Gustav Sparre Olsen

Springleik og vise fra 'Anne pa Torp'

Gustav Sparre Olsen (1903 - 1984) has a voluminous production as a composer, with orchestral works, chamber music, stage music, piano, and vocal music. His music is characterised by beautiful, lyrical melodies influenced by Norwegian folk music.

After studies in Germany and with Fartein Valen, he travelled to England in 1936 for studiees with Percy Grainger. They became very inspiring to Sparre Olsen, and they developed a lifelong friendship.

Springleik og vise ('Folk-dance and Song') is an excerpt from the theatre scene of 'Anne pa Torp' (with lyrics by Tore Orjasaeter) dated 1930. Fifteen years later, Sparre Olsen wrote a suite for orchestra of the scene-music.