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{{Short description|Norwegian composer (1842–1866)}}
'''Rikard Nordraak''' ([[June 12]], [[1842]]–[[March 20]], [[1866]]) was a [[Norway|Norwegian]] composer, born in [[Christiania]] ([[Oslo]]). He is best known for having composed the Norwegian [[national anthem]].
[[File:Richard Nordraak (1842 - 1866) (7859259502).jpg|thumb|right|200 px|Rikard Nordraak]]
'''Rikard Nordraak''' (12 June 1842 – 20 March 1866) was a [[Norway|Norwegian]] composer. He is best known as the composer of the Norwegian [[national anthem]], "[[Ja, vi elsker dette landet]]".<ref>[http://www.snl.no/Rikard_Nordraak ''Rikard Nordraak''] Store norske leksikon </ref>


==Biography==
⚫
Nordraak's musical gifts became evident at an early age, but as for many other artists at that time, a different career was already planned. He was going to pursue a career within business, and when he was fifteen he was sent to business school in [[Copenhagen]]. Nonetheless his musical interests prevailed and instead of studying business he ended up studying music, and in [[1859]] he went to [[Berlin]] for advanced studies. After six months he had to return home and he continued studies in [[Oslo]], and his first compositions came during the winter of 1859-60. In [[1861]] he went back to Berlin to continue he studies, and he stayed there for two more years.
Rikard Nordraak was born and grew up in [[Oslo]], [[Norway]]. His family came from the Nordråk farm in the district [[Land, Norway|Land]] in the county of [[Oppland]]. His father was a brother of Inger Elise Nordraach, the mother of the Norwegian writer and poet, [[Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson]].
The compositions that he himself marked opus 1, were published in [[1863]], and contained six songs with texts by the poet [[Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson]], amongst others. At this time Nordraak also composed ''[[Ja, vi elsker]]'', which in [[1864]] became the Norwegian national anthem.


[[File:Portrett av Rikard Nordraak (1842-1866).jpg|thumb|Nordraak in ca. 1860]]
He later wrote music for Bjørnson's play ''[[Maria Stuart of Scotland]]'', and he published his opus 2, ''[[Five Norwegian Poems]]'', consisting of songs to poems by Bjørnson and [[Jonas Lie]]. This was the last of his compositions that would be published during his lifetime. In May [[1865]] he returned to [[Berlin]] to continue his education, but he was stricken with [[tuberculosis]] in October and died the following March, only 23 years old. Part of his life-story was dramatised in the musical ''[[Song of Norway]]''.
⚫
Nordraak's musical gifts became evident at an early age, but as for many other artists at that time, a different career was already planned. He was going to pursue a career within business, and when he was fifteen he was sent to business school in [[Copenhagen]]. Nonetheless his musical interests prevailed and instead of studying business he ended up studying music, and in 1859 he went to [[Berlin]] for advanced studies. After six months he had to return home and he continued studies in [[Oslo]], and his first compositions came during the winter of 1859–60. In 1861 he went back to Berlin to continue his studies, and he stayed there for two more years.


The compositions that he himself marked opus 1 were published in 1863, and contained six songs with texts by his cousin Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, amongst others. At this time Nordraak also composed ''[[Ja, vi elsker]]'', which became the Norwegian national anthem. It was first performed publicly on 17 May 1864 in connection with the 50th anniversary of the [[Norwegian Constitution]]. The lyrics were written by Bjørnson between 1859 and 1868.<ref>[http://www.mic.no/mic.nsf/doc/art2002100713502365459830 ''Rikard Nordraak – Biography''] Music Information Centre Norway </ref>
⚫
Nordraak did not live long enough to produce much music. About forty compositions, mostly smaller works like songs, pieces for male choir and a few piano compositions, have been preserved. The biggest of these compositions, is the ''[[Scherzo Capriccio]]'' for piano solo, given the opus number 3, published posthumously by [[Edvard Grieg]]. This is a kind of [[rondo]], using several features from the Norwegian folk music; rhythms typical in [[slåtter]], and dissonances typical for the [[hardingfele]]. However, the thematic material does not have this connection with the folk music.


In 1864, he met [[Edvard Grieg]] in Copenhagen and inspired him with the idea of devoting his genius to Norwegian melody and the cultivation of a specifically national art. Nordraak later wrote incidental music for Bjørnson's plays ''Maria Stuart i Skotland'' and ''Sigurd Slembe''.<ref>{{Cite Americana|wstitle=Nordraak, Rikard}}</ref> He published his ''Fem norske Digte: Op. 2'', consisting of songs and poems by Bjørnson and [[Jonas Lie (writer)|Jonas Lie]]. This was the last of his compositions that would be published during his lifetime.
Nordraak’s main contribution to the Norwegian music history was, with his passionate patriotism and great love to the folk music, to be an inspiration for contemporary composers, such as Edvard Grieg. They met in Copenhagen and became close friends. When Grieg heard of Nordraak's death, he composed the famous ''[[Sørgemarsj over Rikard Nordraak]]'' (''Funeral March in Memory of Rikard Nordraak'').


[[File:Rikard Nordraak-first grave in Berlin-ME fec.jpg|left|thumb|Rikard Nordraak's first grave in Berlin]]
⚫
Nordraak himself explained his musical faith like this:
In May 1865, he returned to Berlin to continue his education, but he was stricken with [[tuberculosis]] in October and died in Paris the following March, only 23 years old. He was buried in Kirchhof Jerusalem in the Berlin neighborhood of [[Kreuzberg]] (''Friedhof IV der Gemeinde Jerusalem – und Neue Kirche''). In 1925, Nordraak's coffin was brought home to Norway and buried in the Honor Grove at [[Vår Frelsers gravlund]] in Oslo.<ref>[http://www.gravferdsetaten.oslo.kommune.no/getfile.php/Gravferdsetaten/Internett/Dokumenter/dokument/sentralt/gravlundsboken.pdf ''Æreslunden 27 Rikard Nordraak''] Vår Frelsers gravlund </ref>
⚫
<blockquote>They talk of carrying rocks to Norway but we have enough rock. Let us simply use what we have. Nationalism, in music for example, does not mean composing more [[Halling]]s and [[Springar]] such as our forefathers composed. That is nonsense. No, it means building a house out of all these bits of rock and living in it. Listen to the unclothed plaintive melodies that wander, like so many orphans, round the countryside all over Norway. Gather them about you in a circle round the heart of love and let them all tell you their stories. Remember them all, reflect and then play each one afterwards so that you solve all riddles and everyone thinks you like his story best. Then they will be happy and cleave to your heart. Then you will be a national artist.<ref>Grinde, N. (1971)
Norsk musikkhistorie: Hovedlinjer i norsk musikkliv gjennom 1000 år. Norway: Universitetsforlaget.</ref></blockquote>


⚫
Nordraak did not live long enough to produce much music. About forty compositions, mostly smaller works like songs, pieces for male choir and a few piano compositions, have been preserved. The biggest of these compositions, is the ''Scherzo Capriccio'' for piano solo, given the opus number 3, published posthumously by Edvard Grieg. This is a kind of [[rondo]], using several features from Norwegian folk music; rhythms typical in [[slåtter]], and dissonances typical for the [[hardingfele]]. However, the thematic material does not have this connection with folk music. ''Rikard Nordraak. Samlede verker'', a critical edition of Nordraak overall compositions were published by [[Øyvind Anker]] and [[Olav Gurvin]] (1942).<ref> Finn Benestad [http://www.snl.no/.nbl_biografi/Rikard_Nordraak/utdypning ''Rikard Nordraak'']. Norsk biografisk leksikon </ref>
==Notes==

<references/>
With his passionate patriotism and great love for folk music, Nordraak's main contribution to Norwegian music history was to be an inspiration for contemporary composers, such as Grieg. When Grieg heard of Nordraak's death, he composed the ''[[Funeral March in Memory of Rikard Nordraak]]'' (''Sørgemarsj over Rikard Nordraak''). Part of his life story was dramatised in the musical ''[[Song of Norway]]''.<ref>[http://www.classical-composers.org/comp/nordraak ''Rikard Nordraak''] Classical Composers Database </ref>

==Quotation==
[[File:Rikard Nordraak's tombstone.jpg|thumb|Rikard Nordraak's grave stone in [[Vår Frelsers gravlund]] in Oslo]]
⚫
Nordraak himself explained his musical faith in this way:
⚫
{{quote |text = They talk of carrying rocks to Norway but we have enough rock. Let us simply use what we have. Nationalism, in music for example, does not mean composing more [[Halling (dance)|Hallings]] and [[Springar]] such as our forefathers composed. That is nonsense. No, it means building a house out of all these bits of rock and living in it. Listen to the unclothed plaintive melodies that wander, like so many orphans, round the countryside all over Norway. Gather them about you in a circle round the heart of love and let them all tell you their stories. Remember them all, reflect and then play each one afterwards so that you solve all riddles and everyone thinks you like his story best. Then they will be happy and cleave to your heart. Then you will be a national artist|author=Rikard Nordraak|source=<ref>''Norsk musikkhistorie: Hovedlinjer i norsk musikkliv gjennom 1000 år'' (Grinde, N. Universitetsforlaget: 1971)</ref>}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Other sources==
*Grinde, Nils ''A History of Norwegian Music'' (University of Nebraska Press. 1991)

==External links==
* {{ChoralWiki}}
* {{IMSLP|id=Nordraak, Rikard}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Nordraak, Rikard}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nordraak, Rikard}}
[[Category:1842 births]]
[[Category:1842 births]]
[[Category:1866 deaths]]
[[Category:1866 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths by tuberculosis]]
[[Category:19th-century Norwegian classical composers]]
[[Category:Norwegian composers]]
[[Category:19th-century deaths from tuberculosis]]
[[Category:Romantic composers]]
[[Category:Burials at the Cemetery of Our Saviour]]
[[Category:Tuberculosis deaths in France]]

[[Category:National anthem writers]]
[[de:Rikard Nordraak]]
[[Category:Norwegian Romantic composers]]
[[et:Rikard Nordraak]]
[[Category:Pupils of Theodor Kullak]]
[[fr:Rikard Nordraak]]
[[it:Rikard Nordraak]]
[[no:Rikard Nordraak]]
[[nn:Rikard Nordraak]]
[[pl:Rikard Nordraak]]
[[ru:Нордраак, Рихард]]
[[fi:Rikard Nordraak]]
[[sv:Rikard Nordraak]]

Latest revision as of 10:38, 10 November 2024

Rikard Nordraak

Rikard Nordraak (12 June 1842 – 20 March 1866) was a Norwegian composer. He is best known as the composer of the Norwegian national anthem, "Ja, vi elsker dette landet".[1]

Biography

[edit]

Rikard Nordraak was born and grew up in Oslo, Norway. His family came from the Nordråk farm in the district Land in the county of Oppland. His father was a brother of Inger Elise Nordraach, the mother of the Norwegian writer and poet, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson.

Nordraak in ca. 1860

Nordraak's musical gifts became evident at an early age, but as for many other artists at that time, a different career was already planned. He was going to pursue a career within business, and when he was fifteen he was sent to business school in Copenhagen. Nonetheless his musical interests prevailed and instead of studying business he ended up studying music, and in 1859 he went to Berlin for advanced studies. After six months he had to return home and he continued studies in Oslo, and his first compositions came during the winter of 1859–60. In 1861 he went back to Berlin to continue his studies, and he stayed there for two more years.

The compositions that he himself marked opus 1 were published in 1863, and contained six songs with texts by his cousin Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, amongst others. At this time Nordraak also composed Ja, vi elsker, which became the Norwegian national anthem. It was first performed publicly on 17 May 1864 in connection with the 50th anniversary of the Norwegian Constitution. The lyrics were written by Bjørnson between 1859 and 1868.[2]

In 1864, he met Edvard Grieg in Copenhagen and inspired him with the idea of devoting his genius to Norwegian melody and the cultivation of a specifically national art. Nordraak later wrote incidental music for Bjørnson's plays Maria Stuart i Skotland and Sigurd Slembe.[3] He published his Fem norske Digte: Op. 2, consisting of songs and poems by Bjørnson and Jonas Lie. This was the last of his compositions that would be published during his lifetime.

Rikard Nordraak's first grave in Berlin

In May 1865, he returned to Berlin to continue his education, but he was stricken with tuberculosis in October and died in Paris the following March, only 23 years old. He was buried in Kirchhof Jerusalem in the Berlin neighborhood of Kreuzberg (Friedhof IV der Gemeinde Jerusalem – und Neue Kirche). In 1925, Nordraak's coffin was brought home to Norway and buried in the Honor Grove at Vår Frelsers gravlund in Oslo.[4]

Nordraak did not live long enough to produce much music. About forty compositions, mostly smaller works like songs, pieces for male choir and a few piano compositions, have been preserved. The biggest of these compositions, is the Scherzo Capriccio for piano solo, given the opus number 3, published posthumously by Edvard Grieg. This is a kind of rondo, using several features from Norwegian folk music; rhythms typical in slåtter, and dissonances typical for the hardingfele. However, the thematic material does not have this connection with folk music. Rikard Nordraak. Samlede verker, a critical edition of Nordraak overall compositions were published by Øyvind Anker and Olav Gurvin (1942).[5]

With his passionate patriotism and great love for folk music, Nordraak's main contribution to Norwegian music history was to be an inspiration for contemporary composers, such as Grieg. When Grieg heard of Nordraak's death, he composed the Funeral March in Memory of Rikard Nordraak (Sørgemarsj over Rikard Nordraak). Part of his life story was dramatised in the musical Song of Norway.[6]

Quotation

[edit]
Rikard Nordraak's grave stone in Vår Frelsers gravlund in Oslo

Nordraak himself explained his musical faith in this way:

They talk of carrying rocks to Norway but we have enough rock. Let us simply use what we have. Nationalism, in music for example, does not mean composing more Hallings and Springar such as our forefathers composed. That is nonsense. No, it means building a house out of all these bits of rock and living in it. Listen to the unclothed plaintive melodies that wander, like so many orphans, round the countryside all over Norway. Gather them about you in a circle round the heart of love and let them all tell you their stories. Remember them all, reflect and then play each one afterwards so that you solve all riddles and everyone thinks you like his story best. Then they will be happy and cleave to your heart. Then you will be a national artist

— Rikard Nordraak, [7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Rikard Nordraak Store norske leksikon
  2. ^ Rikard Nordraak – Biography Music Information Centre Norway
  3. ^ Rines, George Edwin, ed. (1920). "Nordraak, Rikard" . Encyclopedia Americana.
  4. ^ Æreslunden 27 Rikard Nordraak Vår Frelsers gravlund
  5. ^ Finn Benestad Rikard Nordraak. Norsk biografisk leksikon
  6. ^ Rikard Nordraak Classical Composers Database
  7. ^ Norsk musikkhistorie: Hovedlinjer i norsk musikkliv gjennom 1000 år (Grinde, N. Universitetsforlaget: 1971)

Other sources

[edit]
  • Grinde, Nils A History of Norwegian Music (University of Nebraska Press. 1991)
[edit]
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