Edvard Fliflet Bræin (23 August 1924 – 30 April 1976) 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 Conductor or conduction may refer to: Biology and medicine * Bone conduction, the conduction of sound to the inner ear * Conduction aphasia, a language disorder Mathematics * Conductor (ring theory) * Conductor of an abelian variety * Cond ...

. He is best remembered for the composition ''Ut mot havet'' and the opera ''Anne Pedersdotter''.

Personal life

Bræin was born in

Kristiansund Kristiansund (, ; historically spelled Christianssund and earlier named Fosna) is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality on the western coast of Norway in the Nordmøre district of Møre og Romsdal counties of Norway, county. The admin ...

as the son of composer, conductor and organist

Edvard Bræin Edvard Bræin (3 April 1887 - 20 September 1957) was a Norwegian organist, composer, and orchestra conductor, the father of the composer Edvard Fliflet Bræin (1924–76). Biography Bræin was born in Kristiansund (town), Kristiansund, and was m ...

(1887–1957) and his wife Magnhild Fliflet. He married Karen Torjusen in 1946.

Career

Bræin studied at the institution Musikkonservatoriet i Oslo from 1942 to 1945, and

musical composition Musical composition can refer to an Originality, original piece or work of music, either Human voice, vocal or Musical instrument, instrumental, the musical form, structure of a musical piece or to the process of creating or writing a new pie ...

with Bjarne Brustad and

conducting Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance, such as an orchestral or Choir, choral concert. It has been defined as "the art of directing the simultaneous performance of several players or singers by the use of gesture." The primary d ...

with Odd Grüner-Hegge. His debut as conductor was in Bergen in 1947, with Musikselskabet Harmoniens orkester. His first compositions were ''De glade musikanter'' and ''Konsertouverture'' from 1948. He studied composition with Jean Rivier in Paris from 1950 to 1951. Bræin wrote

symphonies A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, most often for orchestra. Although the term has had many meanings from its origins in the ancient Greek era, by the late 18th century the word had taken on the meaning c ...

, compositions for piano and orchestra, for flute and orchestra,

chamber music Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of Musical instrument, instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a Great chamber, palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music ...

and

opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...

s. 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 Einar Skjæraasen (23 July 1900 – 18 March 1966) was a Norwegian author and poet, a longtime resident of Trysil Municipality. He was a parliamentary ballot candidate for the Liberal Party from the constituency Oslo in 1957 Events J ...

Jakob Sande Jakob Sande (1 December 1906 – 16 March 1967) was a Norwegian writer, poet and folk singer from Dale in Sunnfjord. His parents were Andreas Sande and Ragna Margrete (born Barsnes). He married Solveig Ytterlid in 1942 and they had a daughter, S ...

, Hartvig Kiran and

Johan Herman Wessel Johan Herman Wessel (6 October 1742 – 29 December 1785) was an 18th-century Danish-Norwegian poet, satirist and playwright. His written work was characterized by the use of parody and satiric wit. Biography Wessel was born and raised at Ve ...

. 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 Play most commonly refers to: * Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment * Play (theatre), a work of drama Play may refer also to: Computers and technology * Google Play, a digital content service * Play Framework, a Java framework * P ...

Hans Wiers-Jenssen Hans Wiers-Jenssen (25 November 1866 – 25 August 1925) was a Norwegian novelist, playwright, stage producer and theatre historian. Wiers-Jenssen was employed at the theatres Christiania Theatre, Nationaltheatret and Den Nationale Scene. ...

, which was inspired by the

witch trial A witch hunt, or a witch purge, is a search for people who have been labeled witches or a search for evidence of witchcraft. Practicing evil spells or Incantation, incantations was proscribed and punishable in early human civilizations in the ...

in 1590 against Anne Pedersdotter, the widow of priest

Absalon Pederssøn Beyer Absalon Pederssøn Beyer (c. 1528 – 9 April 1575) was a Norwegian people, Norwegian author, lecturer and Lutheran clergyman. Beyer contributed greatly to the spiritual Reformation in Norway. He is best known today for his diary or annal of ...

. The comic opera ''Den Stundesløse'', finished in 1975, is based on a comedy by

Ludvig Holberg Ludvig Holberg, Baron of Holberg (3 December 1684 – 28 January 1754) was a writer, essayist, philosopher, historian and playwright born in Bergen, Norway, during the time of the Denmark–Norway, Dano–Norwegian dual monarchy. He was infl ...

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
{{DEFAULTSORT:Braein, Edvard Fliflet 1924 births 1976 deaths 20th-century Norwegian classical composers Composers for violin Norwegian Academy of Music alumni Norwegian opera composers Musicians from Kristiansund Norwegian male classical composers 20th-century Norwegian male musicians