The Danish Culture Canon (Danish : Kulturkanonen) consists of 108 works of cultural excellence in eight categories: architecture, visual arts, design and crafts, film, literature, music, performing arts, and children's culture. An initiative of Brian Mikkelsen in 2004, it was developed by a series of committees under the auspices of the Danish Ministry of Culture in 2006–2007 as "a collection and presentation of the greatest, most important works of Denmark's cultural heritage." Each category contains 12 works although music contains 12 works of score music and 12 of popular music and the literature section's 12th item is an anthology of 24 works. [1] [2]
The committee for architecture was asked to choose 12 works covering both buildings and landscaping. It was decided that works could either be in Denmark designed by one or more Danes or abroad designed by Danish architects. The committee consisted of: Lone Wiggers (chair), Carsten Juel-Christiansen, Malene Hauxner, Lars Juel Thiis and Kent Martinussen. [3]
Building | Location | Year | Architect | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hover Church | near Ringkøbing, Jutland | 12th century | Unknown | |
Glorup Manor | near Nyborg, Funen | 12th century rebuilt 1742–1743 1762–1765 and 1773–1775 | Philip de Lange, Christian Joseph Zuber and Nicolas-Henri Jardin | |
Frederiksstaden | Copenhagen | 1749–1771 | Nicolai Eigtved | |
Church of Our Lady | Copenhagen | 1811–1829 | C.F. Hansen | |
Dyrehaven | Klampenborg, Zealand | 1846 | Rudolph Rothe | |
Lægeforeningens boliger—Brumleby | Østerbro, Copenhagen | 1854–1856 | Michael Gottlieb Bindesbøll and Vilhelm Klein | |
Mariebjerg Cemetery | Gentofte, Zealand | 1925–1935 | G.N. Brandt | |
Aarhus Universitet | Århus | 1931 | Kay Fisker, C.F. Møller, Povl Stegmann and C.Th. Sørensen | |
Aarhus City Hall | Århus | 1937–1942 | Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller | |
Finger Plan | Copenhagen | 1947 | Peter Bredsdorff | |
Sydney Opera House | Sydney | 1957–1973 | Jørn Utzon | |
Great Belt East Bridge | Zealand and Funen | 1991–1998 | Dissing+Weitling |
The committee for visual arts decided that only works of artists who had completed their oeuvre could be included. They also decided that members of the committee could each select a work they especially appreciated. In this way the committee first selected seven works whereafter five members selected one work each. The committee consisted of Hein Heinsen (chair), Hans Edvard Nørregård-Nielsen, Bente Scavenius, Bjørn Nørgaard and Sophia Kalkau. [4]
Work | Location | Year | Artist | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sun chariot | National Museum of Denmark | c. 1300 BC | Unknown | |
The Resurrection | Undløse Church | c. 1440 | Union Master | |
Bordesholm Altar | Schleswig Cathedral | Completed 1521 | Hans Brüggemann | |
Frederik V on Horseback | Amalienborg | Completed 1771 | Jacques Saly | |
Jason with the Golden Fleece | Thorvaldsens Museum | Completed 1828 | Bertel Thorvaldsen | |
A View through Three of the North-Western Arches of the Third Storey of the Coliseum | Statens Museum for Kunst | 1813–1816 | C.W. Eckersberg | |
Autumn Morning on Lake Sortedam | Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek | 1838 | Christen Købke | |
Dust Motes Dancing in Sunbeams | Ordrupgaard | 1900 | Vilhelm Hammershøi | |
Summer Day by Roskilde Fjord | Randers Kunstmuseum | 1900 | L.A. Ring | |
The Great Relief | J.F. Willumsens Museum | 1923–1928 | J.F. Willumsen | |
Standing Woman | Göteborgs konstmuseum | 1937–1943 | Astrid Noack | |
Stalingrad | Museum Jorn, Silkeborg | 1957–1972 | Asger Jorn |
The committee for design and crafts decided that selection should be based on works with a useful function which were relevant at the time they were created while remaining recognizable today. They should also fall into an international perspective. The committee consisted of Merete Ahnfeldt-Mollerup (chair), Erik Magnussen, Astrid Krogh, Ursula Munch-Petersen and Louise Campbell. [5]
Work | Designer | Year | Image |
---|---|---|---|
Viking ship Skuldelev 2 | Unknown | c. 1042 | |
Flora Danica (book) and Flora Danica (dinner set) | Georg Christian Oeder, Johann Christoph Bayer several artists | 1761–1883 | |
Thorvald Bindesbøll: life's work | 1846–1908 | ||
Knud V. Engelhardt: life's work | 1882–1931 | ||
Marie Gudme Leth: life's work | 1895–1997 | ||
PH lamp shade system | Poul Henningsen | 1925– still being developed | |
Tea service | Gertrud Vasegaard | 1956 | |
Gedser experimental wind turbine | Johannes Juul | 1957 | |
Panton chair | Verner Panton | 1960 | |
Polyurethane chair | Gunnar Aagaard Andersen | 1964 | |
Kevi wheel | Jørgen Rasmussen | 1965 | |
Fiberline facade system | Fiberline Composites and Schmidt hammer lassen | 2006 |
In their selection, the committee for film focused on films reflecting Danish life with Danish actors. The included nevertheless the film Sult (Hunger) which takes place in Oslo and has Swedish actors. The committee consisted of Susanne Bier (chair), Vinca Wiedemann, Tivi Magnusson, Ole Michelsen and Jacob Neiiendam. [6]
Work | Creator | Year | Image |
---|---|---|---|
Master of the House | Carl Th. Dreyer | 1925 | |
Day of Wrath | Carl Th. Dreyer | 1943 | |
Ditte, Child of Man | Bjarne Henning-Jensen | 1946 | |
Jenny and the Soldier | Johan Jacobsen | 1947 | |
Hunger | Henning Carlsen | 1966 | |
Benny's Bathtub | Jannik Hastrup and Flemming Quist Møller | 1971 | |
Matador | Erik Balling | 1978–1982 | |
Tree of Knowledge | Nils Malmros | 1981 | |
Babette's Feast | Gabriel Axel | 1987 | |
Pelle the Conqueror | Bille August | 1987 | |
The Celebration | Thomas Vinterberg | 1998 | |
The Idiots | Lars von Trier | 1998 |
The committee for literature found it important to select works with a quality which had been appreciated over time. The selected works were also considered to have made an important contribution both to Danish literature and to Danish culture in the widest sense. They reflect an original and bold artistic approach to works of value. They are worthy of being preserved for posterity as they serve as reference points in a modern global context. The committee consisted of Finn Hauberg Mortensen (chair), Erik A. Nielsen, Mette Winge, Claes Kastholm Hansen and Jens Christian Grøndahl. [7]
Author | Work | Year | Image |
---|---|---|---|
Leonora Christina | Jammers Minde (literally Memory of Misery), translated as Memoirs of Leonora Christina | 1673–1674, published 1869 | |
Steen Steensen Blicher | The Rector of Veilbye | 1829 | |
Hans Christian Andersen | The Little Mermaid | 1837 | |
Søren Kierkegaard | Either/Or | 1843 | |
Jens Peter Jacobsen | Fru Marie Grubbe | 1876 | |
Herman Bang | Ved Vejen | 1886 | |
Henrik Pontoppidan | Lucky Per | 1898–1904 | |
Johannes V. Jensen | The Fall of the King | 1900–1901 | |
Karen Blixen | Winter's Tales | 1942 | |
Klaus Rifbjerg | Og andre historier (And Other Stories) | 1964 | |
Inger Christensen | Butterfly Valley | 1991 | |
The 12th item is an Anthology of lyrics consisting of the following 24 works:
Author | Work | Year | Image |
---|---|---|---|
Anonymous folk song | Ebbe Skammelsøn | ||
Anonymous folk song | Germand Gladensvend | ||
Thomas Kingo | Hver har sin Skæbne (Sorrig og Glæde...) | ||
H. A. Brorson | Den yndigste rose er funden | 1732 | |
Johs. Ewald | Til Siælen. En Ode | 1780 | |
Schack von Staffeldt | Indvielsen | 1804 | |
Adam Oehlenschläger | Hakon Jarls Død eller Christendommens Indførsel i Norge | 1803 | |
N. F. S. Grundtvig | De Levendes Land | First published 1883 | |
Christian Winther | Rosa unica | 1849 | |
Emil Aarestrup | Paa Sneen | 1838 | |
Holger Drachmann | Jeg hører i Natten den vuggende Lyd | 1877 | |
Sophus Claussen | Ekbatana | 1896 | |
Jeppe Aakjær | Aften | 1912 | |
Thøger Larsen | Den danske Sommer | 1914 | |
Tom Kristensen | Det er Knud, som er død | 1936 | |
Jens August Schade | Læren om staten | 1928 | |
Gustaf Munch-Petersen | det underste land | 1933 | |
Thorkild Bjørnvig | Anubis | 1955 | |
Ole Sarvig | Regnmaaleren | 1943 | |
Morten Nielsen | Øjeblik | 1945 | |
Frank Jæger | Sidenius i Esbjerg | 1959 | |
Ivan Malinowski | Myggesang | 1958 | |
Per Højholt | Personen på toppen | 1985 | |
Henrik Nordbrandt | Violinbyggernes by | 1985 |
The committee for music explained that, taking account of the wide range of Danish music, they gave focus to individual works rather than a composer's oeuvre. They presented two lists: one for what they called score music (classical), the other for popular music, although the two should be considered as a whole. The committee consisted of Per Erik Veng (chair), Jørgen I. Jensen, Torben Bille, Inger Sørensen and Henrik Marstal. [8]
Composer/author | Work | Year | Image |
---|---|---|---|
F.L.Æ. Kunzen | Holger Danske | 1789 | |
C. E. F. Weyse | Otte Morgensange and Syv Aftensange | 1837 and 1838 | |
H. C. Lumbye | Three galops: Telegraph Galop, Champagne Galop and Copenhagen Steam Railway Galop | 1844, 1845 and 1847 | |
Niels W. Gade | Elverskud | 1854 | |
J. P. E. Hartmann | Vølvens Spaadom | 1872 | |
Peter Heise | Drot og marsk | 1878 | |
Carl Nielsen | Maskarade | 1906 | |
Carl Nielsen | Symphony No. 4: The Inextinguishable | 1916 | |
Rued Langgaard | Antikrist | 1923 | |
Per Nørgård | Symphony No. 3 | 1976 | |
Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen | Symphony-Antiphony | 1978 | |
The 12th item titled Højskolesange (Folk High School Songs) consists of the following 12 songs:
Composer/author | Work | Year | Image |
---|---|---|---|
C. E. F. Weyse (1826), words: N. F. S. Grundtvig | Den signede dag med fryd vi ser | 1826 | |
Folk song, words rewritten by Svend Grundtvig | Det var en lørdag aften | 1849 | |
Folk song from the Mariager area | En yndig og frydefuld sommertid | Published in A.P. Berggreen's Danske folkesange 1869 | |
Music: Carl Nielsen, words: Ludvig Holstein | Vi sletternes sønner | Music 1906, words 1903 | |
Music: Carl Nielsen, words: Jeppe Aakjær | Jens Vejmand | Music 1907, words 1905 | |
Music: Thomas Laub, words: St.St. Blicher | «Det er hvidt herude» | Melodi 1914, tekst 1838 | |
Music: Oluf Ring, words: Thøger Larsen | Danmark, nu blunder den lyse nat | Music 1922, words 1914 | |
Music: Poul Schierbeck, words: Hans Christian Andersen | I Danmark er jeg født | Music 1926, words 1850 | |
Music: Thorvald Aagaard, words: Laurits Christian Nielsen | Jeg ser de bøgelyse øer | Music 1931, words 1901 | |
Music: Otto Mortensen, words: Helge Rode | Du gav os de blomster, som lyste imod os | Music 1939, words 1921 | |
Music: Otto Mortensen, words: Alex Garff | Septembers himmel er så blå | Music and words 1949 | |
Music: Peter Erasmus Lange-Müller/Shu-Bi-Dua, words: Holger Drachmann | Vi elsker vort land | Music 1887 and 1980, words 1885 |
Composer/author | Work | Year | Image |
---|---|---|---|
Kai Normann Andersen | A selection of 12 songs: Musens sang, Den allersidste dans, Pige træd varsomt, Å hvor jeg, ih, hvor jeg, uh hvor jeg vil, I dit korte liv, Man binder os på mund og hånd, Alle går rundt og forelsker sig , Gå ud og gå en tur, Glemmer du, Titte til hinanden, Drømmeland og Gå med i lunden | 1925–1959 | |
Dansk Guldalderjazz | Dansk Guldalderjazz Vol. 1–4 | 1940–1949 | |
Savage Rose | The Savage Rose | 1968 | |
Kim Larsen | Værsgo | 1973 | |
Benny Andersen and Povl Dissing | Svantes Viser | 1973 | |
Gasolin' | Live sådan | 1976 | |
Kliché | Supertanker | 1980 | |
C.V. Jørgensen | Tidens Tern | 1980 | |
Sebastian | Stjerne til støv | 1981 | |
Palle Mikkelborg with Miles Davis | Aura | 1984/1985 | |
tv·2 | Nærmest lykkelig | 1988 | |
The 12th item Evergreens is an anthology consisting of the following works:
Composer/author | Work | Year | Image |
---|---|---|---|
Sven Gyldmark/Poeten | Solitudevej – sung by Elga Olga Svendsen. | From Cirkusrevyen 1953 | |
Sven Gyldmark & Erik Leth | Er du dus med himlens fugle – sung by Poul Reichhardt. | From the film Vagabonderne på Bakkegården 1958 | |
Vidar Sandbeck & Peter Mynte – single | Heksedans (her kommer mutter med kost og spand) – sung by Raquel Rastenni. | 1960 | |
Bjarne Hoyer & Ida From | To lys på et bord – sung by Otto Brandenburg | From Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, 1960 | |
Otto Helge Francker & Sejr Volmer-Sørensen | Dansevise – performed by Grethe Ingmann and Jørgen Ingmann. | From Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, 1963 | |
Bent Fabricius-Bjerre & Klaus Rifbjerg | Duerne flyver – sung by Cæsar. | From the film Jeg er sgu min egen , 1967 | |
John Mogensen | Så længe jeg lever – sung by John Mogensen. | Single 1970, also in the album John Mogensen: John, 1973 | |
Anne Linnet | Smuk og dejlig – performed by Shit & Chanel. | From the album Shit & Chanel, 1976 | |
Peter A. G. Nielsen/Gnags | Under Bøgen – performed by Gnags. | From the album Er du hjemme i aften, 1977 | |
Shu-bi-dua | Danmark – performed by Shu-bi-dua. | From Shu-bi-dua 78'eren, 1978 | |
Frans Bak & Per Nielsen | Danse i måneskin – performed by Trine Dyrholm & Moonlighters. | From Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, 1987 | |
Lars Lilholt | Kald det kærlighed – performed by Lars Lilholt Band. | From Lars Lilholt Band: Portland, 1986 |
The committee for performing arts explained that their selection was based on works of unique creativity representing something new for their time while still remaining meaningful today. The committee consisted of Flemming Enevold (chair), Karen-Maria Bille, Jokum Rohde, Sonja Richter and Erik Aschengreen. [9]
Creator | Work | Year | Image |
---|---|---|---|
Ludvig Holberg | Jeppe på Bjerget | 1722 | |
Adam Oehlenschläger | Aladdin | 1805 | |
August Bournonville and Herman Severin Løvenskiold | La Sylphide | 1836 | |
Henri Nathansen | Indenfor Murene (Inside the Walls) | 1912 | |
Kaj Munk | Ordet (The Word) | 1932 | |
Kjeld Abell | Anna Sophie Hedvig | 1939 | |
Four revue numbers: | Man binder os på mund og hånd (Liva Weel, 1940), Skolekammerater (Kellerdirk, 1956), Brevet til Bulganin (Osvald Helmuth, 1957), Fingernummeret (Dirch Passer, 1974) | 1940, 1956, 1957 and 1974 | |
Harald Lander and Knudåge Riisager | Etudes | 1948 | |
Flemming Flindt and Georges Delerue | Enetime | 1963 | |
Solvognen | Julemandshæren | 1974 | |
Sort Sol | Sort Sol live, Carlton og Wurst | 1986–1987 | |
Jess Ørnsbo | Majonæse | 1988 |
The committee was formed spontaneously as work proceeded in the other areas. It is therefore not an independent selection as suggestions were received from all the other areas. [10]
Creator | Work | Year | Image |
---|---|---|---|
C.Th. Sørensen | Children's building site | 1931 | |
Gunnar Nyborg-Jensen (ed.) | De små synger | 1948 | |
Astrid Henning-Jensen | Palle alene i Verden (Film) | 1949 | |
Carl Barks | The Golden Helmet | 1954 | |
Nanna Ditzel | High chair | 1955 | |
Godtfred Kirk Christiansen | Lego brick | 1958 | |
Cecil Bødker | Silas og den sorte hoppe | 1967 | |
Halfdan Rasmussen & Ib Spang Olsen | Halfdans ABC | 1967 | |
Katrine Hauch-Fausbøll | Kaj & Andrea | 1971 ff. | |
Anne Linnet | Go' sønda' morn' | 1980 | |
Søren Kragh-Jacobsen | Gummi-Tarzan (Film) | 1981 | |
Steen Koerner | Nøddeknækkeren | 2003 |
According to press reports, the canon has had limited impact and has been ineffective in its stated goal of fostering integration between the Danes and the immigrant communities. [11] Berlingske pointed out, nevertheless, that the canon will remain a milestone as a non-socialist government had dared to "simply state that some works are better than others" and assert in that "this country may well be a modern society in a globalised world but that does not mean we have no merit as a nation or no right to national pride." [12] Erik A. Nielsen, a member of the canon's literature committee, is not surprised the literature canon has had such limited effect, faced as it is with a "tsunami of international, strongly commercial cultural interests." He points out that the only reason his students take an interest in Danish culture is that "they have to take exams in it. If they are free to choose culture themselves, they go for films, rock music and a whole lot more that is essentially English or American in origin. [13]
The Western canon is the embodiment of high-culture literature, music, philosophy, and works of art that are highly cherished across the Western hemisphere, such works having achieved the status of classics.
The culture of Denmark has a rich artistic and scientific heritage. The fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen (1805–1875), the philosophical essays of Søren Kierkegaard (1813–1855), the short stories of Karen Blixen, penname Isak Dinesen, (1885–1962), the plays of Ludvig Holberg (1684–1754), modern authors such as Herman Bang and Nobel laureate Henrik Pontoppidan and the dense, aphoristic poetry of Piet Hein (1905–1996), have earned international recognition, as have the symphonies of Carl Nielsen (1865–1931). From the mid-1990s, Danish films have attracted international attention, especially those associated with Dogme 95 like those of Lars Von Trier. Denmark has had a strong tradition of movie making and Carl Theodor Dreyer has been recognised as one of the world's greatest film directors. The astronomical discoveries of Tycho Brahe (1546–1601), Ludwig A. Colding's (1815–1888) neglected articulation of the principle of conservation of energy, and the foundational contributions to atomic physics of Niels Bohr (1885–1962); in this century Lene Vestergaard Hau in quantum physics involving the stopping of light, advances in nano-technology, and contributions to the understanding of Bose-Einstein Condensates, demonstrate the range and endurance of Danish scientific achievement.
The Nordic Council Literature Prize is awarded for a work of literature written in one of the languages of the Nordic countries, that meets "high literary and artistic standards". Established in 1962, the prize is awarded every year, and is worth 350,000 Danish kroner (2008). Eligible works are typically novels, plays, collections of poetry, short stories or essays, or other works that were published for the first time during the last four years, or in the case of works written in Danish, Norwegian, or Swedish, within the last two years. The prize is one of the most prestigious awards that Nordic authors can win.
Astrid Henning-Jensen was a Danish film director, actress, editor and screenwriter.
Benny Andersen was a Danish poet, author, songwriter, composer and pianist. He is often remembered for his collaboration with the singer Povl Dissing; together they released an album with Andersen's poems from the collection Svantes viser. This album and Andersen's book "Svantes viser" from 1972 were included by the Danish Ministry of Culture in the Danish Culture Canon in 2006, in the category "Popular music". Andersen's "Samlede digte" have sold more than 100,000 copies in Denmark.
Kent Martinussen is a Danish architect and CEO of the Danish Architecture Centre. He was appointed member of the board for the Danish Culture Canon of Architecture in 2005.
Undløse Church is located in the village of Undløse some 17 km (11 mi) southwest of Holbæk in northern Zealand, Denmark. The original part of the Romanesque church derives from the late 12th century. The church is noted for its early 15th-century frescoes and for its elaborate Baroque altarpiece and pulpit, both woodcuts by Abel Schrøder.
Hover Church is located approximately 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) west of the village of Hover in Ringkøbing-Skjern Municipality, Denmark. Built in twelfth century, it is one of Denmark's oldest stone churches. Not much has changed in its shape and appearance over the past 800 years, making it a good example of old Danish architecture. Hover Church is included within the Danish Culture Canon in the Architecture category.
Christian Joseph Zuber was a Danish Royal architect who was strongly influenced by Nicolas-Henri Jardin.
Christian Erhardt Bredsdorff, commonly known as Peter Bredsdorff, (1913–1981) was a Danish architect and urban planner who is remembered for his Finger Plan for the development of Copenhagen. In this connection, his name is included in the Danish Culture Canon.
Jason with the Golden Fleece is a sculpture by Bertel Thorvaldsen. A lifesize clay version created in 1803 is considered to be the artist's first great work. The larger marble statue, reaching a height of 242 cm (95 in), was however not completed until 1828.
Lucky Per is a novel by Danish Nobel Prize–winning author Henrik Pontoppidan published in eight volumes between 1898 and 1904. It is considered one of the major Danish novels, and in 2004 it was made part of the Danish Culture Canon.
Jens August Schade was a Danish poet. His debut was the 1926 poetry collection den levende violin, "the living violin". He referred to himself in his poetry as "the bright poet". The themes of his poetry were often the interconnection between the erotic and the forces of the cosmos. In 1963 he received the grand prize of the Danish Academy. His 1928 work "Læren om staten" is part of the Danish Culture Canon.
Ole Sarvig was a Danish author and poet, known for his participation in the literary journal heretica. In 1967 he received the grand prize of the Danish Academy. In 2004 his 1943 work Regnmaaleren was included in the Danish Culture Canon. He was a friend and mentor to the poet Michael Strunge, whose poem "December" remembers Sarvig's death by suicide in December 1981. Like Sarvig, Strunge took his life by jumping from a building.
De Levendes Land is a hymn written in 1824 by the Danish theologian and priest, N. F. S. Grundtvig. It is composed in a metre similar to a famous hymn, Far Verden, far vel by Thomas Kingo but unlike its baroque model, Grundtvig's work carries a more optimistic message, expressing faith in the love and grace of God. The poem was written at a critical time in Grundtvig's life but lends voice to his belief that with God's love one can find happiness in life.
Den Frie Udstilling is a Danish artists' association, founded in 1891 by artists in protest against the admission requirements for the Kunsthal Charlottenborg. Modeled on the Salon des Refusés, it is Denmark's oldest association of artists. Now located on Copenhagen's Oslo Plads next to Østerport Station, it works as an arts centre, continuing to exhibit works created and selected by contemporary artists rather than those chosen by cultural authorities.
The Gedser wind turbine is located near Gedser in the south of the Danish island of Falster. It was constructed by the engineer Johannes Juul in 1957 for the SEAS electricity company with support from the Marshall Plan. Its innovative design was a major breakthrough in the development of wind turbines.
Johannes Juul was a Danish engineer who is remembered for the important part he played in the development of wind turbines. His achievements are included in the Danish Culture Canon.
The Panton Chair is an S-shaped plastic chair created by the Danish designer Verner Panton in the 1960s. The world's first moulded plastic chair, it is considered to be one of the masterpieces of Danish design. The chair was included in the 2006 Danish Culture Canon.
Efterårsmorgen ved Sortedamssøen is an oil painting by Christen Købke, one of the leading artists in the Golden Age of Danish Painting. Included in the 2006 Danish Culture Canon, the painting hangs in Copenhagen's Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek.