died30 April 1976(1976-04-30) (aged 51)
NationalityNorwegian
OccupationComposer and conductor
Parent(s)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
  1. Henriksen, Petter (ed.). "Edvard Bræin". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
  2. Nesheim, Elef. "Edvard Fliflet Bræin". In Helle, Knut (ed.). Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
  3. Øyvind Anker and Olav Gurvin, ed. (1949). "Bræin, Edvard Fliflet". Musikkleksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Dreyers Forlag.
  4. Henriksen, Petter (ed.). "Edvard Fliflet Bræin". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 31 October 2009.
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