Ludvig Irgens-Jensen: The Life and Music of a Norwegian Composer
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Extent: 368 pages
Composition: Royal octavo ~ Illustrations ~ LoW ~ Irgens-Jensen as Poet ~ Bibliography ~ Discography ~ Index of Irgens-Jensen's Music ~ General Index ~ Sampler CD of Irgens-Jensen’s Music
The Norwegian composer Ludvig Irgens-Jensen (1894-1969) was one of the towering creative figures of his native land, although his dignified and powerful music does not receive the attention its quality deserves, either at home or abroad. The success of his dramatic symphony Heimferd (‘Homecoming’) in 1930 brought him national fame, but the post-War triumph of modernism, coupled with his personal modesty, pushed Irgens-Jensen’s tonal music into the shadows: its contrapuntally based textures and its modally tinged harmonies were seen as things of the past. But a growing number of recordings is reminding listeners that he was one of the most distinguished and distinctive voices in twentieth-century music – a figure of international importance, writing music of striking nobility and strength of purpose with some meltingly lovely melodic lines.
Arvid O. Vollsnes’ Ludvig Irgens-Jensen: The Life and Music of a Norwegian Composer is the first discussion in English of this profoundly decent man and his life-enhancing music. A review of the original Norwegian publication of this book in Aftenposten, the main Norwegian daily paper, described it as ‘a gripping biographical portrait. As well as Irgens-Jensen’s life we get a broad picture of Norwegian musical life from the 1920s to his death in 1969’.
A CD of extracts from Irgens-Jensen’s works has been prepared to accompany the English edition to provide readers with an introduction to his highly individual and immediately appealing sound-world.
Gramophone :
‘This is thorough and solid first biography and Vollsnes is a passionate advocate of his subject. Beryl Foster’s translation […] is clear and nuanced.’
—Gramophone
Midwest Book Review :
‘Vollsnes […] gives Irgens-Jensen’s work the scholarly scrutiny it deserves, in the full context of the composer’s eventful life. Extensive appendices, a discography, an index, and an accompanying music CD round out this superb resource especially recommended for music scholars and college library collections.’
—Midwest Book Review
Fanfare :
‘Though this is a “life and works” study, it might better be seen as a “works and life” account. Its strong point lies in Vollsnes’s clear and cogent tours through all the major pieces, to aid which he cites many documents by and about the composer and his works. He does not read Irgens-Jensen’s life into and out of his compositions. Indeed, most of the biographical information and reviews of his work are carried through generous citations.
I haven’t read the Norwegian original of this book, but Beryl Foster’s unfussy translation (rather like the character of the composer himself) reads naturally and easily. There is a works list and a list of recordings to date. If you have never heard Irgens-Jensen’s music, I strongly urge you to listen first to the CD of well-chosen excerpts thoughtfully provided with this book.’
—Alan Swanson, Fanfare