Johan Kvandal

(David) Johan (Jacob) Kvandal
(b Oslo, 8 Sept 1919; d Oslo, 16 Feb 1999). Norwegian composer. The son of the composer David Monrad Johansen, he began composing at an early age and studied with Tveitt in Oslo.

He qualified as an orchestral conductor at the Oslo Conservatory (1947) and spent a year studying choral conducting at the Stockholm Conservatory. He also received a degree as an organist and worked in that capacity for many years in churches in Oslo. He studied with Joseph Marx at the Vienna Musikhochschule (1950–51) and with Boulanger in Paris (1952–4). He also worked with Blacher in Berlin. As well as composing, Kvandal was a respected critic for leading newspapers in Oslo. His thoroughness and methodical thinking was beneficial to the various boards and committees he joined; he also formed an anthology of recorded and printed classical Norwegian music for the Norwegian Cultural Council.