Thomas Tellefsen (1823-1874): a Norwegian not to forget

[Peter1953]

I was just preparing a new topic on the Norwegian composer Thomas Dyke Acland Tellefsen, when I came across his name in the thread on Hyperion's RPCs. Tellefsen spent a great deal of his life in Paris, where he became a pupil and friend of Chopin. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Tellefsen

His piano music is released in 4 volumes by Acte Prealable. Just beautiful, subtle and elegant piano music, definitely influenced by Chopin, but nevertheless with some Norwegian folk tunes. I'm sure Morten can tell us more.
Both Piano Concertos opp. 8 & 15 are nothing less than trouvailles. See http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:D6sbdibKIXcJ:www.simax.no/artikkel.php/artikkel.php/artikkel.php/artikkel.php%3Fid%3D1115%26start%3D46+thomas+tellefsen+composer&cd=7&hl=nl&ct=clnk&gl=nl
And then there is a CD (also Simax) with chamber music. A Cello Sonata op. 19, a Violin Sonata op. 21 and a Piano trio op. 31. All very pleasant music.

I can heartly recommend all these CDs. Any other opinions on TT?

[eschiss1]

Thanks! Common surname, or is he related to Arve Tellefsen (or "neither" ?)
Eric

[eschiss1]

(Also, if interested, quite a bit of his music - though the piano concertos presently only in 1-piano arrangements - seems to be at http://imslp.org/wiki/Category:Tellefsen,_Thomas_Dyke_Acland )

[Peter1953]

Common surname, or is he related to Arve Tellefsen (or "neither" ?)
Eric

Well, Thomas and Arve are born in Trondheim...   

[M. Henriksen]

Common surname, or is he related to Arve Tellefsen

I can assure you gentlemen that Thomas and Arve are not related, but they do share the same city of birth as mentioned.

I must say, despite being Norwegian, that I don't know Tellefsen too well. First of all he's dead (That is Thomas).
Seriously I do not know his music well enough to make too many statements or comments.

I think Peter is spot on describing Tellefsen's music as "beautiful, subtle and elegant". A child of his time, and of course untypical Norwegian since he spent most of his life in Europe. Still some elements of folk-music can be found, but I have no knowledge of Tellefsen using actual folk melodies in his works.

The composer has finally got his renaissance during the last 10 years. I actually remember visiting the Ringve Museum outside Trondheim when I was about 15 years old. The museum contained a great deal of Tellefsen's music in original manuscripts, sheet music and documents, and also a piano of his if I remember correctly. At that time, no recordings of his works existed as far as I know, but the process of making Tellefsen's music heard again had already started.

Tellefsen has been a major "discovery" in Norwegian music, sort of a "Ole Bull of the piano", but I don't think his music should be overestimated. Pleasent music from a gifted pianist.

Here are some excerpts from his 2nd Piano Concerto:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qTIgMOR9Ho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jc5fQsuosc&feature=related


Morten

[thalbergmad]

My only experience of his works are a few nocturnes that i used to play through.

Does not offend the ear and can be pleasant, but does not tear your heart to pieces like Chopin & Herz.

Thal

[JimL]

I have the Simax disc of both concertos, and I return to it on occasion.  Pleasant enough to listen to, but I have a hard time remembering it for long.  It has its moments, though, and the orchestration and balance between solo and tutti is definitely more accomplished than his mentor's.

[giles.enders]

I have the Tellefsen piano concertos.  I think they are pleasent to listen to and should be heard and promoted more.
I observe the Subject title is 'a Norwegian not to forget'. The Norwegians seem to have done a good job in forgetting Agathe Grondahl 1847-1901. Have the Norwegians had any women composers since?
Giles.Enders

[eschiss1]

Catharinus Elling, from a few years after; Signe Lund (1868-1950); Emma Dahl (1819-1896) (ok, she was before, not since)

[giles.enders]

Have any of these women written chamber music that would stand an outing at a concert in London ?

[M. Henriksen]

Catharinus Elling was a man and very much so.
He's second from the left on this picture from a composer's meeting in Bergen 1898. All composers from left to right: Christian Cappelen, Catharinus Elling, Ole Olsen, Gerhard Schjelderup, Iver Holter, Agathe Backe Grøndahl, Edvard Grieg, Christian Sinding, Johan Svendsen and Johan Halvorsen



Agathe Backe Grøndahl is considered to be not only the most important female composer in Norwegian history, but among the most important composers overall in our country (The picture above can illustrate that). She has mainly composed piano music and songs, and that could be a reason for her not being mentioned together with other composers of more large scale works.

After Backe Grøndahl I would say that Pauline Hall (1890-1969) is the most important female composer of Norway (my personal opinion), and also a very important figure in musical life overall between the mountains and fjords. Here's a link to a recording of some of Hall's orchestral music:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Verlaine-Suite-Eggen-Pauline-Hall/dp/B000027ALU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1277987885&sr=1-1


Morten

[eschiss1]

Re Catharinus Elling- erm. Whoops. Sorry.

[eschiss1]

5-years late reply, sorry:
the first violin sonata can now be heard (Op.19- Op.21 is the cello sonata; there's a mix up down there) - on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rESG-XQ-VL4. Maybe an inducement to consider (or not) the chamber music CD (though the performers differ, I think?)

[Michael Sayers]

Hi Everyone,

Here are four nocturnes on Y.T. by Tellefsen.  This is great music in my opinion - and every bit as wonderful as the nocturnes by Chopin and John Field.  The pianist, Einar Steen-Nøkleberg, seems to be a tremendous interpreter of them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngFD9RPfZiU

I first found out about Einar Steen-Nøkleberg through his magnificent interpretation of this little known pair of piano transcriptions by Grieg.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cdg5pkQT_GQ


Mvh,
Michael

[C R Lim]

Couple of observations.

1. From the notes to the Complete Solo Piano works on the Simax label, played by Einar Steen-Nokleberg. Not a trivial artist!

"Tellefsen is an important figure in the Norwegian music heritage, and I have given of my very soul to bring him into the light in the year 2011. I sincerely hope that these pieces will be played by many a young musician."

2. Just for a change, a bit of trivia. Tellefsen's full name is Thomas Dyke Acland Tellefsen. The oriigin is not widely known, but it can be found buried away in the notes for the recital by Jørgen Larsen on the 2L Label:

The story of Tellefsen's name:
The British politician Sir Thomas Dyke Acland (1778-1871) was known for his liberal views and his involvement with humanitarian and religious causes. Sir Thomas visited Norway on several occasions. In 1813 he had met Tellefsen's father, who was working as a librarian at the Scientific Society in Trondhjem.

After another visit nine years later Sir Thomas sent his portrait to the Tellefsen family. The portrait arrived just as the family's newborn son was to be christened, and his name became Thomas Dyke Acland Tellefsen. It was only many years later, when Tellefsen was staying in London in 1848, that he met Sir Thomas at a private party and finally asked permission to use the name. Tellefsen stayed in contact and visited Sir Thomas several times on his estate in Devon.