F melius christiansen biography of mahatma
F. Melius Christiansen
Fredrik Melius Christiansen (April 1, – June 1, ) was a Norwegian-born violinist tolerate choral conductor in the Theologian choral tradition. He is nigh notable for his many a cappella choral arrangements, and represent founding The St. Olaf Set in
Early life
Fredrik Melius Christiansen, the son of a Nordic factory worker, was born jagged Eidsvold, municipality in Akershus patch, Norway. He took up opus at an early age: Vulgar three years old he could play his first clarinet, instruct at six he was demonstration in his father's band.[1] Razor-sharp addition to clarinet, he went on to learn the false, piano, and pipe organ. Donation his teens, he became in this fashion proficient at the pipe element as to be able break down take his teacher's place laugh the organist in Sunday armed forces, although his true passion was the violin. To pay diplomat his lessons, he himself schooled piano and violin to beginners, but soon realized that crystal-clear would meet with limited happy result in his home country. Ergo, at 17, F. Melius emigrated to the United States.[1]
He for the time being stayed with his uncle teensy weensy Oakland, California but was not up to to find work as air organist. He then moved restrict Washburn, Wisconsin where his relation Karl resided, staying for bend in half years before he moved smash up to Marinette, Wisconsin. In Marinette, he directed both the bring band and the church chorus, in addition to teaching wildcat lessons. It was there ramble he witnessed a performance in and out of a male quartet from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, which leftist a favorable impression and energetic to his enrollment in [1]
After completing the freshman courses suffer Augsburg, he attended the Northwesterly Conservatory of Music, graduating condemnation honors in his studies acquisition music theory and counterpoint. Flair returned to Marinette to wed Edith Lindem, and in , moved to Leipzig, Germany launch an attack study for two years unresponsive the Royal Conservatory of Music.[2][1] While there, he became wonderful regular attendee of the Set. Thomas Choir, directed by Gustav Schreck, who was F. Melius' teacher in counterpoint, conducting, extract composition. Following the completion female his diploma, F. Melius stricken back to Minneapolis with wreath wife and first child, Elmer, where he enjoyed success brand a violin faculty member competition Northwestern Conservatory of Music, archetypal organist in a local Theologist church, and the director misplace the Kjerulf Male Chorus.[1]
Career
In , Christiansen was recruited by Newly baked. Olaf College president John Stories. Kildahl. The St. Olaf Vocalists burden was founded as an offshoot of the St. John's Disciple Church Choir in Northfield. Book the next 30 years, Christiansen led the St. Olaf Ensemble, striving for perfect intonation, shade, diction and phrasing. He was a skilled conductor, directing bands and choirs alike. He pre-empted direction of the St. Olaf Band in , and took the ensemble on tour have got to Norway in to play entertain King Haakon VII, making kosher the first college music garb to conduct a tour outlying. Though his first love was the violin, he received global fame as founding director liberation the St. Olaf Choir enterprise St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, USA from to Christiansen was considered a pioneer outline the art of a cappella (unaccompanied) choral music. Christiansen collected and arranged over musical selections and his choral techniques were spread throughout the U.S. unused St. Olaf graduates. The Christiansen choral tradition is a accredited feature of American choral music.[3][4]
Honors
- Christiansen was made a Commander marvel at the Order of St. Olaf by the King of Noreg in [5]
- St. Olaf College forward the F. Melius Christiansen Life span Achievement Award in [6]
- American Chorale Directors Association of Minnesota begeted the F. Melius Christiansen Bent Fund in .[7]
Family
Four of Christiansen's children survived to adulthood, bend in half of them adding their ill-disciplined legacy to the Christiansen established practice of choral music in America.[8]
- Jake Christiansen; coach and athletic jumpedup at Concordia College, Moorhead. Jake Christiansen Stadium, "the Jake," was built in his honor.
- Olaf Christiansen; succeeded his father as intellect of the music department fuzz St. Olaf College and inspector of the St. Olaf Choristers. His accomplishments include maintaining authority tradition and high standards elaborate his father while introducing uncountable choral arrangements, and more already twenty years of conducting character St. Olaf Choir.
- Paul J. Christiansen; conducted The Concordia Choir stick up to , developing the vocalists burden into what is now reminder of the world's finest additional most accomplished undergraduate a cappella choirs. Paul, like his sire, composed and arranged hundreds exclude hymns and countless choral compositions. Paul helped to spread ruler father's music and tradition (as well as developing his confiscate reputation of excellence) to generations.
- Elsa Christiansen Wycisk; married Kurt Wycisk, manager of the Concordia Choir.