Olsen, Poul Rovsing
Olsen, Poul Rovsing
Olsen, Poul Rovsing, Danish composer and ethnomusicologist; b. Copenhagen, Nov. 4, 1922; d. there, July 2, 1982. He studied law at the Univ. of Århus (1940–42) and at the Univ. of Copenhagen (1942–48); concurrently, studied harmony and counterpoint with Jeppesen and piano with Christiansen at the Copenhagen Cons. (1943–46); later studied composition with Boulanger and analysis with Messiaen in Paris (1948–49). Between 1958 and 1963 he took part in ethnomusicological expeditions to Arabia, India, Greece, and eastern Greenland and wrote numerous valuable papers on the folklore and musical cultures of the areas he visited. He worked until 1960 for the Danish Ministry of Education as a legal expert on music copyright; served as chairman of the Danish Soc. of Composers (1962–67); taught ethnomusicology at the Univ. of Lund, Sweden (1967–69), and subsequently at the Univ. of Copenhagen. He was president of the International Council of Traditional Music (formerly the International Folk Music Council) from 1977 until his death. He was a music critic for the newspapers Mor-genbladet (1945–46), Information (1949–54), and Berlingske Tidende (1954–74). Much of his music embodies materials of non-European cultures, reflecting the influence of his travels. His Elegy for Organ (1953) is the first serial work written by a Danish composer.
Writings
Musiketnologi (Copenhagen, 1974); with J. Jenkins, Music and Musical Instruments in the World of Islam (London, 1976).
Works
dramatic: opera:Belisa, after García Lorca (1964; Copenhagen, Sept. 3, 1969); Usher, after Poe (1980). ballet:Ragnarök (Twilight of the Gods; 1948; Copenhagen, Sept. 12, 1960); La Création (1952; Copenhagen, March 10, 1961); Brylluppet (The Wedding; 1966; Copenhagen, Sept. 15, 1969); Den Fremmede (The Stranger; 1969; Copenhagen, July 17, 1972). orch.:Symphonic Variations (1953); Piano Concerto (1953–54); Sinfonia I (1957–58; Copenhagen, April 13, 1959) and II: Susudil (Copenhagen, Oct. 31, 1966); Capriccio (1961–62); Et russisk bal (The Russian Ball), 3 dances (1965); Au Fond de la nuit for Chamber Orch. (1968); Randrussermarchen (1977); Lux Coeles-tis (1978). chamber:2 Pieces for Clarinet and Piano (1943); Romance for Cello and Piano (1943); Violin Sonata (1946); 2 string quartets (1948,1969); Serenade for Violin and Piano (1949); 2 piano trios (1950,1976); Prolana for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano (1955); Cello Sonata (1956); The Dream of Pan for Flute (1959); Nouba, 6 movements for Harp (1960); Passacaglia for Flute, Violin, Cello, and Piano (1960); Patet for 9 Musicians (1966); How to Play in D major without Caring about It, fantasy for 2 Accordions (1967); Arabesk for 7 Musicians (1968); Shangri-La for Flute, Viola d’Amore, and Piano (1969); Pour une Viola d’Amour (1969); Rencontres for Cello and Percussion (1970); Poème for Accordian, Guitar, and Percussion (1973); Concertino for Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano (1973); Partita for Cello (1974); Nostalgie for Guitar (1976); Danse élégiaque for Flute and Guitar (1978); A Dream of Violet for String Trio (1982). piano : 3 sonatinas (1941, 1951, 1967); Theme with Variations (1947); 2 sonatas for Piano, 4-Hands (1948, 1967); 12 Préludes (1948); 2 sonatas (1950,1952); 3 Nocturnes (1951); Medardus, suite (1956); 5 Inventions (1957); Bagatelles (1962); Images (1965); 4 Innocent Sonatas (1969); Many Happy Returns (1971). vocal:Schicksalslieder, after 4 Hölderlin poems, for Soprano or Tenor and 7 Instruments (1953); Evening Songs for Mezzo-soprano and Flute (1954); Alapa-Tarana, vocalise for Mezzo-soprano and Percussion (1959); A l’inconnu for Soprano or Tenor and 13 Instruments (1962); Kejseren (The Emperor) for Tenor, Men’s Chorus, and Orch. (1963; Copenhagen, Sept. 5, 1964); A Song of Mira Bai for Chorus, 3 Trumpets, and Percussion (1971); Air for Mezzo-soprano, Saxophone, and Piano (1976); The Planets for Mezzo-soprano, Flute, Viola, and Guitar (1978).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire