Gregers Brinch
Gregers Brinch is a Danish composer.
Biography
Gregers Brinch was born in Esbjerg, Denmark.He was drawn to become a composer upon watching the film Amadeus by Miloš Forman and Peter Shaffer in 1984, at the age of 20.
After an initial period of aided self-study in England with the singer and composer Cecil Cope, he studied piano with Louis Demetrius Alvanis in London before moving to Hamburg, Germany to study composition with Elmar Lampson and piano with Alan Newcome and later Ulrike Bauer.
Brinch’s use of a number of styles with an authentic quality stems from his wide musical background.
He feels equally at home with the blues, as with the music of Beethoven or Gregorian Chants.
His consistent use and exploration of tonality is energised by his finding new nuances in harmony and melody which is accessible to the listener without being easy listening.
Nature and drama also feature as inspirations for Brinch’s work, but it is his study of intervals that has served to lend him his own unique voice as a composer.
Central themes permeating a number of his works include Human Rights and the Holocaust.
His work Lieder aus Leid was 18 years in preparation before receiving its premiere in Hannover in May 2012 by Jardena Flueckiger, Jonathan dela Paz Zaens and Stéphan Aubé.
Brinch's works have been performed frequently in the USA and the UK, as well as in Denmark, Germany and France.
Works
For Piano solo
- 1985 - 86 : 7 pieces in various styles
- 1987 - 88 : Sonata in 3 movements
- 1989 : Kalevala suite - Several miniatures to finish themes, commissioned work
- 1990 : Elegy - Short piece intended for eurythmy
- 1994 : The Maiden Without Hands Suite - Music for fairytale, commissioned work
- 1995 : The Little Seed music for a short story, commissioned work
- 1996 : 10 pieces to an evening of poetry and prose of Joseph Brodsky, commissioned work
- 1998 - 2004 : Olaf's Dream 1-3 for solo piano
- 2001 : Sonata in 4 movements
- 2004 : Dialogue for one for solo piano
- 2004 : Two Minds 1-4 for solo piano
- 2011 : Peace Prelude for Sigune
- 2011 : Dies Irae Piece for the Right hand
- 2011 : Veni, veni Emmanuel & Magnus Hymne for 3-hand piano
For voices a capella
- 1989 : Die Frucht, Rilke
- 1989: Präludium
- 1989 : The Rose for mezzosopranoes
- 1990 : Ja, Ich sage es Dir from the gospel of St. John. For Tenor, alto and Soprano, commissioned work
- 1995 : St. Michael, heavenly hero
- 1995 : A Winter’s scene
- 1996 : In the Fullness of time
- 1996 : Ye Spotted Snakes
- 1996 : To St. John
- 1996 : God Høst and Tro, commissioned work
- 1996 : Michael, who holds the sword
- 1996 : Various pieces for the dramatic adaptation of Dickens’ Hard Times, commissioned work - Also pieces for The Elephans Child and Rikkitikkitavi
- 1996 : Songs for the Sheepshearers Mystery Play, commissioned work
- 1997 : Riverrun
- 1997 : This Bread I Break
- 1997 : Songs to the Cat and the Moon and the Dreaming of the Bones by Yeats
- 1998 : Ave Maria
- 1998 : Introduction
- 2001 : The Lords’ Prayer in English, Danish, German and Latin
- 2004 : Salme 130 in Danish
- 2001 - 2005 : Requiem Brevis in 7 movements
- 2007 : Adoramus Te
- 2008 : Tro text by H. Rasmussen
- 2009 : Saluni vocal exercise for 3-part male choir
- 2009 : Hoffnung text by G. Brinch
- 2009 : Mondnacht text by Eichendorff
- 2011 : Liturgischer Gesang Schicksal text K.O. Eschrich
For Strings
- 1988 : Variations for string Quartet
- 1988 : Movement for string quartet
- 1989 : Piece for string trio
- 1989 : 2 miniatures and 1 Episode for string trio
- 1999 - 2001 : Sonata for cello solo in 4 movements
- 2000 - 2003 : 12 pieces for 2 violins
- 2001 : String Quartet no.1 in 4 movements - On the CD Harmonious Dissonance by Navona Records
- 2009 : String Quartet no.2 in 4 movements - Composed for and recorded by the Bergersen quartet
Instrumental Chamber pieces incl. Piano
- 1990 - 2006 : Sonata no.1 for cello and piano, commissioned work
- 1996 - 2001 : Sonata no.1 for violin and piano
- 2002 : Sonata no.2 for violin and piano dedicated to Jonathan Truscott
- 2002 : Passacaglia for Violin and Piano
- 2004 : Episode for Violin and Piano
- 2004 : Elegy for Violin and Piano
- 2004 : Pianosextet in 3 movements
- 2007 : Sonata for Cello and Piano in Four Movements - Dedicated to Rohan de Saram and William Hancox
- 2007 : 7 Pieces for Cello and Piano - Adapted from the Prodigal Son set
- 2010 : Celebration Trio for Clarinet, Violin and Piano, in 3 movements composed in celebration of the 150th birthday of Rudolf Steiner
- 2011 : Von Himmel Hoch for Violin and 3-hand piano, commissioned work
- 2011 : Fantasia-pastorale for Violin and Right-hand piano, commissioned work
- 2012 : Triptych for Contemplation three pieces for Flute and Piano: Tantamount, Mount Attan & Numantatot dedicated to Julie Groves
Lieder with accompaniment
- 1985 : I hear your Song for voice and piano
- 1992 : The Lamb for high voice and Organ/piano/harp
- 1998 : Trilogy for French Horn, piano, violin, and high voice, commissioned work
- 1998 : Love’s Ground for tenor, alto and piano, commissioned work
- 2003 : The Spouse to the younglings for Voice and Piano
- 2003 : A clear Midnight for voice and piano, commissioned work
- 2003 : A Coat by W.B.Yates for voice and piano
- 2005 : Chemin De Fer For Soprano, Baritone and Piano
- 2005 : Frog Autumn song for Soprano and Piano
- 2005 : You Tides with ceaseless swell for Soprano, baritone and Piano
- 1994-2012 : Lieder aus Leid 13 songs for Soprano, Baritone and piano composed to German texts written by victims of the 2nd world war Holocaust collected by Michael Moll
- 2006 : Songs from the Prodigal Son 7 songs for voice and piano
- 2006 : Apple rhyme for Sigune song for voice and piano
- 2006 : Cresswell Oaks song for voice and piano
- 2006 : Esther's Elderflower Juice Song for Soprano and Piano - Commissioned by Peter Hamburger for the Memorial Concert of Esther Salaman performed at the Royal Academy of Music
- 2010 : 12 songs to the Story of Parzival for Baritone and Flute - Text Lindsay Clarke
For Solo Guitar
- 1985 : Isn't it amazing
- 2009 : exercise for Bar – chord
- 2009 : Balkan Duo
Chamber pieces, Concertos and Oratorio
- 1988 : Various Pieces for Clar. Flu. viol. Cell. and percussion.
- 1989 : Piece for flute and cello
- 1990 : Various Pieces for flu.2 violins and percussions, commissioned work
- 1990 : Various Pieces for flute, 2 violins and percussions, commissioned work
- 1990 - 1991 : Concerto in 1 movement for violin and chamber-ensemble
- 1995 : Quartet for Flute and strings in 3 movements, commissioned work
- 1996 - 1997 : 3 pieces for 2 violins, flute, 2 recorders, cello, and accordion
- 1997 - 1998 : The Story of Elijah Oratorio in 4 movements for Tenor, choir and Orchestra, commissioned work
- 1998 - 1999 : Ubi Caritas Piece for choir and orchestra
- 1997 - 2003 : Concerto for Viola and Chamber orchestra in 3 Movements, dedicated to Rivka Golani
- 1997 - 2004 : Concerto for Orchestra in 3 Movements - Adaptet from Viola Concerto
- 1998 - 2000 : Suite for small orchestra in 5 Movements
- 2000 : 10 songs for voice and violin, commissioned work
- 2001 : 2 Songs for tenor and violin, commissioned work
- 2001 : Die Herausforderung for tenor, choir, violin and piano
- 2002 : 2 songs for tenor and violin, commissioned work
- 1998 - 2002 : Sne 11 pieces for Solo-Soprano, Choir SATB and string Quartet
- 2002 : The Challenge for Tenor, Choir, violin and piano
- 2003 : Pater Noster for Baritone and Stringquartet
- 2003 : Mørke 4 songs for Soprano, Baritone, Trumpet, Harp and Double Bass - Text H. Rasmussen
- 2003 : Three Tales for Oboe and Harp dedicated to Jinny Shaw and Lucy Wakeford of the Okeanos Ensemble
- 2007 - 2008 : The Word for Choir and Chamberensemble. 23 minutes words by St. John, G. Brinch, Charles Darwin and Martin Luther King
- 2009 : Windquintet in 4 movements
- 2009 - 2010 : Parzival Suite 5 Pieces for Solo Flute dedicated to Julie Groves
- 2012 : Pyramids orchestral piece for children based on the Balkan duo
Discography
- The CD ‘Blue Harmony’ features the piano-works recorded by internationally acclaimed pianist Diana Baker, issued on Klyde records – Brinch’s private label
- The CD ‘Harmonious Dissonance’ includes the String Quartet No.1 was released on Parma Records in USA in June 2010.
- The cd “Parzival” is a collaboration with award-winning Flautist Julie Groves and Whitbread-Prize winning author Lindsay Clarke, which resulted in a number of works for Baritone and Flute and Flute solo on the theme of Parzival. Not commercially released.
- Of three volumes of Chamber works on the Claudio Records Label Gregers Brinch volume one with Rohan de Saram and William Hancox and the Bergersen Quartet was released in 2012, featuring Sonatas no.1 & 2 for Cello and Piano and the String Quartet no.2.
- As a singer Brinch has recorded songs by the composer Dorothee Fischer together with the pianist William Hancox. Lieder und Klavierwerke von Dorothee Fischer, issued on Klyde records – Brinch’s private label