Jordan, Sverre

Jordan, Sverre, Norwegian pianist, conductor, and composer; b. Bergen, May 25, 1889; d. there, Jan. 10, 1972. He studied piano in Bergen, then took courses in piano and composition with Da Motta, Ansorge, Klatte, and Gortatowski in Berlin (1907–14). He made his debut as a pianist in Bergen (1911). He was music critic of the Morgenavisen there (1917–31), and also conducted the Bergen Harmonien choir (1922–32) and was director of Den Nasjonale Scene, Bergen’s major theater (1931–57). In his works, he made liberal use of national folk songs, which met the tastes of the general public. Typical of these nationally oriented works are Suite in Old Style for Small Orch. (1911), Norvegiani for Orch. (1921), Smeden (The Smith) for Baritone, Chorus, and Orch. (1924), Norge i vare hjerter, cantata for the opening of the Bergen Exhibition (1928), Suite on Norwegian Folk Tunes and Dances for Orch. (1936), Holberg-silhuetter for Orch. (1938), Norwegian Rhapsody for Orch. (1950), Suite in Old Style on Holberg Themes for Orch. (1954), Concerto romantico for Horn and Orch. (1956), and Kongen (The King), orch. melodrama with narration and choral finale (1957). Other works are a Piano Concerto (1945), Cello Concerto (1947), Concerto piccolo for Piano and Orch. (1963), Violin Concerto (1966), two violin sonatas (1917, 1943), two piano trios (1958, 1963), Piano Sonata (1963), incidental music for plays, and over 200 songs, often with orch. accompaniment.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire