Povl Hamburger

Povl Hamburger was a Danish lecturer, composer and organist. He took lessons in organ and music theory with P.S. Rung-Keller, in piano with Anders Rachlew and in music history with Thomas Laub. In 1921 he graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in Copenhagen.

After studies in Germany and Austria he returned to Denmark in 1925 to begin his studies in musicology at the University of Copenhagen. He graduated in 1928 and was awarded a Ph.D. in 1955. He worked as an organist in churches around Copenhagen and as a music critic for many magazines. He also had administrative posts, for example as a member of the board of directors for the Academy of Music at Funen and as president of Danish Educational Union.  

Hamburger wrote many small organ pieces for use in services in the Christian church, some Danish folk-like songs and a number of choral songs. The most famous of these are Blæsten går frisk over Limfjordens Vande (”The wind freshly blows over the waters of the Limfjord”) and Der er ingenting i verden så stille som sne” ("There is nothing in this world as quiet as snow”).