This paper examines the vocal works of Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen in an effort to establish that, despite their technical difficulty and apparent complexity, these pieces are actually rooted in the Danish New Simplicity (Ny Enkelhed) aesthetic. It also provides biographical, historical, and cultural context for those who are interested in performing the composer’s vocal works. It draws on the little available English-language literature on the composer as well as a number of Danish-language sources to provide historical context on the emergence of the New Simplicity style in Denmark in the 1960s and its manifestation in the works of contemporaneous composers. A brief biography and general overview of Gudmundsen-Holmgreen’s oeuvre is provided. Twelve of the composer’s vocal works are analyzed in varying degrees of detail over the course of the remaining chapters, which focus on his musical materials, harmonic language, form, and artistic and philosophical influences. Other works, both vocal and instrumental, are referenced when appropriate.

Last modified

• 05/19/2020

Creator

• A.J. Keller

DOI

• https://doi.org/10.21985/n2-dek6-cf42

Subject

• Music

Keyword

• music
• new simplicity
• denmark
• gudmundsen
• choral
• danish
• pelle
• holmgreen

Date created

• 2020-05-19

Resource type

• Dissertation

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted