LAWO Classics

Catharinus Elling

Composer | Norwegian | 1858–1942

About Catharinus Elling

The Norwegian composer Catharinus Elling (1858–1942) was born on 13 September in Kristiania (Oslo). Both of his parents were musical, and their son's musical education began early. In 1874, Elling enrolled as a student of philology at the University of Oslo, and graduated in 1883.

However, he more than anything wanted to dedicate himself to music, and as a part of his studies he went to Leipzig to study piano and composition in the years 1877–78. Grieg would be a great benefactor for Elling, both musically and in a more practical sense, as he was for many Norwegian composers of Elling's generation. Elling had his first compositions published in 1881.

In 1884 he held his first concert evening with his own works, and when this was positively received, Elling sent some of his compositions to Grieg, who praised him as 'a lyrical talent of high rank'. In 1886 Grieg supported an application to finance further studies in Germany, where Elling got in close contact with the Austrian composer Heinrich von Herzogenberg, a close friend of Brahms.

This connection left deep traces in Elling, and in much of his music one hears clearly the influence of Brahms and the older romantics Schumann and Mendelssohn.

He wrote the opera Kosakkerne (1894) — considered the first Norwegian opera performed in Norway — and the oratorio Den forlorne Søn (1896). He became a teacher at the music conservatory in Kristiania, and was the teacher of important Norwegian composers including David Monrad Johansen and Fartein Valen. From 1898 he began collecting Norwegian folk tunes — few have done as much as Elling in this field.

Discography of Catharinus Elling 3

Composer (3)

Works by Catharinus Elling recorded on LAWO Classics 36

  • Bølgeskvulp Recorded on LWC1072
  • Christkindleins Wiegenlied Recorded on LWC1072 | LWC1419
  • Den gang jeg var kun saa stor som saa Recorded on LWC1072
  • Du trykker mig Kys paa min Pande Recorded on LWC1072
  • Elegie Recorded on LWC1072
  • Elskovsvise Recorded on LWC1072
  • Erotikon Recorded on LWC1072
  • Et Kjærlighetsdikt 2 movements Recorded on LWC1185
  • Feuerelement Recorded on LWC1072
  • Fire Klaverstykker 4 movements Recorded on LWC1185
  • Fiskaren åt Sonen sin Recorded on LWC1072
  • Fjukande Skyer Recorded on LWC1072
  • Gelobet sei Maria Recorded on LWC1072
  • Hast gesagt, du willst mich nehmen Recorded on LWC1072
  • Ho Astrid Recorded on LWC1072
  • Høgferd Recorded on LWC1072
  • Hüt du dich! Recorded on LWC1072
  • Irmelin Rose Recorded on LWC1072
  • Jeg vil ud! Recorded on LWC1072
  • Kosakkene 2 movements Recorded on LWC1218
  • Meiner Frauen roter Mund Recorded on LWC1072
  • Min Skat Recorded on LWC1072
  • Min Stolthed Recorded on LWC1072
  • Morgenlied Recorded on LWC1072
  • Nordmannen Recorded on LWC1072
  • Norske Folkemelodier 9 movements Recorded on LWC1185
  • Rote Äuglein Recorded on LWC1072
  • Sanger uten Ord 4 movements Recorded on LWC1185
  • Scherzi for Klaver 2 movements Recorded on LWC1185
  • Snapshots for Klaver 4 movements Recorded on LWC1185
  • Svundne Dage 8 movements Recorded on LWC1185
  • Synden, døden Recorded on LWC1072
  • Søndagmorgen Recorded on LWC1072
  • To Klaverstykker 2 movements Recorded on LWC1185
  • Vals Recorded on LWC1185
  • Vals-Capricer 2 movements Recorded on LWC1185