On February 1, 2025, Danish composer Ole Buck turns 80, celebrating a remarkable career defined by his unmistakable musical voice, which has left a lasting mark on contemporary Danish music.
At just 20 years old, Buck achieved his first major milestone when the Danish National Symphony Orchestra performed his work Kalligrafi for sopran og lille orkester, inspired by Japanese haiku poetry. This debut gave the hallmarks of his later style: a fusion of Central European modernism and minimalist sensibilities. Buck’s artistic journey was profoundly shaped by his studies with Per Nørgård, who famously left the Royal Danish Academy of Music in protest after the Academy refused to admit Buck. Nørgård moved his composition class to Aarhus, where Buck further developed his distinctive musical voice inspired by his teacher Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen. His pursuit of simplicity and authenticity placed him at the forefront of what was called the new simplicity movement in Danish music during the 1960s and 1970s.
Ole Buck’s style is marked by poetic simplicity, with each note imbued with purpose and meaning. His works are characterized by minimalist structures, repeated motifs, and a refined focus on tone and color.
Among Buck’s most celebrated compositions are Sommer Trio (1968), his ballet for the Royal Danish Theatre, Felix Luna, and the Landskaber series (Landskaber I-IV), a set of works reflecting the changing seasons written in 1992-1995. To mark his 80th birthday, Buck has revisited Landskaber III, transforming it into the newly titled Vinterlandskab (Winter landscape). This revised work will receive its world premiere together with three other works by Buck during two celebratory concerts performed by the Storstrøm Ensemble on February 1 and 2.
Performance dates
Storstrøm Ensemble
February 1, 2025, 4 pm, Elvermose Koncertsal, Nakskov
February 2, 2025, 3 pm, Mantziussalen, Birkerød
Explore the music of Ole Buck: