Obscure Music Monday: Lie's Sne
Sigurd Lie (May 23, 1871 - Sept. 30, 1904) was a Norwegian composer, violinist. and conductor. His parents were musically inclined, and were supportive of Lie's musical studies.
As a child, Lie, received violin lessons and music theory instruction, but when it came time to attend university, he decided to study mathematics. At the same he began teaching violin and music theory, and music became his main interest after a while. He began playing violin at restaurants and in the Christiania Theater orchestra. In 1891 he became a student at the conservatory in Leipzig, with Carl Reinecke as his composition instructor. A few years later he received a scholarship to study in Berlin, and pursued composition with Heinrich Urban, in addition to playing violin in the Music Harmony Society in Bergen; after a while became the conductor there as well.
When it came to composition, Lies wrote symphonic works, but was primarily known for his romances, like Sne. Written for voice and piano, Sne (Snow) is his most well known work, with lyrics by Helge Rode. The piano part is exclusively chords, with a vocal part that at times veers in to impressionistic territory, while maintaining a beautiful simplicity about it.
Here is a recording of this beautiful work for you to enjoy!