Langgaard, Rued

Langgaard, Rued – Symphony No. 7

(b. Copenhagen, July 28, 1893 – d. Ribe, July 10, 1952)

Preface
“At Tordenskjold’s in Holmen’s Church,” “From David’s Psalm 103 (or 16),” “From David’s Psalm 103,” “Danish Pictures,” “Danish Cities,” “Fanfare Symphony,” “Dannebrogklänge” – there were many ideas for names, but in the end, despite a wide range of alternatives, the neutral title Symphony No. 7 was chosen by Danish composer Rued Langgaard for his latest orchestral work, published by Wilhelm Hansen in 1927. The printing of his score was nothing short of a miracle, as Langgaard was dismissed as an eccentric, charlatan, and fantasist by his contemporaries and critics and largely ignored. Fortunately, this has changed: since the discovery of his Sphärenmusik in 1968, which revealed to the world a musician who had already mastered the sound world of Ligeti in 1916-1918, Langgaard’s music has been rediscovered. In Ribe, Denmark, a festival lasting several days is held annually in his honor, orchestras such as the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic perform his symphonies, and his opera Antikrist is causing a sensation in both small and large theaters. But who was the composer Langgaard?

Rued Immanuel Langgaard was born on July 28, 1893, in Copenhagen, the only child of composer Siegfried Langgaard (1852–1914) and his wife Emma (1861–1926). Both parents were respected piano teachers, although Siegfried Langgaard – a pupil of Liszt – in particular would have been destined for greater things had he not been hampered by stage fright. So they devoted themselves professionally to teaching and privately to philosophy, theosophy, and spiritualism, which also made a lasting impression on their son Rued. He received his first piano lessons from his mother at the age of five, then went on to learn the organ and violin. At the age of eleven, he made his debut as an organist at Copenhagen’s Marble Church, already demonstrating a great talent for free improvisation. This aroused the interest of the established greats of Danish musical life in the lanky, tall boy, who soon found himself studying under Johan Svendsen, Christian Hornemann, and Carl Nielsen. On March 8, 1908, the 14-year-old finally made his debut as a composer with the choral work Musae triumphantes. …

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