Arnestad, Finn (Oluf Bjerke)

Arnestad, Finn (Oluf Bjerke) Norwegian composer and music critic; b. Christiania, Sept. 23, 1915; d. Oslo, Jan. 30, 1998. He studied violin and piano in Oslo and, briefly, composition with Brustad; in 1952 he studied African and oriental folk music in Paris; after returning to Oslo, he was active as a music critic. His music is influenced by French Impressionism, with tangential use of dodecaphony.

Works

ORCH: Constellation, intermezzo (1948); Conversation, concert intermezzo for Piano and Orch. (1950); Meditation, intermezzo (1952); I.N.R.I., 2 concert suites from a symphonic mystery play (1952–55); Violin Concerto (1957); Aria appassionata (1962); Cavatina cambiata (1965; orig. titled Doppler-sonance); Overture (1970); Vdeesletjennet for Norwegian Recorder and Orch. (1970; based on a 1938 piano piece); Toccata (1972); Arabesque (1975); Piano Concerto (1976); Mouvement concertant, concert piece for Double Bass and Orch. (1978). CHAMBER: String Quartet (1947); Sextet for Flute, Clarinet, Bassoon, Violin, Cello, and Piano (1959); Quintet for Flute and Strings (1962); Suite in Old Dance Rhythms for Flute, Oboe, Harpsichord, and Strings (1966); Trombone Sonata (1971); Sonata for Solo Violin (1980); Sonata for Solo Double Bass (1980). Piano: 2 sonatas (1967; Ritagliata, 1967); Tango, 3-part canon (1981). VOCAL: Missa Brevis for Chorus and 6 Instruments (1951); Amen for Chorus (1959); Smeden og Bageren (The Blacksmith and the Baker) for Baritone, Flute, Oboe, Harpsichord, and Strings (1966).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire