Frode Thingnæs facts for kids

Frode Thingnæs (born March 20, 1940 – died November 15, 2012) was a talented Norwegian musician. He was a jazz composer, arranger, and conductor. He was also a fantastic trombone player. In 1960, he started his own group called the Frode Thingnæs Quintet.

Frode Thingnæs's Music Career

Frode Thingnæs started playing music when he was eight years old. He joined a school band in Sinsen and first played the trumpet. In 1953, he switched to the trombone. This instrument became what he was best known for.

Because he was so good at a young age, Frode went to a famous music school. He studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen. There, he met other young musicians who were also becoming famous.

From 1959, Frode played with many bands. He performed with groups led by Bjørn Jacobsen and Kjell Karlsen. In 1961, he started his own quartet. This group later included musicians like Terje Rypdal.

His group, the Frode Thingnæs Quintet, made history in 1963. They were featured on Norway's very first jazz album. In 1967, a magazine called 'Jazznytt' voted him the best trombonist. He even led a Norwegian group at the famous Montreux Jazz Festival in 1969.

Contributions to Norwegian Music

While Frode Thingnæs was famous for jazz, he also helped many other types of music in Norway. In 1960, he became the music director (called a kapellmeister) at Chat Noir. This was Norway's most famous theater for comedy shows.

At Chat Noir, he worked with popular entertainers. These included Einar Schanke and Yngvar Numme. He also worked with the rock band Popol Ace. Frode even conducted the Norwegian Radio Orchestra.

Frode Thingnæs also wrote songs for the Eurovision Song Contest. He wrote "Hvor er du?" (1974) and "Mata Hari" (1976). Both songs were sung by his former wife, Anne-Karine Strøm.

He also worked with pop singers like Wenche Myhre. He helped produce music for other groups, like the Bodega Band.

Composing and Conducting

Frode Thingnæs also conducted at two theaters in Oslo. He led the Norwegian Armed Forces' music band. For over thirty years, he conducted the Kampen Janitsjarorkester.

He composed music for many events. His ballet called Flåklypa was performed at the Norwegian Opera in 1985. In the same year, he created a special music piece. It was called "Sonnets to Sundry Notes of Music." This piece was for a symphony orchestra, big band, and choir. It used words from William Shakespeare.

His most famous original pieces are Wheels and the Flåklypa ballet. In his later years, he led a quintet with Harald Gundhus.

Frode Thingnæs passed away in Oslo in November 2012. He was 72 years old.

Awards and Honors

Frode Thingnæs received many awards for his musical talent:

• 1970: He won the Buddy Prize. This award is given by the Norwegian Jazz Federation.
• 1980: He received the Spellemann Prize for his jazz album Direct to Dish.
• 1983: He won the Gammleng Award for his work as a studio musician.
• 1999: The King of Norway gave him the King's Medal of Merit in gold.
• 1999: He was made an Honorary Citizen of New Orleans, USA.

Family Life

Frode Thingnæs married Marianne Mørk on June 2, 1979. She is an actress and drama teacher. They had two children together. Their son, Magnus Alexander Mørk Thingnæs, was born in 1984 and is a pianist. Their daughter, Maren Victoria Thingnæs, was born in 1991 and is a filmmaker.

Selected Music Albums

Here are some of the albums Frode Thingnæs was part of:

Solo Albums

Big Band

• 1974: Feelin' All Right

Frode Thingnæs Quintet

• 1978: Nightsounds
• 1980: Direct to Dish
• 1981: Queen Python
• 1994: Watch What Happens!, with Svein Christiansen & Terje Gewelt

Collaborations

With Kampen Janitsjarorkester

• 1990: Sing as we Go
• 2002: From Kampen to New Orleans
• 2008: Samspill

With Bjørn Alterhaug, Bjørn Johansen, Egil Kapstad & Laila Dalseth

• 1991: Some Other Time

Antonsen Big Band

• 2007: Antonsen Big Band

With Kjell Karlsen Big Band

• 2008: Edvard Grieg in Jazz Mood