Erik Norby
Updated: April 26, 2002
Born
1936 in Denmark
Basic biography
In the early 1960's Norby started studying the trumpet at the Royal Academy of Music in Copenhagen. While studying
there, he got more and more interested in composing. In 1963 he made his official public debut with his Folk Song Suite
for ochestra. In this period he studied with Leif Kayser and later on with Per Nørgård.
After his studies he started teaching at the North Jutland Academy of Music in Aalborg, a job he held until 1975.
On his music
In his early years as a composer Erik Norby composed with serial techniques, but he quickly abandoned this method of
composition. Since then he has composed music of a fundamentally romantic character. His breakthrough came in 1975
with the symphonic poem Regnbueslangen, like most of his compositions an extremely programmatic work.
Besides the considerable number of vocal works Erik Norby has composed, it is his orchestral music - especially his perpetuation
of the symphonic poem tradition - that has profiled the work of the composer.
Principal Works
- 1961 - 12 danske folkeviser i klaverbearbejdelse, piano
- 1961 - Tre suiter for 2 tropeter, 2 trumpets (or 2 clarinets, records or possibly 2 violins)
- 1962 - Folksang Suite, symphony orchestra
- 1962 - Tre små suiter II, 2 trumpets (or 2 clarinets, records or possibly 2 violins)
- 1963 - 2 sange til digte af Rainer Rilke, mezzo soprano and piano (6')
- 1963 - 2-stemmig trompetmusik, 2 trumpets
- 1963 - To sange, voice and piano (text by R.M.Rilke)
- 1963 - Variationer for orkester, symphony orchestra
- 1965 - Illustrationer , 6 percussionists
- 1966 - Musik for 8 sekstetter , 8 ensembles
- 1968 - Sinfonia da requiem , symphony orchestra
- 1969 - Nocturne , symphony orchestra
- 1970 - Corps Celeste (symphonic poem), symphony orchestra (10')
- 1971 - Chromatikon (Partita for organ),organ (15')
- 1972 - 3 sange fra 'Des Knaben Wunderhorn', voice and piano
- 1972 - Marts, flute, oboe, clarinet, SATB (text by Gustof Munch-Petersen)
- 1972 - Vesper, carillon
- 1973 - 4 sange for lige stemmer, mixed choir a capella
- 1973 - Nattergal, equal voices a capella (text by Per Lange) (2')
- 1973 - Sang mod vårdybet, mixed choir a capella (text by William Heinesen) (2')
- 1973 - Cortège, orchestra
- 1973 - Vinterskumring, mixed choir a capella (text by Johannes Jørgensen) (2')
- 1974 - Schubert-variationer, 4 flutes (9')
- 1975 - Regnbueslangen symphonic poem (The Rainbow Snake), symphony orchestra (18')
- 1976-81 - 6 Shakespeare-sonnetter, mezzo soprano and piano (text by William Shakespeare) (17')
- 1977-78 - Illumination, capriccio, flute and orchestra
- 1978 - 5 orgelkoraler, organ
- 1978 - Cappriccio for trumpet, piano and Strings, trumpet solo, piano and strings (10')
- 1978 - Kuhlau-Metamorfoser, 4 flutes (11')
- 1979 - Cantata, Soprano, mezzo-soprano, baritone, mixed choir, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones and organ (18')
- 1979 - Edvard Munch-trilogi, mixed choir and orchestra
- 1980 - 4 salmer, voice and piano (text by Johannes Johansen)
- 1981 - 3 motetter, mixed choir a capella (text by Johannes Johansen) (5')
- 1981 - 3 Shakespeare-sonnetter, soprano, oboe, bassoon, piano and string quartet (text by William Shakespeare)
- 1981 - Partita for fløjte og orgel , flute and organ (10')
- 1983 - Tivoli Collage, 5 percussionists (14')
- 1983 - Tre danse for harmoniorkester, 2 flutes, oboe, clarinet (E-flat), 3 clarinets, bass clarinet, bassoon, 4 horns,
2 cornets, 3 trumpets, 2 tenor-horns, baritone-horn, 3 trombones, 3 tubas and percussion (11')
- 1984 - Abendstern, soprano, cor anglais, harp and cello (text by Elsebeth Speyer Grøn) (12')
- 1984 - Le Tombeau de Couperin, transcription of Ravel's work for 4 flutes
- 1984 - Vinger, mezzo-soprano, flute, horn, piano and cello (text by Karen Blixen) (9')
- 1985 - Rilke-Lieder, mezzo-soprano and orchestra: 3-3-3-3, 4-3-3-1, timpani, celesta, piatti, harp, piano, strings
(text by Rainer Maria Rilke) (20')
- 1986 - Blumenopfer, soprano, flute and organ (text by Rainer Maria Rilke) (12')
- 1986 - Die Wand, soprano, clarinet and organ (text by Rainer Maria Rilke) (12')
- 1987 - Deux Arabesques, flute (7')
- 1987 - Koncert for 2 sopraner og orkester, 2 sopranos and orchestra: 3-3-3-3, 4-3-3-1, timpani, 3 percussionists,
harp, electric piano and strings (text by Dylan Thomas and Allen Ginsberg) (20')
- 1988- 3 Piano Pieces, piano (prelude - nocturne - impromptu)
- 1988 - 3 sange til tekster af Paul Celan, Mezzo-soprano, piano
- 1989 - 6 Herbstlieder, voice, flute and guitar (text by Rainer Maria Rilke) (16')
- 1989 - Canzoni a Ballo, wind orchestra (9')
- 1989 - I Stefansdomen, soprano, flute and organ (text by Per Lange)
- 1989 - Pieta, soprano and organ (text by Rainer Maria Rilke)
- 1990-91- Nocturne, prélude, impromptu og passacaglia, piano
- 1990 - Passacaglia, piano
- 1992 - 3 Edith Södergran-Lieder, voice and piano. These songs are part of '8 Lieder...' (12')
- 1992-94 - 8 Lieder to Texts by Edith Södergran, soprano and piano (23')
- 1992 - Södergran-Lieder, mezzo-soprano and orchestra
- 1995 - En romersk fortælling, 2 voices, choir, winds, harp and percussion. Originally composed by
Jørgen Bentzon in 1937.
- 1997 - Jordens Sange, voice and piano. (Text by Poul la Cour)
- 1997 - Legs of Fire / Røde Sko, soprano, tenor, choir and orchestra
- 1999 - 3 sange til tekst af Paul Celan, Mezzo-soprano, clarinet, percussion, piano, viola, double bass (8')
- 1999 - Seks Lieder til digte fra 'Septemberlyran' af Edith Södergran, soprano and piano (17')
Recordings (available and non-available)
- 2 sange til digte af Rainer Rilke - Classico CLASSCD 242
- Regnbueslangen - BIS-CD-79 and BIS-LP-80
- Five Södergran-Lieder, Cortège, Illumination and Corps Celeste - Dacapo 8.224064
- 8 Lieder to Texts by Edith Södergran - Dacapo 8.224010
- Partita for fløjte og orgel - Danacord DACOCD 506
- 6 Herbstlieder, 8 Lieder to Texts by Edith Södergran - Helikon HCD 1022
- Cappriccio for trumpet, piano and Strings - Rondo RLP 8312 and RCD 8351
- Schubert-Variationer - Rondo RLP 5002
- Tre danse for harmoniorkester - Rondo RLP 8320, RMC 8320
- Tre danse for harmoniorkester, Canzoni a Ballo - Rondo RCD 8340
- Canzoni a Ballo - Rondo RCD 8331
- 5 Sange til digte af Paul la Cour - Det Fynske Musikkonservatorium 1999
- 6 Shakespeare-sonnetter, Kuhlau-Metamorfoser, Vinger - Reca RLP 5020
- Partita for fløjte og orgel - Reca RLP 5016
- Partita for fløjte og orgel, Deux Arabesques - Point PCD 5129
- Rilke-Lieder - Point PCD 5083
- Illumination - Erato STU 71273
Any additions or comments?
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