Biography

Erik Højsgaard was born in 1954 in Aarhus.
He graduated from high school in 1973.

He studied composition with Per Nørgård at the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus 1973-78. Diploma in 1978.

In addition he studied ear training and solfege at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen 1982-84. Diploma in 1984.

1977-82 he made his living as music copyist.

Since 1982 teacher at The Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, 1988-2001 as assistant professor, 2002-2022 as professor, and since 2022 as professor emeritus.

2003-2004 he taught composition at the Royal Academy of Music in Aalborg.

Manager in Aarhus Unge Tonekunstnere 1974-1977.
Member of the board of Young Nordic Music 1974-1981.

Member of Danish Composers' Society since 1975.
Member of the board of The Society for the Publication of Danish Music (Edition·S) 1982-1990.

1993-2008 member of the board of The Kongegaard Foundation.

Composer in residence, Aalborg Symphony Orchestra, 2003-2004.

Author of textbook on rhythm

Honorary prizes

Three-year scholarship from the Danish State Art Foundation 1979
Astrid og Axel Agerbys Mindelegat 1979
Herman Sandbys Legat 1987
Danish Composers Society's Grant 1992
Carl Nielsen and Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen's Foundation 1993
Poul og Sylvia Schierbecks Legat 1995
Hakon Børresen Fondens pris 2014
‍
Visiting fellowships at San Cataldo 1986, 1999 and 2019

His works have been performed in several festivals & broadcasts

ISCM World Music Days · Salzburg Festival · Nordic Music Days · NUMUS · Festival Internazionale di Musica, Roma · ICMC Computer Festival · Scandinavian Music Today, Japan · Cantiere Internazionale d'Arte, Montepulciano · Young Nordic Music · Danish Composers' Biennial, Copenhagen · Copenhagen Summer Festival · Sorø International Music Festival · Fylkingen, Stockholm · MusikSommerBerlin · Århus Festival a.o.

Performances and broadcasts in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, England, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Hungary, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Israel, South Korea, USA and Australia. Moreover performances in Japan, Poland, Russia, Egypt, Cuba, Brasil, and Mexico, and broadcasts in Ireland, Spain, Romania, Czech Republic, and Canada.

Chronological list of works

2024
Please accept a Sunset
‍
2023
Feuilles mortes
September
‍
2022
Joueurs de flûte (arr.)
Le lunghe ombre della sera
Nocturnes
Yndigt dufter Danmark (arr.)
Se dig ud en sommerdag (arr.)
Sommersang (arr.)
Essays V · Venezia
‍
2021
Essay III · Time
‍
2020
Images from the past
Essay I · Water
Première rapsodie (arr.)
Danse macabre (arr.)

2019
Echi di Agosto
Fünf Stücke

2018
Essay II · Dust
Music to Five Poems by J.P. Jacobsen (arr.)
Chamber Music
Fronttheater
‍
2017
Vier Stücke

2016
Essay IV · Mirror
Equali (complete version)
Image of Light, Adieu -

2015
Two Pieces
Solen er saa rød, Mor (arr. for children's choir and strings)
Pan og Syrinx (arr.)
Prelude to Act 2 from Maskarade (arr.)

2014

2013
La Scala di seta: Sinfonia (arr.)
Mirror
Choral
Solen er saa rød, Mor (arr. for ensemble)
Tzigane (arr.)

2012
Four Songs on Poems by Søren Ulrik Thomsen
Canzone (arr.)
Twilight
Feuillet d'album

2011

2010
Shepherd girl's Dance (arr.)
‍
2009
Aladdin-overture (arr.)
Saa lykkelige, saa glade
On the steppes of Central Asia (arr.)

2008
Frühlingsstimmen (arr.)
Picture at an exhibition
Nine movements from the incidental music for "Aladdin" (arr.)

2007
Cinque Liriche (arr.)
Songs on Poems by Ole Sarvig

2006

2005

2004
Images oubliées I-III

2003
Symphony No. 2

2002

2001

2000
Sangens gudinde
Three Small Pieces
Symphony No. 1

1999

1998
Fan II

1997
Paysage
Violin Sonata
Four Small Pieces
Solen er saa rød, Mor (arr. for choir)

1996
Equali (1st and 3rd movement)

1995
Fragment

1994
Nocturne
Paysage triste

1993
Havet og sand og lavinen og stilhed. Og gentagelsen
Épreuve
Fan

1992
Corellage
Don Juan kommt aus dem Krieg

1991
Paysage blême
In Flandern Fields (arr.)
Waldes Nacht (arr.)

1990
Four Sketches
Two Mobiles

1989

1988

1987

1986
La città continue*
Two songs for mixed choir
Carillon

1985
To Songs on Texts by Storm og Calvino
Concerto for piano and orchstra

1984
Canon per augmentationem in contrario motu (arr.)
Fantasy Pieces

1983
Intermezzi
Aquarelles

1982
Scherzo e notturno

1981
Summer Songs
C'est la mer mêlée au soleil
Intrada
The Rose

1980
The lost forest
Sonata for cello solo

1979
Fantasia*
Fragments
Joyous (from: Two Songs for sopran solo)

1978
The Sunflower

1977
Täglich kommt die gelbe Sonne
Vise (from: Two Songs for sopran solo)
Vers la flamme (arr.)
Reflection

1976
Tuan's Songs
Six songs of autumn
Poggiolo*
Cendrée

1975
Concerto for cello and orchestra

1974
Untitled
Landet som icke är
Trio for flute, guitar and percussion*
Sun Prisms

1973

1972
Sketch
Dialogues

* The score has been withdrawn and may not be performed