Bent Lorentzen
Bent Lorentzen (11 February 1935; Stenvad – 3 October 2018; Copenhagen) was a Danish composer. He was one of the outstanding figures in contemporary Danish music. His works are frequently performed at festivals at home and abroad, and he had established particularly close links with musical life in Poland and Germany. He was honoured with several international prizes and was named Choral Composer of the Year in Denmark in 1989 (Source: Edition·S – music¬sound¬art – Denmark). Life. Bent Lorentzen was born in Stenvad, a village on Djursland, East Jutland. He studied musicology at the university in Aarhus and at the Royal  Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen. He was a pupil of Knud Jeppesen, Finn Høffding, Vagn Holmboe and Jørgen Jersild. After his final examination he taught at the Academies of Music in Aarhus and Copenhagen for several years. (Source: Bonde 2005) Lorentzen was one of the earliest pioneers in the field of Danish electronic music ("The Bottomless Pit" in 1972 for the "Nordic Music Days" in Oslo, and "Visions 1978"), which was also introduced with an educational aim: the LP "Elektronmusikkens materiale" [The Material of Electronic Music, 1968] and the LP "Water – electronic music for children", 1968. (Source: Bonde 2005 ) Lorentzen's 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). He also composed numerous choral works in a unique dramatic style. Lorentzen's most important part of his works, however, are his operas and other works for the stage. His last opera " Der Steppenwolf" (Libretto after Hermann Hesse's novel by Michael Leinert) was first performed in Aarhus 2016  in a semi-concert version. Awards. Lorentzen held a number of important posts in different organisations in the Danish musical life, and he was the artistic director of the "Ebeltoft Festival" 1990-93. He was a prizewinner at several foreign competitions such as the "Prix Italia" in 1970 (for the opera "Euridice"), the "Serocki composers’ competition" in 1984 (for the chamber work "Paradiesvogel"), the "International Competition for Choir Compositions" in Austria 1987 (for "Olof Palme)," the "Olivier Messiaen Organ Prize" in 1988 (for "Luna"), "Vienna Modern Masters" in 1991 (for the "Piano Concerto") and the "Music and Poetry Prize" in  Belgium in 1989 (for Enzensberger’s "Prozession"). He was awarded ”"Danish Choir Composer of the year"” in 1990 and the "Carl Nielsen Prize" in 1995 and in 2003 the "Wilhelm Hansen Composer Prize". Since 1982 and until his death, Lorentzen had received the lifelong grant of the Danish Art Council. (Source: Bonde 2005) List of works (a selection). Bent Lorentzen’s works are published in Denmark by Edition Wilhem Hansen, Copenhagen and Edition Samfundet, Copenhagen. Opera and Music Theatre Orchestra Soloist(s) and Orchestra Large Ensemble (7 or more players) Works for 2-6 Players Solo Works (excluding keyboard) Solo Keyboard(s ) Solo voices, Chorus, Orchestra / and narrator Chorus a cappella / Chorus plus one instrument Solo Voice(s) and up to six players Music for Young Performers Electroacoustic Works Abgrund - Colori - Goldranken - Nachtigall Discography (selection). Piano Works Dacapo: 8.224246 Die Musik kommt mir äusserst bekannt vor! Chamber opera Helikon: HCD 1012 Ensemble Århus Sinfonietta Conductor Søren K. Hansen and Thomas Søndergaard Dacapo: 8.226516 Aarhus Brass Quintet Paula: PACD 82 Ensemble The Danish Trio Paula: PACD 57 The Danish Trio, Esbjerg Ensemble, Kontra etc. Danish Music Export: MXPCD 0292 Ensemble Aarhus SO, Frans Rasmussen Merete Hoffmann (oboe), Martin Schuster (trumpet) Dacapo: DCCD 9314 Ensemble  Århus Sinfonietta Conductor Søren K. Hansen and Thomas Søndergaard Erik Kaltoft (piano) Dacapo: 8.226516 Ensemble Slovak RSO, Szymon Kawalla Vienne Modern Masters: VMM 3009 Composers: Cope/Bräm/Haubenstock-Ramati/Lorentzen/Kaczynski Ensemble MW2 Vienna Modern Masters: VMM 2024 Record CHESTER JWC 1001 Format: Vinyl, LP; Country: UK; Released: 1968 Style: Musique Concrète, Education, Spoken Word, Experimental Credits: Compilation Producer, Narrator - Bent Lorentzen Opera. Label: Kontrapunkt. 2005 Morten Frank Larsen (barytone). Jens E. Christensen (organ). Joanna Stroz (percussion. Label: dacapo 8.226568