The New International Encyclopædia/Svendsen, Johan

SVEND'SEN, Johan (1840—). A Norwegian violinist and composer, born at Christiania. He studied at the Leipzig Conservatory, toured extensively, later was appointed Concertmeister of the Leipzig ‘Euterpe’ concerts, and from 1872 to 1877 was conductor of the Christiania Musical Association. Afterwards he became Court conductor at Copenhagen, and in 1896 was appointed conductor of the Royal Theatre. His works include string quartets and quintets; symphony in D; violin concerto in A; overture to Björnson's drama Sigurd Slembe; Carnaval à Paris, for the orchestra; Coronation March (for Oscar II.); Wedding Cantata, for chorus and orchestra; Carnaval des artistes norvegiens; Norwegian rhapsodies for the orchestra; overture to Romeo and Juliet; Scandinavian airs for string quartet; and Romance in G, for the violin and orchestra.