Svendsen Family History & Genealogy

Married to Pernille Jonasdatter Elg in 1840. Separated in 1843, formally divorced in 1851. Never remarried. Was the father of composer Johan Severin Svendsen (1840-1911). He had seven children that we know of, only three of whom he had with Pernille.

Johan Severin Svendsen Famous Norwegian Composer Born: September 30, 1840, Oslo, Norway Died: June 14, 1911, Copenhagen, Denmark Nationality: Norwegian Johan Severin Svendsen (30 September 1840 – 14 June 1911) was a Norwegian composer, conductor and violinist. Born in Christiania (now Oslo), Norway, he lived most his life in Copenhagen, Denmark. Svendsen's output includes two symphonies, a violin concerto, a cello concerto, and the Romance for violin, as well as a number of Norwegian Rhapsodies for orchestra. At one time Svendsen was an intimate friend of the German composer Richard Wagner. His father was a music teacher and Svendsen learned both the violin and clarinet from him. By the time he finished school, he was working as an orchestral musician, and occasionally made short concert tours as a violinist. In Lübeck, on one of his tours, he came to the attention of a wealthy merchant who made it possible for him to study from 1863-67 at the Leipzig Conservatory. He began his studies with Ferdinand David, but problems with his hand forced him to switch to composition, which he studied with Carl Reinecke. He completed his studies in Leipzig in 1867, receiving first prize in composition. During this period, Svendsen had a son out of wedlock, Johann Richard Rudolph (1867–1933). Gradually his attention turned to conducting. After spending time in Paris (1868–70) and Leipzig (1870–72), he returned to Christiania. In the summer of 1871, he went to New York City to marry Sarah (Sally, later changed to Bergljot) Levett Schmidt, whom he had met in Paris. He was conductor of the Musical Society Concerts in Christiania (1872–77), then spent three years in Germany, Italy, England and France. He returned to teach and conduct in Kristiania (1880–1883). In 1883, he was appointed principal conductor of the Royal Theater Orchestra in Copenhagen, where he lived until his death. In 1884, he and his wife separated, and she moved to Paris. Their relationship had been chaotic for several years. A famous anecdote would have it that in 1883, in a fit of anger, she had thrown the only copy of his Symphony No. 3 in the fire. This incident was used by Henrik Ibsen in Hedda Gabler. If anything was caught up in the fire at all, it is rather unlikely it was anything near a complete symphony. However, some sketches, most likely for a symphony, were found by conductor Bjarte Engeset in 2007. They were elaborated and orchestrated by Bjørn Morten Christophersen and premiered by the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and Engeset in 2011. Following a divorce from Sarah (10 December 1901), he married (23 December 1901) Juliette Haase, with whom he had been living and had three children. His younger son from this marriage was the famous Danish actor Eyvind Johan-Svendsen (1896–1946). 1898 Music festival in Bergen by Agnes Nyblin. Left to right: Christian Cappelen, Catharinus Elling, Ole Olsen, Gerhard Rosenkrone Schelderup, Iver Holter, Agathe Backer Grøndahl, Edvard Grieg, Christian Sinding, Svendsen and Johan Halvorsen[1] In stark contrast to his more famous contemporary and close friend, Edvard Grieg, Svendsen was famous for his skill of orchestration rather than that of harmonic value. While Grieg composed mostly for small instrumentation, Svendsen composed primarily for orchestras and large ensembles. His most famous work is his Romance for violin and orchestra, Op. 26. He was very popular in Denmark and Norway during his lifetime, both as a composer and a conductor, winning many national awards and honors. However this popularity did not translate into acceptance into the international repertory of classical music. He died in Copenhagen, aged 70. Svendsen's first published work, the String Quartet in A minor, Op. 1, achieved great popular success. He quickly followed with the String Octet, Op. 3 and String Quintet, Op. 5, both of which added to his early fame. All of Svendsen's chamber music was written while he was at the Leipzig Conservatory, yet these works are not considered student works. By general consensus, Svendsen was regarded as one of the most talented students then at the Conservatory. His works won prizes and received public performances to much acclaim.

Son of Gulbrand Svendsen and Pernille Jonasdatter Elg. Married twice: first marriage (1876-1900) to Clara Elida Hansen, who passed away in 1900, and his second (1901-1918) to Jenny Ottesen. He had three children and one step-child.

Alice Isabella Svendsen of Prahran Australia was born in 1865 to Thomas Thor Svendsen and Ann Mary Svendsen. Alice Svendsen died at age 44 years old in 1909 in Prahran.

Mary Ann Svendsen of Mary Australia was born in 1865 in Mary to Mary Ann (Smith) Svendsen and Thor Svendsen. Mary Svendsen has siblings Alice Isabella S Svenson, Thomas Svendsen, Rannah Alexander Svendsen, and Marianne Svendsen. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Mary Ann Svendsen.

Marianne Svendsen of Australia was born in 1866 to Mary Ann (Smith) Svendsen and Thor Svendsen. She had siblings Alice Isabella S Svenson, Mary Ann Svendsen, Thomas Svendsen, and Rannah Alexander Svendsen. Marianne Svendsen died at age 1 year old in 1867.

Thomas Svendsen of Alexandra Australia was born in 1868 in Alexandra to Mary Ann (Smith) Svendsen and Thor Svendsen. Thomas Svendsen has siblings Alice Isabella S Svenson, Mary Ann Svendsen, Rannah Alexander Svendsen, and Marianne Svendsen. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Thomas Svendsen.

Rannah Alexander Svendsen of Alex Australia was born in 1870 in Alex to Mary Ann (Smith) Svendsen and Thor Svendsen. Rannah Svendsen has siblings Alice Isabella S Svenson, Mary Ann Svendsen, Thomas Svendsen, and Marianne Svendsen. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Rannah Alexander Svendsen.

Sophia Svendsen of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois was born on March 1, 1872, and died at age 94 years old in December 1966.

As of the 1865 Norwegian Census, Ludvig Svendsen Myhre was single / never-married.

Christian Svendsen of Oregon was born on March 12, 1876, and died at age 87 years old in December 1963.

Sophia Svendsen of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota was born on June 10, 1876, and died at age 96 years old in December 1972.