The prolific Danish composer Per Nørgård has died. In all, the creator of some 400 works, he leaves eight symphonies, six operas, ten concertos, assorted choral works, chamber music (including ten string quartets), and works for solo instrument. Nørgård emerged from the dominant musical influences of the region – Carl Nielsen and Jean Sibelius, mainly, but also that of his teacher, Vagn Holmboe – to immerse himself in central European modernism.
In 1959, he discovered the infinity series, a serial method from which he developed unifying structural elements in much of his subsequent work. His Symphony No. 3 was the first to apply the method for the integration of melody (such that it is), harmony, and rhythm. “Voyage into the Golden Screen” is considered a landmark of spectral composition. Among his music written for film is that for the international success “Babette’s Feast.”
By some, he was regarded as the foremost living Nordic composer. All the same, his is probably not the music you’ll want to take with you for your morning commute. It can be an interesting listen in quieter, more introspective moments. That said, I had an extra CD of his Symphonies Nos. 2 & 4 and, like Robert Louis Stevenson’s bottle imp, I couldn’t give it away. You have to give the guy credit for steadfastly following his own muse.
He is not to be confused with the Finnish composer Pehr Nordgren, who died in 2008. Nørgård was 92 years-old.
R.I.P.
“Gennen Torne” (“Through Thorns”) for harp, flute, clarinet, and string quartet – the same combo used for Ravel’s “Introduction and Allegro” (2003)
Symphony No. 1 – right out of the gate, subtitled “Austera” (“Austere”), undeniably Scandinavian (1953-55)
“Voyage into the Golden Screen” (1968)
Symphony No. 3 (1972-75) with chorus
Symphony No. 8 (2010-11)
Live performance of the work, with Nørgård acknowledging the orchestra and applause at the end
Interview with the composer (in Danish), with charming interludes of him performing his juvenilia at the piano, illustrated by cartoons he drew as a kid
