...while Erik Hojsgaard’s Cello Concerto was simply the most sheerly beautiful piece in the festival. Indeed, its trailing tendrils were of an almost Szymanowskian decadence, though with an airier harmony, a more open, even at times skeletal orchestration.
...There were lovely touches of invention, like the occasional evaporation of the harmony to leave fifths in the horns or the late emergence of a soprano voice for two floating wordless phrases, and the form of the work was also novel and successful, a massive cadential climax being the prelude not to the end but to a whole new meandering journey in quieter tones.
Paul Griffiths, The Times
Each Essay can be performed separately
Erzähl’s noch einmal, Erik...
...Gemeinsam ist der Musik ein Duktus nervöser Unruhe. Mit jeweils etwa drei Minuten dauern die Sätze nicht lang. Ob die Methode, das gleiche musikalische Material durch wechslende Auswahl, Farbgebung, Instrumentation in neuen Aggregatzuständen zu führen, auch über symphonische Strecken trüge? Es wäre zumindest den Versuch wert.
Die Welt
Danish translation:
Niels Hemmer Pihl
First performance (incomplete version):
9/10 1990 at Ballerup Gymnasium,
Copenhagen
Sten Byriel (baritone), Elsebeth Dreisig
(soprano), Henriette Bonde Hansen
(soprano), Christine Marstrand (soprano),
Eva Bruun Hansen (soprano), Hanna Hjort
(soprano), Pia Schnack (mezzo soprano),
Birgitte Friboe (mezzo soprano), Effie
Thing Simonsen (contralto)
Flemming Vistisen, conductor
First performance (complete version):
26/4 1992 at Rosenhaven, Odense
Jesper Buhl (baritone), Elsebeth Dreisig
(soprano), Eva Hess Thaysen (soprano),
Christine Marstrand (soprano),
Eva Bruun Hansen (soprano), Annette Bod
(soprano), Pia Schnack (mezzo soprano),
Susanne Vinther (mezzo soprano), Effie
Thing Simonsen (contralto)
Members of Odense Symphony Orchestra
Tamas Vetö, conductor
First performance of the revised version:
24/7 2006 in Semper-Depot, Vienna
Christian Miedl (baritone), Rebecca Nelsen
(soprano), Petra Simkova (soprano), Ulla
Pilz (soprano), Özlem Özkan (soprano),
Tamara Gallo (soprano), Elvira Soukop
(mezzo soprano), Gisela Theisen (mezzo
soprano), Anne Clare Hauf (contralto)
amadeus ensemble-wien
Walter Kobéra, conductor
Der dänische Komponist Erik Højsgaard hat Horváths Theaterstück als Libretto für seine Kammeroper genommen – und seine Musik mit großer Rücksicht auf den Text geschrieben. Dasführt dazu, dass man der Handlung sehr gut folgen kann und zeigt auch, mit welch handwerklicher Liebe zum Detail und zu einer ausgewogenen Struktur Højsgaard gearbeitet hat (das Orchester schweigt etwa zu Beginn, am Ende und zu Don Juans Erkenntnis: ”Kriege wird es immer geben, Fräulein”), verhindert aber andererseits einen großen musikalischen Wurf. Die Partitur hängt an der Moderne, da und dort dürfte Britten Pate gestanden haben, dosiert werden Zitate eingesetzt: Mozart, Verdi, Poulenc etc.
Daniela Tomasovsky, Die Presse
Solides Opern-Handwerk....Ein sehr ordentliches Projekt....Es ist ein solides, gut ausbalanciertes Werk, das vom Premierenpublikum mit Interesse aufgenommen wird.
Daniela Tomasovsky, Die Presse
Hojsgaard schafft Atmosphäre und Stimmung, schichtet ausgiebig Zitate, Klänge und Rhythmen übereinander. Eine schwierige Partitur, die Walter Kobéra und das Amadeus-Ensemble konzentriert bewältigen.
Rainer Elstner, Wiener Zeitung
Soloists:
Soprano, mezzosoprano, baritone
Arrangement of the Prolog from the opera
Don Juan kommt aus dem Krieg.
Landscapes I: New Hampshire
Fragment
These - saw Visions -
Elle est retrouvée
First performance of alternative version 1:
2/11 1980 at Statens Museum for Kunst
Hanne Holten (soprano), Søren Barfoed
(alto flute), Anders Grøn (cello), Sofia Claro
(harp), Suzanne Ibstrup (percussion)
Svend Aaquist, conductor
First performance of alternative version 2:
2/12 2000 at Nordjyllands Kunstmuseum,
Aalborg
Malene Bichel (soprano), Lars Frederiksen
(alto flute), Peter Lindegaard (clarinet/
bass clarinet), Karl Petersen (guitar)
Eftermiddag
Skæbnesang
Sen eftermiddag
Intermezzo
Måneporten
Havet
Timernes bro
Præludium
Blomsterritornel 1 (Blomst af violen)
Sommer, min ven
Intermezzo
Blomsterritornel 2 (Dunkle Skabiose)
Intermezzo
En farve
Blomsterritornel 3 (Blomst af Forglemmigeien)
Postludium
Composed together with Svend Aaquist under the pseudonym Svend Erik Aagaard.
Die Stadt
Le città e la memoria. 1.
Instruments:
Original version (1985, rev. 2003): Soprano, guitar and percussion (1)
Alternative version (2022): Soprano, flute, violin, and two guitars
First performance of the original version:
1/5 1986 in the Concert Hall Aarhus during the NUMUS Festival
Bodil Øland (soprano), Jesper Lützhøft (guitar), Gert Sørensen (percussion)
First performance of revised version (2003):
28/11 2004 at the Academy of Music, Aalborg
Mette Sandahl (soprano), Ivan Olsen (guitar), Anne Rom Hansen (percussion)
First performance of alternative version (2022):
30/7 2022 at Biblioteket Rentemestervej, Copenhagen
Josefine Weber Hansen (soprano), Anne Baumbach (flute), Giuly Johannsen (violin), Thea Baumbach and Niklas Johansen (guitars), Elisa Kirbst (video performance)
First performance (1st movement):
19/10 1994 at Den Anden Opera, Copenhagen
Guitartrio 1+2
First performance (1st and 3rd movement):
17/8 1996 at Skelby Skole during Ny Musik i Suså
Guitartrio 1+2
First performance (complete version):
21/11 2016 at Metronomen, Frederiksberg, during Moderne Mandag, Michael Norman, Niklas Johansen, Per Dybro
Instruments:
Original version: saxophone (soprano, alto, baritone), percussion (1)
Alternative version 1 (1997): tenor saxophone, percussion (1)
Alternative version 2 (1997): clarinet, percussion (1)
Alternative version 3 (2002): alto saxophone, percussion (1)
First performance of the original version:
12/4 1997 at Carl Nielsen Academy of Music, Odense
DuoDenum
First performance of alternative version 1:
9/4 1997 at the Academy of Music, Aalborg
Jan Harbeck (tenor saxophone), Jon Meinild (percussion)
First performance of alternative version 2:
2/11 1997 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Peter Lindegaard (clarinet), Torsten Folke Pedersen (percussion)
First performance of alternative version 3:
21/4 2004, Skt. Petri Church, Copenhagen
Sarah Vibe-Petersen (alto saxophone), Nicolai Slaatto (percussion)
Memories I
Interlude
Memories II
First performance in Denmark:
4/5 1984 at the Royal Academy of Music,
Aarhus, during the NUMUS Festival
Martin Schuster og Poul Spjuth (trumpets),
Klaus Gottlieb (horn), Rolf Sandmark
(trombone), Hans Andersen (tuba)
Gult og gråt
Erindringen om fraflyttede gader
På vej bort
Daggry
Instruments:
Original version (1997): flute, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, harp, piano, violin, viola, cello
Alternative version (2001): flute, clarinet, horn, 2 guitars, piano, violin, viola, cello
First performance of the original version:
23/8 1997 at Skelby Skole during Ny Musik i Suså
Danish Chamber Players
Giordano Bellincampi, dirigent
First performance of alternative version:
24/10 2001 in Sala de Conciertos,
Camagüey, Cuba
Bandidos del Tiempo
Louis Aguirre, conductor
First performance in Denmark of alternative version:
20/10 2002 at Nordjyllands Kunstmuseum, Aalborg
Bandidos del Tiempo
First performance in Denmark:
30/10 1992 at Copenhagen City Hall during Composer's Biennale
Capricorn
First performance in Denmark:
16/3 1975 at Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen
Kontra Quartet
The twilight turns from amethyst
Lied ohne Worte
Rain has fallen all the day
Fragment
All day I hear the noise of waters
1. Nostalgie
2. Nostalgie
3. Nostalgie
4. Nostalgie
5. Nostalgie
Chorale
Trio
Epitaph
Song
Joyous
First performance (Song):
8/10 1978 i Nikolaj Church, Copenhagen
Hanne Holten
First performance (Joyous):
7/10 1979 at the Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus
Hanne Holten
First performance in Denmark of the revised version:
5/6 1996 at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, Copenhagen
Halvor Lillesund
Biografi (Barndommen er et hus)
Glemsel, drøm og fald (Taler i net af glemte berøringer)
I timen der tikker sig op imod midnat
En sky går for solen
Version for mixed choir (2015):
Duration: 6 min.
Version for female chorus (2017):
Duration: 6 min.
Version for mixed choir and live electronics (2015):
Duration: 12 min.
Version for male chorus (2012):
Duration: 6 min.
Version for male chorus and ensemble (2013):
Duration: 9 min.
Instruments: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, 2 violins, viola, cello
First performance of version for mixed choir and live electronics:
21/11 2015 in Alsion, Sønderborg
Tritonus Choir
Lise Christensen Bjerno, conductor
First performance of version for mixed choir:
25/9 2016 in Silkeborg
Tritonus Choir
A Sloop of Amber slips away
Not knowing when the Dawn will come
First performance (2nd movement):
29/6 1985 at Gerlesborg, Sweden
Ars Nova and Rilke Ensemblen
Bo Holten, conductor
First performance (complete):
29/11 1988 at Glyptoteket, Copenhagen
Ars Nova
Bo Holten, conductor
Solnedgang
I Seraillets Have
Til Asali
Irmelin Rose
Har Dagen sanket al sin Sorg
Ak hvilken dejlig Have!
Orientalsk Festmarch
Snart er det Tid
Kineserdans
Gulnares Sang
Den skønne Sol er dalet
Aladdins Drøm
Morgentaagernes Dans
Fatimes Sang
Duration:
4 min.
Instruments:
Children's choir, mixed choir
First performance:
30/9 1997 in Kastelskirken, Copenhagen
Children's Choir of the Royal Danish Academy of Music, Musica Ficta
Bo Holten, conductor
Recording:
Children's Choir of the Royal Danish Academy of Music, Musica Ficta
Bo Holten, conductor
Duration:
4 min.
Instruments:
Flute, clarinet, bassoon, harp, piano, violin, viola, cello
First performance:
4/9 2014 , Aa church, Aakirkeby
Danish Chamber Players
Duration:
4 min.
Instruments:
Children's choir, strings
First performance:
21/3 2015 , Messias church, Copenhagen
Gentofte Music School
Tempi assai lontani
Canto funebre
Par les soirs
Par l'étreinte...
La Fine
"Vers la Flamme" (op. 72) ist ein bahnbrechend-expressives Klavierstück. Der Däne Erik Hojsgaard hat es schon 1977 üppigst instrumentiert, jetzt ist "Vers La Flamme" in dieser Form erstmals an den Ohren der Zuhörer vorübergerauscht. So ein üppiges Ding wäre sicherlich ganz im Sinn des Komponisten.
Reinhard Kriechbaum, OÖNachrichten