Rued Langgaard - in brief

Selected photos, musical excerpts and facts

• Organ virtuoso 1906 (aged 13)


• The sensitive young composer 1918 (aged 24)


• Copenhagen eccentric 1932 (aged 39)


• Cathedral organist in Ribe 1943 (aged 50)


• The visionary 1951 (aged 58)

• Late romantic nature music
  (Symphony No. 1, 2nd movement; 1908-11)
• Music of the universe
  (Sfærernes Musik (Music of the Spheres); 1916-18)
• Mechanical music
  (String Quartet No. 2, 2nd movement; 1918)
• Romantic harmonies
  (String Quartet No. 5, 2nd movement; 1925)
• Dissolution and absurdity
  (Symphony No. 15; 1949)

• Born 1893 (Copenhagen), died 1952 (Ribe)
• A unique musical genius, idealistic - and eccentric.
• Composed more than 400 works - 50 hours of music in all.
• The background for Langgaard's music is a religious belief in the spiritual power of music and its importance for mankind.
• He was not appreciated by his contemporaries and came into conflict with the spirit of the time and the powers that be of Danish music.
• "Carl Nielsen is Humbug" is a typically bitter statement by Langgaard.
• At the age of 47 Langgaard was 'exported' to Ribe, where he finally obtained a permanent job (as the cathedral organist).
• In 1968, 16 years after his death, Langgaard was 'rediscovered' and accurately described as an "ecstatic outsider."
• Since then, his tragic fate and fascinatingly 'different' music have interested an increasing number of people.
• Today, more than 100 compositions have been recorded on LP's and CD's, including his 16 symphonies.
• Langgaard is a lonely figure in the history of music in Denmark, but belongs to an international 'family' of outsiders which includes the American, Charles Ives.
• Langgaard's music is expressive, affected, visionary, extreme, bizarre - and irrational. Concepts such as style, tone, time and space are more prominent in Langgaard's music than such traditional basic elements as melody and form.

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