Olav Løchen Kielland (16 August 1901 – 5 August 1985) was a
Norwegian composer
A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music.
Etymology and def ...
and
conductor.
Early life and education
Olav Løchen Kielland was born in
Trondheim
Trondheim ( , , ; ), historically Kaupangen, Nidaros, and Trondhjem (), is a city and municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. As of 2022, it had a population of 212,660. Trondheim is the third most populous municipality in Norway, and is ...
, the son of Gabriel Kielland (1871–1960) and Margit Løchen (1875–1951). He took his final exams at the Trondheim Cathedral School in 1919. He studied to become an architect like his father at the
Norwegian Institute of Technology
The Norwegian Institute of Technology ( Norwegian: ''Norges tekniske høgskole'', NTH) was a science institute in Trondheim, Norway. It was established in 1910, and existed as an independent technical university for 58 years, after which it was ...
from 1919 until 1921. He then moved to
Leipzig
Leipzig (, ; ; Upper Saxon: ; ) is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Saxony. The city has a population of 628,718 inhabitants as of 2023. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, eighth-largest city in Ge ...
where he studied conducting, composition, piano and bassoon at the Music Conservatory. In 1929 he attended
Felix Weingartner
Paul Felix Weingartner, Edler von Münzberg (2 June 1863 – 7 May 1942) was an Austrian Conducting, conductor, composer and pianist.
Life and career
Weingartner was born in Zadar, Zara, Kingdom of Dalmatia, Dalmatia, Austrian Empire (now ...
's masterclass for conductors in
Basel
Basel ( ; ), also known as Basle ( ), ; ; ; . is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine (at the transition from the High Rhine, High to the Upper Rhine). Basel is Switzerland's List of cities in Switzerland, third-most-populo ...
,
Switzerland
Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...
.
Kielland/utdypning'' (Store norske leksikon)
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Career
Kielland had his debut as a conductor and pianist in Trondheim
Trondheim ( , , ; ), historically Kaupangen, Nidaros, and Trondhjem (), is a city and municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. As of 2022, it had a population of 212,660. Trondheim is the third most populous municipality in Norway, and is ...
in 1923. He was repetiteur with the Casino Theatre in Oslo, and conductor with the Stora Teatern in Gothenburg
Gothenburg ( ; ) is the List of urban areas in Sweden by population, second-largest city in Sweden, after the capital Stockholm, and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated by the Kattegat on the west coast of Sweden, it is the gub ...
. In 1931, he became the conductor for the Filharmonisk Selskap, now the Oslo Philharmonic
The Oslo Philharmonic () is a Norwegian symphony orchestra based in Oslo, Norway. The orchestra traces its roots to the Philharmonic Society founded in 1847 and the Christiania Musical Association co-founded by Edvard Grieg in 1871, and was esta ...
), and served as artistic director from 1933 until 1945.
In 1939, Kielland was offered the position as chief conductor by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra
The New York Philharmonic is an American symphony orchestra based in New York City. Known officially as the ''Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc.'', and globally known as the ''New York Philharmonic Orchestra'' (NYPO) or the ''New Yo ...
, but was hindered by the outbreak of World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
and could not travel and accept the position.
During the war, Kielland was for a short period a member of the Cultural Department's temporary consultative council (''Departementets midlertidige konsultative råd i kunstneriske spørsmål''), which led to accusations of cooperation with the occupying force. Kielland was suspended from several organisations, such as the Norwegian Composer's Union (''Komponistforeningen''). Even if he already in 1945 was acquitted of the charges, by a committee appointed by the government, Kiellands career was badly damaged, and as late as in 1962, Kielland still had to defend himself against Nazi accusations.
Gradually, Kielland started focusing more and more on the composing, and less on the conducting. He preferred being a guest conductor and only take on shorter engagements. He therefore rejected the offer to return to Filharmonisk Selskap in 1946, but the position was held open until 1949, in case he would reconsider.
Kielland was elected to reorganise the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra in 1946 and was music director of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra ( Norwegian: Bergen filharmoniske orkester) is a Norwegian orchestra based in Bergen. Its principal concert venue is the Grieg Hall.
History
Established in 1765 under the name ''Det Musicalske Selskab'' (The M ...
1948-52 and artistic director of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra
Sinfóníuhljómsveit Íslands (Iceland Symphony Orchestra) (ISO) is an Icelandic orchestra based in Reykjavík. Its primary concert venue is the Harpa (concert hall), Harpa Concert Hall. The Iceland Symphony is an autonomous public institution u ...
1952–55. He was guest conductor for a number of other orchestras, such as the Berlin Philharmonic
The Berlin Philharmonic () is a German orchestra based in Berlin. It is one of the most popular, acclaimed and well-respected orchestras in the world.
Throughout the 20th century, the orchestra was led by conductors Wilhelm Furtwängler (1922� ...
, the London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London. Founded in 1904, the LSO is the oldest of London's orchestras, symphony orchestras. The LSO was created by a group of players who left Henry Wood's Queen's ...
, and the New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is an American symphony orchestra based in New York City. Known officially as the ''Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc.'', and globally known as the ''New York Philharmonic Orchestra'' (NYPO) or the ''New Yo ...
.
Kielland's music is strongly influenced by Norwegian folk music and perhaps particularly by the Hardanger fiddle
A hardanger fiddle () is a traditional stringed instrument considered the national instrument of Norway. In modern designs, this type of fiddle is very similar to the violin, though with eight or nine strings (rather than four as on a standard v ...
. In 1955, he took up residence in Bø, Telemark
Bø is a List of former municipalities of Norway, former municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It was part of the Districts of Norway, traditional region of Midt-Telemark, but was historically regarded as part of Grenland. The municipality e ...
, where he began to study the Hardanger fiddle dances, in particular the polyphonic elements. The melody, rhythm and timbre of this instrument have given expression to many of his compositions. Kielland's music has a prominent polyphonic tendency, with penetrating dissonant lines. Music which, at its best, performs a synthesis of the folk music's national accent and a contemporary musical idiom.
Kielland composed eight larger symphonic works, amongst those the ''Violin concerto'' (1942), the music to the play " Brand" of Ibsen, the ''Concerto Grosso Norvegese'' (1952) and the ''Piano Concerto'' (1978). He also composed several songs with orchestra, choir songs, psalms, chamber music, and piano works. He died in Bø, Telemark
Bø is a List of former municipalities of Norway, former municipality in Telemark county, Norway. It was part of the Districts of Norway, traditional region of Midt-Telemark, but was historically regarded as part of Grenland. The municipality e ...
.
Awards and honors
At his death, he was awarded The King's Medal of Merit in gold (''Kongens fortjenstmedalje i gull'') and was a Knight of the Order of St. Olav
The Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav (; or ''Sanct Olafs Orden'', the old Norwegian name) is a Norwegian order of chivalry instituted by King Oscar I on 21 August 1847. It is named after King Olav II, known to posterity as St. Olav.
Just be ...
and a Commander (Grand Knight) of the Icelandic Order of the Falcon
The Order of the Falcon () is the only order of chivalry in Iceland, founded by Christian X of Denmark, King Christian X of Denmark and Iceland on 3 July 1921. The award is awarded for merit for Iceland and humanity and has five degrees. Nowaday ...
(''Hin íslenska fálkaorða'').
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kielland, Olav
1901 births
1985 deaths
Norwegian classical composers
Norwegian male conductors (music)
Musicians from Trondheim
People from Bø, Telemark
Composers awarded knighthoods
Conductors (music) awarded knighthoods
Recipients of the King's Medal of Merit in gold
Grand Knights of the Order of the Falcon
20th-century Norwegian conductors (music)
20th-century Norwegian classical composers
Norwegian male classical composers
20th-century Norwegian male musicians
Music directors of the Oslo Philharmonic
Chief conductors of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra