CV HANNE TOFTE JESPERSEN - COMPOSER
Initiator and artistic leader of Music for the Mysteries formed
2007.
My works for this group include "The Testimony of Melangell"
- in which I have set the Celtic / Early Christian Honey Angel's
tale from Wales around 500 AD to music.
(64 min, 2011) lyrics by Mike Harris 1989; scored for contrallto and SATB,
violin, double bass, piano, percussion, recital) released on CD Oct 2012 at
Meridian Records, UK; first performed as total art in installation by visual
artist Alison Michell during the Schubertiaden 2011 in collaboration with
Museum of Contemporary Art, composer's fee from the Danish Arts
Foundation.
I often integrate narratives in my compositions and have set a
series
of handed down scripts to contemporary music. Two of these
works were recorded and released on Music for the Mysteries'
first CD The Seven Natures from 2009. My music is inspired by
classical tradition, Nordic and British choral music & folk tunes,
and also by the years I spent in Ghana working with West
African music and dance. Dedicated as I am to making the
invisble world audible, I find it equally inspiring to write for
children as well as for adults.
In 2014 my new innovative project If the land could speak is commissioned by Roskilde
District
to be realised in twenty kindergardens from March-Nov..
Based on walks with 4-5 yr old children in their local areas, I am to compose interactive wórks including a
specific song for each institution, scored for childrens voices and various acoustic trio constallations. Roskilde
District, Danish Arts Foundation and Danish Musicians Union are the main sponsors.
Other recent commissioned works:
"Farvespillet / The Play of Colours" first performed April 2013 in DR Concert House.
An interactive music tale for 5-8 yr old children and classical instruments (40 min, scored for
violin, clarinet, bassoon, percussion, childrens audience' voices and movements, stioryteller) commissioned by
DR-Musikariet and Danish Composers Association, with composer's fee from the Danish Arts Foundation. First
performed by Anna Klett, Vera Panitsch, Anrijs Ivanofskis, David Hildebrandt and HTJ.
On KODA Play Danish 2013 Sven-Ingvart Mikkelsen, organ, and Jens Rømer, bombarde
first performed "The Return of Dame Heurodis from the Otherworld" in Frederiksborg Castle
Church;
an 8 min commissioned piece based on a Breton magical medieval ballad, w/ composer's fee from Hillerød District.
“Suite for poems by George Herbert” (5 movements for SAT soloists, mixed choir, violin, double bass,
organ, 2010, 20 min). commissioned for organ inauguration.
I wrote the story and part of the music for Insektudsigten/ Insects' weather forecast - an
interactive childrens concert with performances 2004-13, CD 2006,
in trio with Anders Gerup (sax, cl); Anders Hvidberg-Hansen (perc)
1993-2000 I was co-leader & consultant of the Danida sponsored cultural project Agoro in
Ghana;
leader of Agoro Band (Ghana/DK) 1995-03 (cd 2001).
Have been in charge of tour projects with collaboration partners in the Nordic Countries, UK and
Ghana.
Educations: Cand.mag in music (MA 1984) and film (BA 1992) from Institute of Musicology and
Institute of Film/TV, University of Copenhagen.
Organist (PO 2004) from Church Music School of Zealand.
Organist and choir conductor at Ny Vor Frue Kirke since 2001.
I have received artists working grants from the Danish Arts Foundation and from Djbfa,
and mobility grants from Nordic Culture Point.
http://www.musicforthemysteries.org/hannetoftejespersen_uk.php