Obituary Tore Simonsen (1943-2026)
Posted on 20. Okt., 2026 by Oliver Wurl in Allgemein
Professor Tore Simonsen (1943–2026)
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Professor Tore Simonsen, who died on 6 October 2026, aged 83, following a long illness.
Tore was one of the earliest members of GHT and remained a valued and dedicated figure within the organisation for many years. An engineer by profession, he combined his scientific knowledge with a profound interest in music, acoustics, and the history of recorded sound. His fascination with music also had a family connection: his great-great-granduncle was the celebrated Danish baritone Niels Juel Simonsen.
Throughout his long association with GHT, Tore made an invaluable contribution to the organisation and its scholarly activities. He served on the Board and was a former editor of the GHT yearbook, Contributions to the History of the Record Industry, helping to encourage and disseminate research in this specialised field. He was also one of the founders of the Norwegian magazine Historisk lyd, reflecting his wider commitment to the study, documentation, and appreciation of our recorded musical heritage.
Tore belonged to a generation of scholars and enthusiasts whose dedication helped establish the study of historical sound recordings as an important field of research. His work reflected not only intellectual curiosity and technical expertise, but also a genuine appreciation of the cultural and historical significance of recorded sound. His contribution to the field, and to the community of researchers who share this passion, will remain an important part of his legacy.
Yet Tore will be remembered for much more than his professional and scholarly achievements. Those who knew him will recall a remarkably kind and generous person, whose warmth, good humour, and engaging personality made him such a pleasure to know and work with. His wonderful sense of humour, his enthusiasm and his willingness to share his knowledge made him a much-valued colleague and friend.
His passing represents a great loss to GHT and to the wider community devoted to the history of recorded sound. We remember him with gratitude and affection, both for all that he contributed and for the person he was.
On behalf of the Board and members of GHT, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.
The GHT Board
Inja Stanovic Christiane Hofer Angelika Ullmann Claus Peter Gallenmiller
