Hjalmar Borgstrom Born 23.3.1864 Oslo Died 5.1.1925 Oslo
Coming from a musical family, he initially studied with Johan Svendsen and Ludwig M Linden, then from 1887 he went to the Leipzig Conservatory where he stayed for two years, returning for a brief period to Oslo in 1889 From 1890 to 1901 he resided in Berlin. He was born Hjalmar Jensen but in 1887 changed his surname to Borgstrom which was his mother's maiden name. In 1904 he married the pianist Harriet Amalie Muller 1868-1913. He is best remembered for his five symphonic poems.
Orchestral
Symphony in C major Op.5 1890
Symphony in D minor Op.24 1912
Symphony in G major - in manuscript
Symphonic poem for piano and orchestra 'Hamlet' Op.13 1903 pub. Holograph ms on ISMLP
Symphonic poem 'Jesus of Gethesemane' Op.14 1914
Symphonic poem 'John Gabrieel Borkman' (after Henrik Ibsen) Op.15 1905 pub. Holograph ms on ISMLP
Symphonic poem for piano, trumpet, strings and percussion 'Die Nacht der Toten' (Night of the Dead) Op.16
Symphonic poem 'Tan Kin' (The Thought) Op.26 1917
Piano Concerto in C major Op.22 1910 pub. Holograph ms on ISMLP
Piano Concerto in D minor - fragment.
Violin Concerto in G major Op.25 1914
Romance for violin and orchestra Op.12
Chamber
Piano Quintet in F Op.31 1919
Clarinet Quintet 1919
String Quartet in C major Op.6 1891
Violin Sonata in G major Op.19 1906
Piano
Six Pieces: Scherzo, Minuet, Burlesque, Vals Caprice, Gavotte, Storm March. Op.3 pub. by Carl Warmuth
Three Pieces: Minuet, Impromptu, Waltz. Op.10 1899 pub. by Carl Warmuth
Two Pieces Op.18
Six Pieces: An der Wiege, Wehklage, Ein Winterleibnis, Ballet-scene, Ensom (lonely), Zephyr. Op.20 1908 pub. by Bodrene Hals
Vals Op.32
Two other pieces ?
Song
Abendlied
Frozen Forest
I dromme stod for meg Madonna
Lyng
The Red Poppy
Smapiger
Spillemaend Op.2/1
Svalerne
The Swallows
There are another 36 songs
Vocal
'Who are you with a thousand names' cantata 1889
Bergmanden for voice and orchestra Op.27
Opera
Thora paa Rimol (Thora from Rimol) Op.7 1894 pub. Holograph ms ISMLP
Fiscaren (The Fisherman) 1900
Thanks a lot for drawing my attention to Borgstrom - it's been a long time since I listened to his music. I only have one CD, issued by the Norwegian Cultural Council in 1991 (NKFCD 50026-2) with 'Hamlet' and 'Tanken' (The Thought). According to Volume 3 of "Norges Musikk Historie", the composer he studied with was called Ludvig M. Lindeman. He also studied with Ole Olsen for two years. The soloist in the first performance of 'Hamlet' was his future wife, Amalie Müller. In addition to composing he also worked as a critic for Norwegian papers, covering topics such as programme music, musical logic and orchestra psychology among others. He was a feared, but at the same time highly respected, concert reviewer who published reviews on an almost daily basis. While 'Tanken', which he finished in 1913, three years after his wife's death, was for several years considered one of the main works in modern Norwegian music, not least because of its use of sirens and an anvil in the last movement, it was later seen as harmless and old-fashioned. With the arrival of impressionism and expressionism in Norway around 1920, he began to be seen as very conservative.
A list of scores and recordings of Borgstrom's music held by the Music Information Centre, Norway, can be found here: http://mic.bibits.no/wsHitList.Asp?sString=FO=borgstr%F8m,%20hjalmarAND%20searchUnitId0%20AND%20NOT%20searchUnitId=4&order_way=desc&language=Eng (http://mic.bibits.no/wsHitList.Asp?sString=FO=borgstr%F8m,%20hjalmarAND%20searchUnitId0%20AND%20NOT%20searchUnitId=4&order_way=desc&language=Eng)
I'd like to find the Piano Concerto.
His opera "Thora paa Rimol" is available on CD and is well worth seeking out. A good historical subject (the final days of pagan rule in Norway, also described in tone poems by Grieg and Smetana) and it has some marvelous choral writing. The violin concerto and two works for piano and orchestra ("Hamlet" and "Night of the Dead") have been recorded.
QuoteThe violin concerto and two works for piano and orchestra ("Hamlet" and "Night of the Dead") have been recorded.
Where, please?
http://www.amazon.com/Borgstrom-Hamlet-Op-13-Thought-Op-26/dp/B00004SWOS/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1390419095&sr=1-2 (http://www.amazon.com/Borgstrom-Hamlet-Op-13-Thought-Op-26/dp/B00004SWOS/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1390419095&sr=1-2)
I have heard Hamlet a while back and without looking at my shelves, I think this must be the CD.
Thal
Thanks. I know about this CD, but where's "Night of the Dead" which scottevan3 claims has been recorded?
Actually, I've answered the question myself: it's here http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hjalmar-Borgstr%C3%B8m-Violin-Concerto-Symphonic/dp/B003AI2JN0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390420159&sr=8-1&keywords=Borgstrom+%2BSimax (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hjalmar-Borgstr%C3%B8m-Violin-Concerto-Symphonic/dp/B003AI2JN0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390420159&sr=8-1&keywords=Borgstrom+%2BSimax)
The other symphonic poem is "Jesus in Gethsemane" which, like "Night of the Dead", contains a part for piano.
Yes, thanks for the information and links to the recordings. I only knew that they had been recorded as I heard them on the radio some time back.
Now I'm wondering if any of his chamber or solo piano works have been recorded. We'd have a much more defined picture of Borgstrom as a composer if that were so.
Don't know about recordings, but some of his piano works (and others) have been uploaded (manuscripts, mostly) to imslp.org .
Borgstrom was one Excellent composer, I have the violin concert, it's very beautiful! Die Nacht der toten, is one frenetic piece for piano And orchestra. Jesús in Gethsemane it's one very descriptive piece, until was recreated the arrived of the soldiers for Jesus's capture. Very good Cd!! I had worked in Sibelius Software pieces by Borgstrom, especially I had enjoyed the opus 18: 1 Vaarbrudd, And 2 Drikkevise (anyone know the meaning of these words?), it's interesting say that the romanze op 12 was dedicated to Ysaye!! It will interesting to ese the piano concert And the symphony!
Thora from Rimol op 7, I have the oper but I don't listen yet ;D
I don't know the whole text of Borgström's "Drikkevise", but the title means "drinking song"
Dear Regriba
Thank you!! 50% of the answer is ready!!
Remain pending Vaarbrud :-[
Curious about the clarinet quintet, anyone know anything more about it? Is there a score somewhere?
Well, the Norwegian National Library seems to have a -lot- of often downloadable manuscripts of his ... including what they describe as a piano concerto in D minor which perhaps could be added to that list depending on how complete it is? (http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digimanus_173301 (http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digimanus_173301) Hrm. Navigating it using Flash- 88 page score- hrm!... ah no indeed, it does seem to be a fragment after all... though this (http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digimanus_175480) links to 422 pages of score and/or parts of a symphony in G major by him in manuscript. ... hrm. again. ...) I'll see if they have the cl. quintet.
haven't found the quintet yet, but is perhaps the "string quartet in C major" the same work (misdescribed) as this quartet in C minor in MS parts by Borgstrøm here (http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digimanus_175460)?
Actually, I don't see the clarinet quintet at all. Sure it wasn't someone's misreading of "Klaverkvintet"? :)
Thought that might be the case. I've made that mistake myself!
Hello Aramiarz!
I suppose it's the same as in Danish 'Vaarbrud'. Rued Langgaard named his 2nd Symphony 'Vaarbrud' which is commonly translated as 'Awakening of Spring'.
Thank You britishcomposer! Interesting relation with Langgaard.
Dear Erick, thank You for your share your research!
I wish share with You the music of the op 18 by Borgstrom, I ' ll upload soon, I will revise the process, it's the first time that I will do it
Dear Erick
Very useful to me is the link that You wrote for Borgstrom's quartett, I followed the link And found the piano concert pages, thank you!
It is a good discovery never the less. Do we have a composition date for the concerto and the symphony? Anyone fancy editing what there is of the concerto?
http://www.codigoradio.cultura.df.gob.mx/index.php/la-vida-secreta/17934-hjalmar-borgstrom (http://www.codigoradio.cultura.df.gob.mx/index.php/la-vida-secreta/17934-hjalmar-borgstrom)
For whom wish to listen music by Borgstrom, there are the two pieces op 18 And Other symphonic pieces.
Thank you. As the introductions are all in Spanish, I had trouble in knowing which pieces were which.
Dear Giles
Tomorrow I upload the info about pieces and times where can be listened in the program
About the scores in the Norwegian library, all are manuscripts, I didn't see information about places and dates. But I will revise more.