The Fairest of Roses (Danish: Den yndigste rose) is a fanfare for two trumpets and organ written in 2017 by Frederik Magle and published by Edition Wilhelm Hansen.
The work was premiered in Saint Paul's church in Copenhagen on 3 December 2017, on the occasion of the church's 140-year jubilee as well as the rededication of the church tower. It is also a tribute to Frederik Magle's mother Mimi Heinrich who died in May the same year. [1] The Fairest of Roses is based on the melody for the Danish Christmas hymn Den yndigste rose er funden (1732) by Hans Adolph Brorson. Though the composer of the melody is unknown, it likely originates in the Wittenberg-area and was first published by Joseph Klug in 1542 used for the Latin burial-hymn 'Iam moesta quiesce'. [2]
For concert performances the two trumpeters are to be placed 'antiphonally' [3] with a distance between them, and the audience in-between, creating a spatial effect which is effective especially in larger rooms. [4]
Though entitled a fanfare the character of the work is, for the most part, reflective and has been described as meditative [5] and lucid with a 'touch of Celtic mistiness', [3] containing both soft and lyrical passages but also majestic and powerful moments. [4]
The earliest traces of Danish music go back to the many twisting Bronze-Age horns or lurs which some experts have identified as musical instruments. They have been discovered in various parts of Scandinavia, mostly Denmark, since the end of the 18th century. Denmark's most famous classical composer is Carl Nielsen, especially remembered for his six symphonies, while the Royal Danish Ballet specializes in the work of Danish choreographer August Bournonville. Danes have distinguished themselves as jazz musicians, and the Copenhagen Jazz Festival has acquired an international reputation. The modern pop and rock scene has produced a few names of note, including MØ, Dizzy Mizz Lizzy, Lukas Graham, D-A-D, Tina Dico, Aqua, The Raveonettes, Michael Learns to Rock, Volbeat, Alphabeat, Safri Duo, Medina, Oh Land, Kashmir, King Diamond, Outlandish, and Mew. Lars Ulrich is the first Danish musician to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Bent Lorentzen 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.
Frederik Reesen Magle is a Danish composer, concert organist, and pianist. He writes contemporary classical music as well as fusion of classical music and other genres. His compositions include orchestral works, cantatas, chamber music, and solo works, including several compositions commissioned by the Danish Royal Family. Magle has gained a reputation as an organ virtuoso, and as a composer and performing artist who does not refrain from venturing into more experimental projects – often with improvisation – bordering jazz, electronica, and other non-classical genres.
Hans Adolph Brorson was a Danish pietist clergyman, hymn write and translator of German language hymns. He served as Bishop of the Diocese of Ribe.
Otto Valdemar Malling was a Danish composer, from 1900 the cathedral organist in Copenhagen and from 1889 professor, then from 1899 Director of the Royal Danish Academy of Music, Copenhagen.
Egil Hovland was a Norwegian composer.
Frederick Lewis Swann is an American church and concert organist, choral conductor, composer, and former president of the American Guild of Organists. His extensive discography includes both solo organ works and choral ensembles he has conducted.
"Now thank we all our God" is a popular Christian hymn. Catherine Winkworth translated it from the German "Nun danket alle Gott", written c. 1636 by the Lutheran pastor Martin Rinkart. Its hymn tune, Zahn No. 5142, was published by Johann Crüger in the 1647 edition of his Praxis pietatis melica.
Frobenius is a Danish firm of organ builders.
Ludvig Birkedal-Barfod was a Danish composer and organist.
The Hope is a work for brass band, percussion, choir, and organ written in 2001 by Frederik Magle, depicting the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801. It consists of two movements with the first being purely instrumental. The choir enters in the second movement using text from Psalm 27.
"Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" is a Lutheran hymn by Philipp Nicolai written in 1597 and first published in 1599. It inspired musical settings through centuries, notably Bach's chorale cantata Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern, BWV 1, but also vocal and instrumental works by Baroque composers, Peter Cornelius, Felix Mendelssohn, Max Reger, Hugo Distler, Ernst Pepping, Mauricio Kagel and Naji Hakim.
St. Paul's Church is a Lutheran church in central Copenhagen, Denmark, also colloquially known as Nyboder's Church due to its location in the middle of the Nyboder area. It was designed by Johannes Emil Gnudtzmann and constructed from 1872 to 1877.
Christen, ätzet diesen Tag, BWV 63, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach. He composed the Christmas cantata for the First Day of Christmas, possibly in 1713 for the Liebfrauenkirche in Halle. He performed it again for his first Christmas as Thomaskantor in Leipzig, on 25 December 1723.
Like a Flame is a double-album with free improvisations for organ by Frederik Magle released in December 2010 on the Swedish record label Proprius Music. It was recorded on the then new Frobenius pipe organ in Jørlunde church on December 22–23, 2009. Frederik Magle recorded a total of 60 free improvisations over the course of the two days and later selected 23 to be released on the double album. The improvisations was recorded in one take.
Sophie Dedekam was a Norwegian composer and diarist, one of the most significant Norwegian women composers of the 19th century, and principally remembered today for a hymn included in the Church of Norway Hymn Book and for her published recollections of a visit to Paris.
Thomissøn's hymnal was a hymnal published in Denmark that received royal authorization in 1569.
Christian Cappelen was a Norwegian organist and composer.
{{cite magazine}}
: CS1 maint: location (link)