
Catharinus Elling (13 September 1858 – 8 January 1942) was a Norwegian music teacher, organist, music critic, and composer. He was also a folk music collector and the author of a number of books. [1]

Elling was born in Christiania (now Oslo), Norway. He was the son of Andreas Schaft Elling (1818–1872) and Pauline Bangsboe (1826–1905). His brother was engineer Ægidius Elling (1861–1949).[3]
He studied piano and composition in Leipzig from 1877 to 1878. In 1886 he received a scholarship and studied music at Professor Heinrich von Herzogenberg at Hochschule für Musik in Berlin from 1886 to 1887. From 1896 to 1908, he was teacher at Oslo Conservatory of Music. He was also organist at Gamlebyen Church in Kristiania from (1908–26). He was also music critic at Dagbladet (1881–82), Ny Illustreret Tidende (1884–86) and Morgenposten (1903–07). Additionally he also acted as conductor of Drammens sangforening (1897–1901).[3]
As a composer, he wrote symphonies, a violin concerto, chamber music, an opera, and more than 200 songs, most in the 1890–1905 period. His works are seldom performed now, but many musicians were influenced by him, such as Fartein Valen, who studied music under Elling.[4][5]
エリングは、ノルウェーの民俗音楽の収集と録音に関する広範な活動で主に知られている。エリングは1899年に政府の奨学生に任命された。彼は、トロンデラーグ、グドブランスダーレン、オップラン、テレマルク、セテスダール、ヴァルドレス、スンフィヨルドといった国内の多くの農村地域で民俗音楽の収集を続けた。同時に、民俗音楽収集家のオラフ・サンデ(1850年 - 1927年)も国の助成金を受け、2人で国を分割した。サンデは、ソグンからヴェストアグデルへ音楽の伝統を持ち込んだ。エリングの使命は、音楽を収集し、それを保存する活動を行うことだった。彼は、『 Norske folkemelodier for klaver』、『Norske folkeviser for sang og klaver』、『Slåtter for fiolin og klaver』などのタイトルの音楽本を多数出版した。彼は当時もその後も、民俗音楽をクラシック音楽のスタイルに合うようにアレンジしようとしたとして批判されてきた。[ 6 ]