Norwegian Dance No. 1

Alfred Evensen (1883 - 1942) was born in Tromsø, but moved to Harstad 16 years old to start as a student at The Military School of Music. He was director and chief of the military band in 1918, and worked there for 12 years. In 1930 he was appointedto conductor of the military band in Bergen, and worked there until he was appointed to take over from Johannes Hanssen (Valdres march) as manager and conductor of the military band in Oslo in 1934.

With this band he participated in a majorinternational military music collection in Paris in 1935 With a great success. In addition to his work in military music, he was a highly respected conductor of choir and composed, in additionto his compositions for bands, many songs for choir.

He died in Oslo, after he was arrested because of his resistance against the German occupation. At his own request he was buried in Harstad, and there is also a statue of him.

Norwegian Dance No. 1 and No. 2 dates from 1911 and 1912respectively. They are composed in the style of Grieg’s Norwegian Dances, Op. 35, but, unlike Grieg, Evensen has used his own themes for the compositions.