Vagn Holmboe (1909 - 1996)

composer

At the age of 16 Vagn Holmboe (1909-96) was admitted to the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen as a violinist. In the entrance examination he was heard by the national composer Carl Nielsen, who also looked through some of his compositions. The earliest works by Holmboe known today were written the next year, and these include a string quartet. This was the first of no fewer than ten quartets that Holmboe wrote before, at the age of 40, he eventually gave a work the title String Quartet no. 1.

The years at the Academy were typified by studies of the classics and polyphony, and this coloured Vagn Holmboe's music throughout his life. One of his great models was Haydn, whose vitality, elegance, humour and economy with his resources are reflected in his own works. Another model was Béla Bartók. At the beginning of the 1930s, during a study trip to Paris, Holmboe met the Romanian pianist Meta Graf, whom he married, and who introduced him to the folk music of the Balkans. "The direct and emotional, the feeling and the quite clear expression - that interested me greatly. There was something elemental in this music," Holmboe said, looking back.

By the beginning of the 1930s Vagn Holmboe had already composed a large number of works, but had given very few of them the seal of an opus number. His breakthrough came in 1939, when he won the Royal Danish Orchestra's composition competition with his Symphony No 2. With the money prize he bought a country property by the lake Arresø in northern Zealand, where he built his home and lived until his death in 1996, and immersed himself increasingly in the flow of nature. His contact with nature was as strong as his link with music, and over the years he planted 3000 trees on his property with his own hands.

Until 1950 Vagn Holmboe taught at the Danish Institute for the Blind, and then he was engaged by the Royal Danish Academy of Music. He was professor of composition and theory there until 1965, when he retired to devote all his time to composing. He was then at the pinnacle of one of his most concentrated creative periods, and he had long since been recognized as one of the best composers in the Nordic countries. Fortunately he also lived long enough to see himself recognized internationally as one of the most human and acute composers - a classic of the twentieth century.

Vagn Holmboe wrote almost 400 works, especially instrumental music. The works are in all genres; nevertheless there are phases in which particular genres hold his main interest, especially the string quartet and the symphony. That is symphonies for large orchestra, but also variants like string symphonies (sinfonias) and a form that he called symphonic metamorphoses.

Live Dates

05/09/2012   When the guitar sings along
Guitarist Jesper Sivebæk has a new CD out for Dacapo Records with music by Vagn Holmboe. We talked to him about the music, with which he has developed a special relationship in the process.
read more

09/05/2012   Når DJ-piben får en anden lyd
Vi inviterer til CD-release på Avenue Hotel for at fejre Katrine Rings remix-album "En hånd til Holmboe"
read more

19/08/2011   French distinctions to Dacapo
Music of the Spheres and Holmboe's Complete String Quartets are given the fine destinction "Ring" in the French music journal Classique Info. Read both reviews here:
read more

10/01/2011   Two Dacapo favourites on international reviews site
The critics of MusicWeb International recently presented their lists of personal favourites among last year's releases.
read more

10/03/2010   Holmboe stock riding high
Brugte eksemplarer af Holmboes strygekvartetter cirkulerer på Internettet til skyhøje priser
read more

16/04/2013 Classicstoday.com

Vagn Holmboe: Concertos
"Discs like this, full of music that’s modern but approachable, immaculately crafted and humane, only reinforce Holmboe’s claim to be regarded as one of the major voices in 20th century music." - Artistic Quality: 10. Sound Quality: 10.
read more

11/04/2013 International Record Review

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Music (II)
"This excellent anthology", "The single word that best describes it? Honest."
read more

10/04/2013 I Care if You Listen - A blog about new classical music, art and technology

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Music (II)
"Dacapo’s disc will provide much enjoyment."
read more

01/04/2013 OPUS

Vagn Holmboe: Concertos
6/6 Stars

"härlig vitalitet och kraft. Musiken är så elegant, så smittsamt vacker och genialisk att man häpnar.", "Skivan är en superprodukt".
read more

18/03/2013 MusicWeb International

Vagn Holmboe: Solo and Chamber Works for Guitar
"The performances by everyone but especially by the star Jesper Sivebaek, appear flawless and the recording ideal."
read more

22/02/2013 American Record Guide

Vagn Holmboe: Solo and Chamber Works for Guitar
"Sivebaek and his colleagues play this music with love and expertise. I’m happy to have discovered it, and I’ll return to this disc often."
read more

30/01/2013 Fanfare

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Symphonies
"John Storgårds and the Lapland Chamber Orchestra deserve special thanks for bringing these three remarkable chamber symphonies to the catalog in performances of such insight and technical perfection."
read more

22/01/2013 Fanfare

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Music (II)
"This one is a must."
read more

01/12/2012 David's Review Corner

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Music (II)
"Excellent sound."
read more

01/12/2012 Finnish Music Quarterly

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Symphonies
"The Lapland Chamber Orchestra led by John Storgards once again shows that it is an unbeatably sensitive interpreter of new music."
read more

01/11/2012 Pizzicato

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Symphonies
4/4 Stars

"Stimmungsvoll und mitunter ganz poetisch."
read more

02/10/2012 NPR (National Public Radio, USA)

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Symphonies
"Without a wasted note, this is rigorously compact, sinewy music that grows on you with each listening."
read more

02/10/2012 The Whole Note

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Symphonies
"A very enjoyable world premiere recording!"
read more

01/10/2012 Classica

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Symphonies
3/4 Stars

"musiques jouées présentement avec perspicacité et ardeur, précision et admiration."
read more

01/10/2012 Gramophone

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Symphonies
”Excellent performances, superb sound: you will not hear a finer disc this year.”
read more

01/09/2012 Klassisk

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Symphonies
4/6 Stars

"Holmboes Kammersymfonier er små mesterværker, der rummer hele følelsesspektret: fra rasende kaos over øm tristesse til sublim skønhed."
read more

29/08/2012 The Dallas Morning News

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Symphonies

read more

26/08/2012 San Francisco Chronicle

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Symphonies
"Enough to make a convert out of any listener."
read more

08/08/2012 Fyens Stiftstidende

Katrine Ring: A hand for Holmboe
4/6 Stars

"Overgiv dig, gå med på spøgen, og lad dig indfange.", "Det er frækt og frimodigt."
read more

01/08/2012 Classical Music Sentinel

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Symphonies
"This recording further enhances Dacapo's stance as one of Denmark's preeminent classical music labels."
read more

20/07/2012 WQXR.org (New York)

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Symphonies
Q2 Music 'Album of the Week', July 23, 2012. "The music of Danish composer Vagn Holmboe hums with the sounds and metamorphoses of the natural world."
read more

01/07/2012 ClassicsToday.com

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Symphonies
"John Storgards and the Lapland Chamber Orchestra play with an attention to detail, precision of ensemble, and clarity of texture that can only be called perfect."
read more

20/06/2012 Flensborg Avis

Katrine Ring: A hand for Holmboe
4/5 Stars

"Vellykket eksperiment med store Vagn Holmbo."
read more

30/05/2012 Horsens Folkeblad

Katrine Ring: A hand for Holmboe
"Cd-udgivelsen er en vigtig debut for den erfarne dj, fordi hun her for første gang lægger navn og ansigt til et cd-cover."
read more

18/04/2012 Fanfare

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Music (I)
"I couldn’t be more thrilled.", "It is never conventional, and it is always deeply moving and intellectually satisfying."
read more

16/01/2012 Gramophone

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Music (I)
"...proves once again that musical conversation is Holmboe's strong point, as it is for the excellent players on this cleanly recorded disc."
read more

01/10/2011 Klassisk

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Music (I)
4/5 Stars

"Foråret i Holmboes toneverden er ustyrligt spirende og frit voksende. Og ligeså farverigt som i naturen. Over alt bryder våren frem i takt med naturens gang."
read more

15/09/2011 OPUS

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Music (I)
5/6 Stars

"Dags att upptäcka Vagn Holmboe! Den här välmatade kammarmusik-cd:n kan fungera som inkörsport, om man inte känner sig mogen för någon av de barskare symfonierna."
read more

16/08/2011 Fyens Stiftstidende

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Music (I)
4/6 Stars

"Naturlys og åndefuld, ægte Holmboesk lyrik"
read more

20/07/2011 Kristeligt Dagblad

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Music (I)
4/6 Stars

"Smukt organisk med masser af levende detaljer skabt af en omhyggelig, nænsom musiceren"
read more

01/07/2011 Ensemble

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Music (I)
”Hervorragend disponierten Ensemble MidtVest agiert mit großer Umsicht und Spielfreude”
read more

05/05/2011 Diapason

Holmboe, Bruun, Norgard, Holten, Koppel, Jersild, Ruders Hymn to the Sun - Works for a cappella choir
"Les chemins parcourus tracent la carte d'une modenité subtilement tempérée à l'image des faisceaux de lumière qui traversent une belle matière chantée et parfois parlée dans la pièce de Vagn Holmboe."
read more

01/05/2011 Ritmo

Holmboe, Bruun, Norgard, Holten, Koppel, Jersild, Ruders: Solhymne - Værker for a cappella kor
4/4 Stars

"Mirado con distancia, este disco es fruto de la tradición coral danesa, una de las más potentes de toda Europa."
read more

04/03/2011 Classics Today (9/9)

Vagn Holmboe: The Complete String Quartets
"This important set belongs in the collection of anyone who cares about good 20th-century chamber music."
read more

01/01/2011 International Record Review

Vagn Holmboe: The Complete String Quartets
"Among the significant cycles of string quartets from the post-war era, that by Danish composer Vagn Holmboe is one of the most substantial surveying."
read more

17/12/2010 Classique Info

Vagn Holmboe: The Complete String Quartets
"Retenez votre souffle et plongez, la remontée sans paliers de décompression risque de s’avérer difficile mais gratifiante"
read more

16/12/2010 Fyens Stiftstidende

Hymn to the Sun - Works for a cappella choir
4/6 Stars

"Et homogent og velsammensunget ensemble, med en forbilledlig tekstudtale."
read more

01/11/2010 Ensemble

Vagn Holmboe: The Complete String Quartets
"Dem Kontra Quartet ist eine faszinierende Box gelungen."
read more

01/11/2010 OPUS

Vagn Holmboe: The Complete String Quartets
5/5 Stars

"För Holmboekännare rekommenderar denna box förstås sig själv."
read more

13/10/2010 Crescendo

Vagn Holmboe: The Complete String Quartets
"Erschließt sich hier eine Quelle eindringlichster Entdeckungen von einem kaum bekannten Giganten."
read more

04/10/2010 DR P2

DR P2 Prize 2010 – Chamber Music Release of the Year Nominee

read more

19/09/2010 Musicweb International

Vagn Holmboe: The Complete String Quartets
“Holmboe’s quartets are one of the great treasures of the last century (…) With this box set comes a chance to discover them in performances of great accomplishment and dedication.”
read more

06/09/2010 Svenska Dagbladet

Vagn Holmboe: The Complete String Quartets
5 Stars

"En i sanning rik samling kammarmusik för den sparsmakade, utsökt framförd av Kontrakvartetten."
read more

01/09/2010 Gramophone

Vagn Holmboe: Works for violin and piano
"Holmboe's complete output for violin and piano, delivered impeccably"
read more

30/04/2010 Sequenza 21

Vagn Holmboe: The Key Masterpieces
"The performances on this program are universally fine."
read more

01/01/2010 Fanfare Magazine

Vagn Holmboe: The Key Masterpieces
"As an introduction to the world of Vagn Holmboe, this set probably couldn’t be bettered. Be prepared to be delighted."
read more

24/11/2009 Politiken

Vagn Holmboe: Works for Violin and Piano
5/6 Hjerter

"Holmboe er slidstærk og ægte. I særdeleshed, når musikken spilles med omhu og pondus af Johannes Søe Hansen og Christina Bjørkøe."
read more

03/11/2005 Politiken

L'Homme Armé - Works for Solo Cello
5/6 Hjerter

"Her modelleres og modificeres meningsfuldt og sammenhængsskabende, ofte med et skarpt blik for det dramatiske potentiale. Og så er der i øvrigt tale om rigtig smukt cellospil med stort teknisk overskud”
read more

04/07/2004 Classics Today (10/10)

Vagn Holmboe: Sinfonias I-IV
"Without question this is a major addition to the Holmboe discography and further testimony to a composer whose standards of craftsmanship were simply second to none."
read more

11/10/2003 Classics Today (10/10)

Art of Brass Copenhagen: From the Merry Life of a Spy
"This absolutely brilliant disc should give fans of great brass playing something to cheer about."
read more

14/06/2002 Classics Today (10/10)

Vagn Holmboe: Requiem for Nietzsche
"A powerful work on many levels, a serious statement from a composer of genuine vision ... A real find."
read more

22/02/1998 Classics Today

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Concertos Vol. 4
"The performances are uniformly superb, as has been the case with this entire series."
read more

15/06/1995 High Fidelity

Songs
"En liflig plade!"
read more

15/06/1995 Det Fri Aktuelt

Songs
"En særegen dansk stemning med en fin spænding mellem tekst og musik."
read more

15/09/1994 International Record Review

Blæserkvintetter
"The most immediately striking about this release is how wonderful it sounds...The playing is delightful."
read more

15/09/1994 BBC Music Magazine

Wind Quintets
5 Stars

15/09/1994 American Record Review

Wind Quintets
"The Scandinavian Woodwind Quintet is a wonderful group that has one of the smoothest, best-blend sounds I have heard."
read more

15/01/1994 Gramophone

Vagn Holmboe: String Quartets Vol. 1
"Recommended with enthusiasm."
read more

15/01/1994

Vagn Holmboe: String Quartets Vol. 1
CANNES CLASSICAL AWARD
read more

15/10/1993 Classical Music on the Web

Vagn Holmboe: Works for A Cappella Choir
"An essential window into Holmboe's creative world. Accessible, smoothly produced and poetic music."
read more

15/09/1993 Tempo

Vagn Holmboe: Works for A Cappella Choir
"Superb"
read more

Discography

	Concertos Vagn Holmboe SACD 6.220599 (2013)
	Chamber Music (II) Vagn Holmboe CD 8.226074 (2012)
	Solo and Chamber Works for Guitar Vagn Holmboe CD 8.226143 (2012) Transparent, poetic music by Holmboe, who was captivated at a late age by the unique possibilities of the guitar.
	Chamber Symphonies Vagn Holmboe SACD 6.220621 (2012) A master composer in concentrated format. Holmboe’s razor-sharp chamber symphonies encapsulate the essence of his art.
	A Hand for Holmboe Katrine Ring CD 8.226569 (2012) The well known Danish DJ Katrine Ring deconstructs and remixes Vagn Holmboe’s Chamber Concertos from the 1940s.
	Chamber Music (I) Vagn Holmboe CD 8.226073 (2011) World premiere recording of rarely performed chamber works by Vagn Holmboe
	Hymn to the Sun - Works for a cappella choir Holmboe, Bruun, Nørgård, Holten, Koppel, Jersild, Ruders CD 8.226051 (2010) The Danish National Vocal Ensemble in newer works by some of Denmark’s internationally renowned composers
	The Complete String Quartets Vagn Holmboe CD 8.207001 (2010) 7 CD box set of all Holmboe's string quartets in the highly acclaimed recordings by the Kontra Quartet
	Works for violin and piano Vagn Holmboe CD 8.226063 (2009) A most convincing love of music-making is evident in these works by the master Holmboe
	The Key Masterpieces Vagn Holmboe CD 8.226101-02 (2009) An outstanding introduction to the clear-sighted master of 20th-century Nordic music
	Romantic Trombone Concertos SACD 6.220526 (2006) One of the world’s best trombonists shines in works by among others Holmboe and Launy Grøndahl
	L'Homme Armé - Works for Solo Cello CD 8.226007 (2005) Monumental collection of new works for solo cello – virtuosic and powerful!
	Passage - Danish Piano Trios Trio Ondine CD 8.226009 (2005) Danish piano trios throughout a century, including an unknown work of Carl Nielsen’s youth
	Sinfonias I-IV Vagn Holmboe CD 8.226017-18 (2004) Four intense string works that together form the major work Kairos
	From the Merry Life of a Spy Art of Brass Copenhagen CD 8.226001 (2003) Sparklingly incisive performance of a virtuoso brass quintet
	Requiem for Nietzsche Vagn Holmboe CD 8.224207 (2002) An impressive, uncompromising oratorio based on the life of Nietzsche – a major work in Danish music
	String Quartets Vol. 7 Vagn Holmboe CD 8.224131 (2001) This unsurpassed series concludes with Holmboe’s very last work, completed by his pupil Per Nørgård
	Preludes for Sinfonietta Vol. 2 Vagn Holmboe CD 8.224124 (2001) Profound, magical music from Vagn Holmboe’s old age
	String Quartets Vol. 6 Vagn Holmboe CD 8.224128 (2001) Penultimate CD in the definitive series with String Quartets 17, 19 and 20, written in the 1980s
	Preludes for Sinfonietta Vol. 1 Vagn Holmboe CD 8.224123 (2000) Premiereindspilning af Vagn Holmboes sidste værkrække, en bøn for Moder Natur
	String Quartets Vol. 5 Vagn Holmboe CD 8.224127 (1999) Strygekvartet nr. 13-15, skrevet i en intens periode midt i 1970’erne
	String Quartets Vol. 4 Vagn Holmboe CD 8.224101 (1998) Three strong quartets from the beginning of the 1970s – a very fruitful period for Holmboe
	Chamber Concertos Vol. 4 Vagn Holmboe CD 8.224087 (1998) The last four of the fantastic series of Holmboe’s short instrumental concertos
	String Quartets Vol. 3 Vagn Holmboe CD 8.224073 (1997) Grand recordings of String Quartets 7, 8 and 9, composed in the mid-1960s
	Chamber Concertos Vol. 3 Vagn Holmboe CD 8.224086 (1997) Concerto no. 7 for oboe, Concerto no. 9 for violin and viola, and no. 8, which is a “Concerto for orchestra”
	Chamber Concertos Vol. 2 Vagn Holmboe CD 8.224063 (1997) Top Danish soloists meet in a lively interplay of violin, viola and piano trio
	Chamber Concertos Vol. 1 Vagn Holmboe CD 8.224038 (1996) First-recordings of a fantastic series of works: 13 solo concertos written in an outburst that extended just a few years
	Oboe and Piano CD 8.224043 (1996)
	String Quartets Vol. 2 Vagn Holmboe CD 8.224026 (1996) String Quartets 2, 5 and 6, the starting shots for Holmboe’s immersion in the genre
	Works for Organ CD 8.224018 (1995) Organ meets harp and percussion in works from the end of the 20th century
	Songs Holmboe, H.D. Koppel, Norby, T. Nielsen CD 8.224010 (1995) Songs from the post-war era by among others Herman D. Koppel and Vagn Holmboe
	Wind Quintets CD 8.224001 (1994) Carl Nielsen’s masterpiece and more recent quintets by Abrahamsen, Holmboe and Nørgård
	String Quartets Vol. 1 Vagn Holmboe DCCD 9203 (1993)
	Works for A Cappella Choir Vagn Holmboe DCCD 9204 (1993)