Helge Torvund: – Cohen has been a monument – VG

Lyricist and author Helge Torvund acclaimed Leonard Cohen in his recent book of poems.

He was an old man, and it is no shock that he is dead. But it is clear that he has been a monument in my relationship with poetry about as long as I’ve been aware that there are, ” says Torvund to VG.

on the Night of Friday Norwegian time enlightened Cohens record label that the canadian artist had passed away, 82-year-old.

Comment: So long, Leonard,

Torvund reacted to the news by writing, “Leonard Cohen’s death. Songs his live further” on Twitter.

Earlier in the year gave Torvund out the poetry collection “Everything burns” which contains a poem about Cohen, he says.

It says something about how much he has meant to me. He is one of the really big, I think. And that is what many think, ” says Torvund.

The last major interview: – I am ready to meet death

He has had an ability to combine spiritual insight with livsfølelser as love, sorrow and joy. And he pulls in a lot of the story. If you look at the song called “Who By Fire”, is it built on an ancient jewish prayer. And the kind of things you will find in many of his songs. He builds on the tradition and creates something new, ” says Torvund.

Special: the VG underwent Leonard Cohens plates on his 75 birthday in 2009

Article continues below the video

Inspired many

The Norwegian author and the writings of Håvard Rem has followed Cohen for many years, both as a reader and listener.

He has written a book about the canadian sangartisten and is known as his Norwegian translator. On his Facebook page he recalls Cohen.

“the Winter came early

You did the ice in the water

Winter came early

You left you by”

Musician and songwriter Askil Holm recalls Cohen with sadness.

This is very sad. He is one of my biggest sources of inspiration, ” says Holm to the VG.

Together with “Gitarkameratene” Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen and Alejandro Fuentes has Holm been to create a separate version of Cohens song Hallelujah, which was named to this year’s hit under the Norwegian grammy (spellemannsprisen) in 2006.

– The song is the closest one comes to a finished work and it is something that a songwriter will learn a lot from. In this song is Cohen both Shakespeare and Mozart in a song, ” says Holm.

Cohen for VG in 2012: – I have tried to find out what it is with me and Norway

GITARKAMERATENE: Espen Lind, Askil Holm, Alejandro Fuentes, and Kurt Nilsen gathered at Geilo in 2009.

Photo: Gøran Bohlin, VG

In 2007, Cohen was invited to Norway and where did “Gitarkameratene” meeting the canadian for the first time.

– Now I have a gift from the he landscape at home and it is a signed version of the cd “Hallelujah Vol. 1″, where it says “Thank you Askil. From Leonard”. It was hard to get this gift from him, ” says Holm.

Remember on social media

Several others have also shared their thoughts on social media about the world-renowned artist and poet. Among them is Bjørn Eidsvåg, who have shared their words on twitter.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg recalls the artist and writes on Twitter that “the great Leonard Cohen has left us”.

Liberal party leader, Trine Skei Grande writes on twitter that Cohen reminds her of her youth.

the record Company Sony doesn’t want to comment on the death, informs the VG.

see also: Review of Leonard Cohens latest album, “You Want It fax menu” (VG+)