F. Melius Christiansen

F. Melius Christiansen
Frederick Melius Christiansen ca. 1926

F. Melius Christiansen (April 1, 1871-June 1, 1955) was a Norwegian-born violinist and choral conductor in the Lutheran choral tradition.

Contents

Background

Frederick Melius Christiansen, the son of a Norwegian factory worker, was born in Eidsvold, municipality in Akershus county, Norway and emigrated to the United States at the age of 17. He settled in Washburn, Wisconsin. He studied at Augsburg College. In 1897, he returned to Europe to study three years at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Leipzig, Germany.[1]

Career

In 1901, Christiansen was recruited by St. Olaf College president John N. Kildahl. The St. Olaf Choir was founded as an outgrowth of the St. John's Lutheran Church Choir in Northfield. For the next 30 years, Christiansen led the St. Olaf Choir, striving for perfect intonation, blend, diction and phrasing. He was a skilled conductor, directing bands and choirs alike. He assumed direction of the St. Olaf Band in 1903, and took the ensemble on tour to Norway in 1906 to play for King Haakon VII, making it the first college music ensemble to conduct a tour abroad. Though his first love was the violin, he received international fame as founding director of the St. Olaf Choir of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, USA from 1912 to 1944. Christiansen was considered a pioneer in the art of a cappella (unaccompanied) choral music. Christiansen composed and arranged over 250 musical selections and his choral techniques were spread throughout the U.S. by St. Olaf graduates. The great Christiansen choral tradition is a recognized feature of American Lutheranism.

Family Tradition

Four of Dr. Christiansen's children survived to adulthood each of them adding their own legacy to the Christiansen tradition of choral music in America.[2]

  • Jake Christiansen -Coach and Athletic director at Concordia College. Jake Christiansen Stadium, "the Jake," was built in his honor.
  • Dr.Olaf Christiansen- Olaf Succeeded his father as head of the music department at St. Olaf College and conductor of the St. Olaf Choir. His accomplishments include many choral arrangements and more than twenty years of conducting the St. Olaf Choir.
  • Dr. Paul J. Christiansen- Paul J. conducted The Concordia Choir from 1937–1986, developing the choir into what is now one of the worlds finest and most accomplished undergraduate acappella choirs. Paul J., like his father, composed and arranged hundreds of hymns and countless choral compositions. Paul J. Christiansen helped to spread his fathers music and tradition (as well as developing his own reputation of excellence) to generations.
  • Elsa Christiansen Wycisk- married Kurt Wycisk manager of the Concordia Choir.

References

  1. ^ F. Melius Christiansen (1871-1955) (ACDA of Minnesota) http://www.acda-mn.org/fmc.asp
  2. ^ The Christiansen Tradition in Sacred Choral Music(Anton Armstrong. St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota)http://www.luthersem.edu/word&world/Archives/12-3_Music/12-3_Armstrong.pdf

External links


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