Vagn Holmboe (1909 - 1996)

composer

Vagn Holmboe (1909-96) is the most prominent Danish symphonist since Carl Nielsen. With his teaching and his many works from a composing career of over sixty years, Holmboe has a great influence on Danish music and Nordic music in general. He composed about 400 works, and has now finally achieved his definitive international breakthrough. Holmboe`s music is luminously clear and precise, striking in its lines and rhythms. Over the years Holmboe was greatly preoccupied with the folk music principle of going straight to the core of the music. He combined this with his own symphonic turn of mind, with roots as far back as Haydn. Even in his shorter pieces Holmboe was unmistakably a symphonist. The structures are clear and strong, and the music develops organically from simple material into a balanced totality. Holmboe`s central genres are the symphony and the string quartet. He composed fourteen symphonies and 21 string quartets in the finest European tradition. In addition we must single out his instrumental concertos (from 1939 until 1956 he wrote thirteen concertos for one or more soloists and chamber orchestra), and the choral works, several of which are already classics of Nordic music and are sung by both professionals and amateurs. Holmboe himself has long enjoyed classic status as one of the leading Nordic composers of this century.

Live Dates

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"
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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:
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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.
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10/03/2010   Holmboe stock riding high
Brugte eksemplarer af Holmboes strygekvartetter cirkulerer på Internettet til skyhøje priser
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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."
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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."
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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."
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16/08/2011 Fyens Stiftstidende

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

"Naturlys og åndefuld, ægte Holmboesk lyrik"
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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"
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01/07/2011 Ensemble

Vagn Holmboe: Chamber Music (I)
”Hervorragend disponierten Ensemble MidtVest agiert mit großer Umsicht und Spielfreude”
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05/05/2011 Diapason

Holmboe, Bruun, Nørgård, 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."
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01/05/2011 Ritmo

Holmboe, Bruun, Nørgård, 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."
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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."
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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."
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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"
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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."
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01/11/2010 OPUS

Vagn Holmboe: The Complete String Quartets
5/5 Stars

"För Holmboekännare rekommenderar denna box förstås sig själv."
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01/11/2010 Ensemble

Vagn Holmboe: The Complete String Quartets
"Dem Kontra Quartet ist eine faszinierende Box gelungen."
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13/10/2010 Crescendo

Vagn Holmboe: The Complete String Quartets
"Erschließt sich hier eine Quelle eindringlichster Entdeckungen von einem kaum bekannten Giganten."
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04/10/2010 DR P2

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

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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.”
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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."
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01/09/2010 Gramophone

Vagn Holmboe: Works for violin and piano
"Holmboe's complete output for violin and piano, delivered impeccably"
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30/04/2010 Sequenza 21

Vagn Holmboe: The Key Masterpieces
"The performances on this program are universally fine."
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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."
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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."
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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”
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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."
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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."
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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."
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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."
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15/06/1995 High Fidelity

Songs
"En liflig plade!"
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15/06/1995 Det Fri Aktuelt

Songs
"En særegen dansk stemning med en fin spænding mellem tekst og musik."
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15/09/1994 International Record Review

Blæserkvintetter
"The most immediately striking about this release is how wonderful it sounds...The playing is delightful."
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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."
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15/01/1994 Gramophone

Vagn Holmboe: String Quartets Vol. 1
"Recommended with enthusiasm."
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15/01/1994

Vagn Holmboe: String Quartets Vol. 1
CANNES CLASSICAL AWARD
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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."
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15/09/1993 Tempo

Vagn Holmboe: Works for A Cappella Choir
"Superb"
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Discography

	A Hand for Holmboe Katrine Ring CD 8.226569 (2012)
	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)