Thomas Tellefsen

Thomas Dyke Acland Tellefsen (26 November 1823 – 6 October 1874) was a Norwegian pianist, composer, and teacher. As a composer, Tellefsen wrote 44 opuses, including solo piano works, two piano concertos, and chamber music. He dedicated many of his compositions to the Polish, Russian, and French aristocracy. Life Tellefsen, the youngest of six siblings, was born in Trondheim, Norway, where he studied with his father Johan Christian Tellefsen (1774–1857)—the organist at Trondheim Cathedral—and with Ole Andreas Lindeman. Thomas gave his first public concert in his home town in the spring of 1842, age 18. Until he was 19, he had studied to be a priest; instead, he turned to music, and moved to Paris to seek tutelage under Frédéric Chopin. Here, he became the pupil of his compatriot Charlotte Thygeson (1811–1872; a daughter of Nicolai Emanuel de Thygeson), and later attended—free of charge—the lessons of her teacher and friend Friedrich Kalkbrenner. Tellefsen's "highest wish"—to study under Chopin—was hugely difficult. Tellefsen stated that it was "more difficult to reach Chopin than Louis-Philippe". It was not until November 1844—through the influence of George Sand—that Tellefsen finally attained this wish. Tellefsen's letters indicate Chopin's interest in him, spending as much as three hours at a single lesson, even though they were supposed to last only an hour. During the years 1844 to 1848, he was taught periodically by Chopin, who also became his personal friend (up until his death) and had considerable influence on his musical taste, style of playing, and compositions. In 1847, Tellefsen also studied composition with Henri Reber. The French Revolution of 1848 caused Tellefsen to relocate to London. In the same year, Tellefsen accompanied Chopin—alongside Jane Stirling—on a tour through England and Scotland. Shortly before his death, Chopin told his elder sister Ludwika that he wished to entrust the completion of his "Pianoforte Method" to Tellefsen, also wishing for Tellefsen to be musical tutor to his niece. Tellefsen referenced this method in a letter to his mother dated 28 December 1849, in which he states, "I am working hard on all this now". Whether or not he actually completed this work is not known; no record of his efforts have been discovered so far. After Chopin died in 1849, some of his pupils—including Stirling—resumed their studies under Tellefsen. He also taught Erika Nissen, née Lie.