Background
He was born at Christiania (now Oslo) on the 15th of September 1815. He was the son of a high government official.
He was born at Christiania (now Oslo) on the 15th of September 1815. He was the son of a high government official.
His early education was at Christiania University. In 1848 he studied with Carl Arnold, and after studying with Niels Gade in Copenhagen.
When he was nearly 26-on his father dead - and after he was able to devote himself entirely to music. He took a job as editor at one of Oslo's main newspapers, Den Constitutionelle (1836–1847), where he worked until 1845.
As a fact, he actually started on his career as a music teacher and composer of songs before ever having seriously studied music at all, and not for ten years did he attract any particular notice. Then, however, his Government paid for a year's instruction for him at Leipzig. For many years after his return to Norway Kjerulf tried in vain to establish serial classical concerts, while he himself was working with Bjornson and other writers at the composition of lyrical songs.
