Leif Christensen (2)

Leif Christensen (1950-1988) born in Arhus, Denmark, studied the theory and history of music at Arhus University (1972), followed by guitar studies at the Royal Academy of Music in Arhus. After graduating in 1977, he completed his studies with Konrad Ragossnig at the Basel Musikakademie, earning his Soloists Diploma in 1978. Returning to Arhus, he soon became a teacher at the music academy, first on a part time basis and later as a full time professor. As a recording artist, Christensen developed his distinctive musicians approach by becoming totally absorbed in one composer at a time, immersing himself in the material to understand it completely, and finally documenting his results, on record. Leif Christensen's brief career spanned just ten years. Plans for new recording projects, including both romantic and contemporary music remained unfulfilled. Though he was not granted the opportunity to pursue his ambitions, his legacy of records is greater than many musicians realized in a lifetime. And their unique quality most assuredly places Leif Christensen among the first rank of guitarist-musicians of our time.