24 Facts About Geirr Tveitt

Geirr Tveitt was born in Bergen, where his father briefly worked as a teacher.

Geirr Tveitt's parents were Hakonson Lars Tveit and Johanna Nilsdotter Heradstveit.

Geirr Tveitt had originally been christened Nils, but following his increasing interest in Norwegian heritage, he thought the name 'not Norwegian enough' and changed it to Geir.

Geirr Tveitt later added an extra r to his first name and an extra t to Tveit to indicate more clearly to non-Norwegians the desired pronunciation of his name.

Geirr Tveitt was no child prodigy, but discovered that he possessed musical talent, and learned to play both the violin and the piano.

And, after having been encouraged by Norwegian composer Christian Sinding, Geirr Tveitt decided to try his hand at writing music.

Geirr Tveitt studied composition with Hermann Grabner and Leopold Wenninger, and the piano with Otto Weinreich, making extraordinary progress in both fields.

Geirr Tveitt further managed to enroll in the classes of Nadia Boulanger.

Geirr Tveitt made one last educational stopover in Paris in 1938 before heading home to Norway to work.

The piano concerto was performed in a two-piano version, Geirr Tveitt assisted by the French pianist Genevieve Joy.

Geirr Tveitt now found it very difficult to compose and gradually succumbed to alcoholism.

Geirr Tveitt died in Norheimsund, Hardanger, reduced and largely embittered, with little hope for the legacy of his professional work.

Geirr Tveitt began work on the ballet whilst studying in Leipzig, where it was first performed on 24 February 1938.

Geirr Tveitt developed an intricate diatonic theory, which interconnected the modal scales through a system of double leading notes.

Geirr Tveitt's compositions are characterized by their eclectic influences, drawing inspiration from a diverse range of musical styles and traditions.

Unfortunately, a significant portion of Geirr Tveitt's oeuvre has not been published or systematically archived, a situation that was further exacerbated by a fire in 1970.

Over time several of Geirr Tveitt's scores have been rediscovered; some have been reconstructed from orchestral parts, as well as from radio broadcasts and magnetic tape recordings.

From 1940 onwards, when Geirr Tveitt settled permanently in Hardanger, he became one of the locals, and spent much time working and playing with folk-musicians.

Geirr Tveitt thus happened upon a treasure of unknown tunes, claiming to have discovered almost one thousand melodies, and incorporated one hundred of these into his work list; Fifty folktunes from Hardanger for piano op.

Geirr Tveitt's works remained largely misunderstood and unappreciated by his contemporary Norwegian musical establishment.

However, Geirr Tveitt won the hearts of a whole nation with his radio programmes on folk music at the Norwegian National Broadcasting in the 1960s and '70s.

In 1980 Geirr Tveitt was awarded the Lindeman prize for the work he had done through the NRK.

Geirr Tveitt then sent it to the choreographer Serge Lifar in London, where the score allegedly was lost in the Blitz.

Many of Geirr Tveitt's scores are published by the Norwegian Music Information Centre, as well as through the archives of the Society of Norwegian Composers.