Hans Abrahamsen

Created in 1952, Hans Abrahamsen is among the younger representatives from the Danish motion toward “new simplicity” (ny enkelhed), which developed in the 1960s and 1970s. His items, mostly quite brief, are designated by extremely light, finely orchestrated textures, too little severe dissonance, and the usage of collage and pastiche. Abrahamsen analyzed music background, theory, and French horn in the Royal Danish Conservatory in Copenhagen, while learning structure privately with Per Nørgård and Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen, two from the founders from the “fresh simplicity” motion. In the 1970s, Abrahamsen’s music was known for a straightforward, almost naïve, usage of contrasting blocks of materials, often constructed of three-note cells, as with Skum (1970) for chamber orchestra, or the Ten Preludes for string quartet (1973). Abrahamsen consequently developed a far more complicated and dramatic design, as exemplified by the next String Quartet (1981) and Nacht und Trompeten for orchestra (1981), most likely his most well-known orchestral work compared to that stage. Through the 1990s, Abrahamsen published very few fresh works, doing plans and orchestrations of old music while he reevaluated his personal style of structure. His first main work following this period was his Piano Concerto (2000), which mixed his earlier overall economy of materials with evocative manifestation. In every his music, Abrahamsen offers striven to help make the instrumentation obvious and sensitive (he’s an influential instructor of orchestration in the Royal Danish Conservatory). In 1990, Abrahamsen produced, with Søren Hansen amongst others, the Århus Sinfonietta, which includes been a significant outlet for songs in Denmark. Abrahamsen’s various other works include agreements for chamber ensemble of music by Satie, Nielsen, and Ravel.