Gladys Nordenstrom facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gladys Mercedes Nordenstrom
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Gladys Nordenstrom at the soundON Music Festival, San Diego (2014)
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| Born | May 23, 1924 |
| Died | July 5, 2016 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | composer |
| Known for | Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria |
| Spouse(s) | Ernst Krenek |
Gladys Mercedes Nordenstrom (born May 23, 1924 – died July 5, 2016) was an American composer. She wrote many musical pieces and worked hard to share the music of her husband, Ernst Krenek, with the world.
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Who Was Gladys Nordenstrom?
Gladys Nordenstrom was born in Mora, Minnesota. She loved music from a young age.
Early Life and Musical Journey
Gladys studied music at the Institute of Fine Arts at Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota. There, she earned both her first and second college degrees in music. During her studies, she learned from a famous Austrian composer named Ernst Krenek. In 1950, she married him.
After finishing her studies, Gladys worked as a teacher in elementary schools. Later, she moved to California with her husband. For many years, she traveled with him as he taught music at different universities. Sometimes, they even worked together on musical projects.
A Legacy of Music and Support
After her husband, Ernst Krenek, passed away in 1991, Gladys Nordenstrom dedicated herself to his musical legacy. She played a key role in starting the Ernst Krenek Institute in 1998. She also helped create a private foundation in 2004 in Vienna, Austria. Her goal was to make sure her late husband's music continued to be performed and recorded for people to enjoy.
In 2006, Gladys Nordenstrom received a special award from Austria. It was called the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria. This award recognized her important contributions.
Gladys Nordenstrom passed away on July 5, 2016, in Palm Springs, California. She was 92 years old. Even at that age, she was still busy working on a project to record all of Krenek's piano concertos.
Her Musical Compositions
Gladys Nordenstrom created many different musical works. Here are some of her selected compositions:
- Theme and Variations for piano (1944)
- No Leaf is Left for soprano (a high female voice) and piano (1945) — with words by Elisabeth Coatsworth
- First Sonata for piano (around 1946)
- Rondo for flute and piano (1948)
- This Life for mezzo-soprano (a medium female voice) and piano (1949) — with words by R. M. Rilke
- Antitheses for choir and orchestra (1966) — with words by Gladys Nordenstrom herself
- El Greco Fantasy for string orchestra (1966, revised in 1969)
- Elegy in Memoriam Robert F. Kennedy for orchestra (1968)
- Sextet for flute/piccolo, oboe, clarinet in B-flat, bass clarinet, bassoon, horn (1969)
- Work for Orchestra No.3 (1974/75)
- Zeit XXIV for high voice and piano (1976) — with words by Renata Pandula
- Trio for violin, clarinet and piano (1978)
- Parabola of Light for women's choir and piano (1979) — with words by Gladys Nordenstrom
- Signals from Nowhere for organ and tape recorder (1981)
