Biography
Throughout his brief lifetime of twenty-three years, Nordraak stood among the small number of Norwegian composers who remained untouched by Grieg’s influence, even though the pair formed a close friendship. He pursued piano studies under Kullak and composition lessons with Kiel while in Berlin, and later worked with Gerlach during his time in Copenhagen. In Christiania he encountered Lindemann and Bull amid his training with Magnus. Together with Grieg, Horneman and Matthison-Hansen, Nordraak established Euterpe in 1861 to champion works by emerging Scandinavian composers. He created the Norwegian national anthem, whose premiere took place on May 17, 1864. Nordraak’s historical significance rests on his fervent advocacy of Norwegian folk music and national identity, which encouraged fellow countrymen to reclaim traditional themes. His melodies remained straightforward, constructed from triads and diatonic scales, reflecting his pursuit of clear contours and transparent textures.