Alf Hurum (1882-1972) was a prominent Norwegian composer who settled in Honolulu (his wife's hometown), living in Hawaii for over 40 years.
Christian Sinding was a renowned composer in his day, so much so that he was sought out by the newly-founded Eastman School of Music to be one of their first composition professors. One of his few songs utilizing an English text, Sinding composed this "Cradle Song" while living in Rochester, NY.
Norwegian-American Folk Song, arranged for Musical Migration by Steven Luksan
This folk song, sung by Norwegian immigrants in their new homeland and published in the early editions of the Sons of Norway Songbook, asks a question that was important for people starting from scratch in the US: Can you ever forget where you came from? Must one forget their heritage to start anew?
Arranged by Steven Luksan for this program, this bilingual setting of the song highlights the process through which Norwegian immigrants assimilated into American culture, with their Norwegian language giving way to English.
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.