Johan S. Halvorsen

Rhapsodie Norvegienne Nr. 1

Johan August Halvorsen (1864-1935) was a Norwegian composer, conductor and violinist. He received his musical education in Kristiania (today named Oslo), Stockholm and Leipzig. He conducted 'Harmonien' (Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra) from 1893 but moved to Kristiania in 1899 to be conductor of the orchestra at The National Theater which was about to be established. He stayed at the theatre until his retirement in 1929. As composer, he wrote incidental music for the theatre, orchestral music and chamber music. Among his orchestral music are two Norwegian rhapsodies written in 1919-1920. In the first one we hear the following three Norwegian folk tunes: 1 - Springar, 2 - I went so lately to my bed, 3 - Halling-Springar