Bent Lorentzen
1935 - 2018
Danish
Summary
Bent Lorentzen studied at Aarhus University and at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen with Finn Høffding and Vagn Holmboe, exponents of the post-Nielsen Danish tradition of the 1950s. In contrast to his Danish colleagues who became involved in the New Simplicity movement of the 1960s, Lorentzen embraced the complexity of the avant-garde, using serialism and formal systems to expressive effect, and adding live performance elements to combat the dryness of purely electronic music. By coaxing new sounds out of traditional instruments and exploiting the huge expressive scope of the human voice, Lorentzen creates a ‘sonic’ music, which places the emphasis on sound rather than structure.
Critical Acclaim
...As a genuine homoludens Lorentzen works with a curiously wonder combined with a constructivegift and a solid knowledge about the materials – and about their inexhaustibleoptions – Lars Ole Bonde, Komponistforeningen
...Lorentzen's music is illustrative, like a cartoon reaching deeper layers. You are amused right from the beginning - John Christiansen, Jyllandsposten
...Bent Lorentzen has been called a popular avant-garde artist - a title he gladely acknowledges. his large-scale production contains both advanced twelve-tone music, and musical dramatic works -Dorte Washuus, Kristeligt Dagblad
...Bent Lorentzen is a composer who to a rareextent – and regardless of the genre – is interested in the interplay betweenthe music and the listener, regardless of the precondition of the latter – Lars Ole Bonde, Komponistforeningen
Biography
Bent Lorentzen was born 1935 and studied musicology at the university in Aarhus and at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen. He is pupil of Knud Jeppesen, Finn Høffding, Vagn Holmboe and Jörgen Jersild. Efter his final examination he taught at the Academy of Music in Aarhus for some years. Bent Lorentzen occupies a special position in modern Danish composition music. His point of departure was the Danish tradition of the 1950s (his teachers included Vagn Holmboe and Finn Høffding).
However, he quickly left this period behind. In the sixties electronic music inspired his creativity to take new paths, and since then innumerable other composition techniques have exerted an influence. Bent Lorentzen’s music is often characterized as "sonic", meaning that it has the actual sounds - the experience of sonority and materiality at its centre.
Bent Lorentzen has composed in well nigh all genres. His orchestral music includes Concertos for Oboe (1980), Cello (1984), Piano (1984), Saxophone (1986), Trumpet (1991) and Violin (2001); his chamber music comprises solo works for organ, piano, trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, guitar, violin, cello and double-bass, as well as string quartets and works with mixed ensembles (2-12 instruments). His choral music consists of a wealth of works in a special theatrical style. To these we can add electronic music and instrumental theatre works. Bent Lorentzen has probably had most significance as a music dramatist with fourteen operas so far, many of which have been staged abroad.
However, he quickly left this period behind. In the sixties electronic music inspired his creativity to take new paths, and since then innumerable other composition techniques have exerted an influence. Bent Lorentzen’s music is often characterized as "sonic", meaning that it has the actual sounds - the experience of sonority and materiality at its centre.
Bent Lorentzen has composed in well nigh all genres. His orchestral music includes Concertos for Oboe (1980), Cello (1984), Piano (1984), Saxophone (1986), Trumpet (1991) and Violin (2001); his chamber music comprises solo works for organ, piano, trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, guitar, violin, cello and double-bass, as well as string quartets and works with mixed ensembles (2-12 instruments). His choral music consists of a wealth of works in a special theatrical style. To these we can add electronic music and instrumental theatre works. Bent Lorentzen has probably had most significance as a music dramatist with fourteen operas so far, many of which have been staged abroad.
News
- Summer Listening: Oboe Concertos
- 9th August 2019
- Oboes and English horns can sing, placate, and pierce through orchestral textures like no other wind instrument. The following concertos demonstrate the full breadth of their magic, from the worldliness of John...
- Bent Lorentzens ”Kain og Abel” præmieret af Statens Kunstfond
- 21st December 2006
- Statens Kunstfonds tonekunstudvalg præmierer hvert år danske kunstnere, der har sat deres præg på dansk musikliv med særligt markante værker. Det klassiske tonekunstudvalg har i år valgt at præmiere to kammeroperaer:...
- Premiere of Bent Lorentzen’s chamber opera Cain and Abel
- 30th August 2006
- The composer Bent Lorentzen has written both music and libretto for the first chamber opera composed especially for Takkelloftet. Besides being a world premiere the opera is also Stig Fogh Andersen’s directing debut...
- Hør Bent Lorentzen's "Gewitter im Juni" i P2s Lyt til Nyt
- 1st December 2005
- Da blokfløjtenisten Bolette Roed blev valgt som DR kunstner for 2005, fik hun samtidig lov til at bestille et nyt værk. Hun besluttede at værket skulle komponeres af Bent Lorentzen, og det er blevet til koncerten...
Performances
There are no upcoming performances
Photos
Discography
- LabelDanacord
- Catalogue NumberDACOCD 594
- SoloistErling Møldrup, guitar
- Released2002
- Works
- LabelPaula
- Catalogue NumberPACD 57
- EnsembleThe Danish Trio
- ReleasedDecember 1987
- Works
- LabelDacapo
- Catalogue Number8.226516
- ConductorSøren K. Hansen
- EnsembleAarhus Sinfonietta
- SoloistKlaus Gottlieb (horn), Henrik Husum (oboe)
- Works
- LabelDacapo Open space
- Catalogue Number8.226517
- SoloistKasper Thaarup (trombone)
- Works
- LabelDacapo Open space
- Catalogue Number8.226517
- ConductorGiordano Bellincampi
- EnsembleDanish Radio Sinfonietta
- SoloistKasper Thaarup (trombone)
- Works
- LabelDacapo
- Catalogue Number8.226503
- EnsembleJalina Trio
- Works
- LabelDacapo
- Catalogue Number8.226516
- ConductorSøren K. Hansen
- EnsembleAarhus Sinfonietta
- SoloistErik Kaltoft (piano)
- Works
- LabelHelikon
- Catalogue NumberHCD 1012
- SoloistAixa Maria Rodriguez-Vosberg (soubrette), Toni Sellers (soprano), Jürgen Linn (baritone), Hans Werner Bramer (bass)
- Works
Early Morn
Gudmundsen-Holmgreen, Højsgaard, Ruders etc.
Concertos
Circles
Circles
The Planets
Kaleidoscope: piano trios
Organ Music I
Concertos
Die Musik Kommt mir Äusserst Bekannt vor!
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