Musical Migration
Exploring the lives and works of Norwegian-American composers on the 200th anniversary of Norwegian immigration to the United States.
On July 4, 1825, the sailing ship Restauration left Stavanger, Norway, carrying 52 Norwegians looking for a better life in the United States. Arriving on October 9, 1825, these immigrants were soon followed by hundreds of thousands of other Norwegians in the following decades.
To mark the 200th anniversary of this voyage, pianist/composer/researcher Steven Luksan and soprano/Nordic art song expert Laura Loge are presenting concerts, lecture-recitals, and workshops throughout the United States and Norway featuring music by Norwegian immigrant composers. Much of the music they will present has been found through archival research and has not been heard in decades.
Meet some of the Norwegian-American composers featured on our program:
Gerard Tonning (1860-1940)
A primary focus of Steven Luksan's research is the Norwegian-American composer Gerard Tonning. Tonning was born in Stavanger and subsequently lived in Duluth, Seattle, and New York City. He composed the Norwegian-language opera Leif Erikson in Seattle in 1910. Steven Luksan and Laura Loge will revive this opera for Leif Erikson day in 2025, and arias from the opera are featured on all Musical Migration programs.
Theodora Cormontan (1840-1922)
The pioneering composer and musician Theodora Cormontan, whose music speaks to her deep faith and perserverance in life. Coromontan lived a life full of tragedy and eventually settled in the Midwest of the US. Her story and her music are featured on our Musical Migration Programs.
Bjarne Rolseth (1883-1938)
The life and works of Bjarne Rolseth is one of Steven Luksan's principal research areas, and his music is featured on our Musical Migration programs. Immigrating to the United States in the 1910s and working as a church organist and piano teacher, Rolseth's music reflects the unique challenges that immigrants faced when trying to make a living as gigging-musicians. Rolseth's musical style changed as a result of his immigration. Original writing in an academic, German-Romantic style, his music became simpler and influenced by tin-pan alley during his years in the US.
To read Steven's research paper on Roselth, click HERE
Ole Bull (1810-1880)
A superstar musician in his day, the violinist Ole Bull dazzled audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. Spending many years in America, Ole Bull was also a business man who attempted (and spectacularly failed!) to create a Norwegian colony in the USA. "Oleana", as his colony was called, may not have succeeded but his legacy and his larger-than-life personality have not been forgotten in Norway or in the USA. Ole Bull's greatest hit "Sæterjentens Søndag" will be heard on most of our Musical Migration programs.
About the musicians:
Laura Loge, Soprano
Laura Loge is a soprano, Nordic song and chamber music specialist, mom, urban chicken farmer, and native of Montana. Between earning degrees from St. Olaf College and the New England Conservatory of Music, she spent several years in Norway and Italy where she learned to love and embrace their cultures, languages, and foods. She has self-managed her career as a soprano soloist for nearly two decades, was the Artistic Director of the Mostly Nordic Chamber Music series when it was hosted by the National Nordic Museum, is founder and president of the Northwest Edvard Grieg Society, and continues the Nordic Chamber Music series, forging a new chapter for it in multiple venues.
Steven Luksan, Composer & Pianist
Steven Luksan is a composer, pianist, and educator making music in Seattle, WA, USA. He is a pianist at Seattle Opera, on faculty at Music Center of the Northwest, and is the accompanist for the Seattle Mannskor (The Norwegian Male Chorus of Seattle). He currently serves as Composer-in-Residence with the Northwest Edvard Grieg Society and is the founder and artistic director of the Saltwater Music Series (Des Moines, WA), a concert series dedicated to performances of local and off-the-beaten-path chamber music.
Upcoming Performances of Musical Migration:
Please Contact Steven for more information as these dates are subject to change.
December 2024
Scandinavian Cultural Center, Pacific Lutheran University, WA
March 2025
Nordic Lodge, Whidbey Island, WA
Tordenskjold Lodge & Harald Hårfager Lodge Sons of Norway, Spokane, WA/Coeur D’Alene, ID
Oslo Lodge Sons of Norway & Nina Grieg Lodge Daughters of Norway, Poulsbo/Bremerton, WA
April
Nordic Chamber Music: Norway, with Julia Adams on violin, Seattle, WA
May
KING FM Northwest Focus Live, Seattle, WA – live on-air on Classical KING 98.1FM
Nordic Chamber Music Series Encore Presentation, Lakewold Gardens, Tacoma, WA
Skyline Living Retirement Community, Seattle, WA
Horizon House, Seattle, WA
June
NORTANA & NAHA Crossings and Connections Conference at St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
August
Kirsten Flagstad Museum/Utvandrer Museum, Hamar, Norway
September
Concerts & Workshops, Norskedalen, Valley, WI
Concert & Student workshop, Vesterheim Museum/Luther College, Decorah, IA
Edvard Grieg Society of Minnesota, Mindekirken, Minneapolis, MN
October
Nordia House, Nordic Northwest, Portland, OR
November
International Edvard Grieg Society Convention, Bergen, Norway
Workshop with students at the Grieg Academy, Bergen, Norway