Biography of Knudage Riisager (1897-1974)

06.03.1897
Born in Port Kunda, Estonia, where his father worked as an engineer.
1900
Return to Frederiksberg, a suburb of Copenhagen
1921
Degree in political sciences, autodidactic studies of violin and composition. Following his studies in Denmark he went for two years to Paris, studying there with Roussel and Paul le Flem. Acquaintances with the group Le Six, Ravel and Strawinsky.
1923
In governmental services until 1950
24.08.1927
Worldpremiere of the Divertimento op. 9 for string quartet and woodwind quintet at the Danish Broadcasting Corporation
04.01.1928
Premiere of the Music for woodwind quintet in Copenhagen
23.02.1929
Premiere of Sonata op. 5for flute, violin, clarinet and cello in Berlin
16.04.1936
Premiere of Serenade op. 26b for flute, violin and cello in Warsaw
1937
For 25 years chairman of Danish Composers Society
1939
Department Head in Ministry of Finance
Had to stay in underground the last years of war, due to his prominent role in resistance.
1955
Head of Royal Conservatory
1957
His book The Invisible Pattern is published to his 60th birthday, a collection of essays, a manifesto of his artistic philosophy.
26.12.1974
Dies in Copenhagen

Sheet music for flute:

Divertimento
CD-Aufnahmen bei jpc.deMP3-Download bei amazon.de
(flute, oboe, bassoon, horn)
Engstrøm & Sødring, E. & S. 466
Rating: mid-grade
  1. Allegro leggiero
  2. Andantino pastorale
  3. Vivace
Only parts, altogether bound in one cover, which means one has to loosen the binding to get the parts out. For the French Horn there is no key printed on the part and without a score it is not easy to make a guess.
Serenade
CD-Aufnahmen bei jpc.deMP3-Download bei amazon.de
(flute, violin, cello)
Edition Wilhelm Hansen, 24740
Rating: mid-grade
  1. Allegro concertante
  2. Romanza
  3. Vivace giocoso
Dedicated to Til Holger Gilber Jespersen (flute), Erling Bloch (violin) and Torben Anton Svendsen (cello).
This is the score. The parts are available from the same publisher.
Serenade
CD-Aufnahmen bei jpc.deMP3-Download bei amazon.de
(flute, violin, cello)
Edition Wilhelm Hansen, 24740a
Rating: mid-grade
  1. Allegro concertante
  2. Romanza
  3. Vivace giocoso
Parts, the score is separately available
Sonate
CD-Aufnahmen bei jpc.deMP3-Download bei amazon.de
(flute, clarinet, violin, cello)
Edition Wilhelm Hansen, 20262a
Rating: mid-grade
  1. Allegro
  2. Andante
  3. Rondo
Only parts, no score.

CDs with/from Knudage Riisager

The Royal Danish String Quartet, The Scandinavian Wind Quintet
Knudage Riisager (1997)
Marco Polo
    Variations op. 4 (kl, va, fg) (1923):
  1. Moderato (00:40:00)
  2. Allegretto (00:58:00)
  3. Andantino (00:51:00)
  4. Moderato (01:07:00)
  5. Andante (01:42:00)
  6. Vivace (01:22:00)
  7. Allegro molto (01:54:00)
  8. Sostenuto (01:54:00)
  9. Allegro vivace (02:36:00)
    10. Divertimento op. 9 (Streichquartett + Bläserquintett) (1925):
  10. Allegro sereno (06:26:00)
  11. Notturno (03:44:00)
  12. Allegro leggiero (02:19:00)
  13. Allegro sciolto (06:24:00)
    14. Sonata op. 15 (fl, vl, kl, cl) (1927):
  14. Allegro (04:13:00)
  15. Andante (03:50:00)
  16. Rondo (03:56:00)
  17. Music for Wind Quintet, op. 16 (1927) (10:34:00)
    18. Serenade op. 26b (fl, vl, cl) (1927):
  18. Allegro concertante (04:00:00)
  19. Romanza (03:16:00)
  20. Vivace e giocoso (00:00:02)
Tolle Musik, abwechslungsreich, spannungsgeladen und farbig. Bei uns zu unrecht nicht so sehr bekannt.
Selandia Ensemble
Wind Chamber Music (1989)
jpc
Kontrapunkt
  1. Claude Debussy: Petite Suite (En Bateau - Cortége - Menuet - Ballet) (12:10:00)
  2. Gabriel Pierné: Pastorale (02:58:00)
  3. Eugène Bozza: Trois piéces pour une musique de nuit (Andantino - Allegro vivo - Moderato) (05:50:00)
  4. Jorgen Bentzon: Racconto No. 3 (09:44:00)
  5. Claude Debussy: Syrinx (02:49:00)
  6. Finn Hoffding: Dialogues (General conversation - Serious conversation - Wrangling - Elevated conversation - Cheerful conversation) (08:49:00)
  7. Knudage Riisager: Divertimento (Allegro leggiero - Andantino pastorale - Vivace) (09:21:00)
  8. Jean Françaix: Quatuor (Allegro - Andante - Allegro molto - Allegro vivo) (10:57:00)
Last edit 01.05.2020