Hoffding, (Niels) Finn

Hoffding, (Niels) Finn, Danish composer and pedagogue; b. Copenhagen, March 10, 1899; d. Fred-eriksberg, March 29, 1997. He studied violin with K. Sandby (1911–21), composition and harmony with Jeppesen (1918–21), organ with R. Rung-Keller (1919–21), and music history with Laub (1920–23) in Copenhagen; he also studied with Marx in Vienna (1921–22). He taught at the Royal Danish Cons. of Music in Copenhagen (1931–69), where he was its director (1954–69). His large output followed along post-Nielsen lines.

Works

dramatic: Opera: Kejserens nye Klaeder (The Emperor’s New Clothes; 1926; Copenhagen, Dec. 29, 1928); Kilderejsen (The Healing Spring; 1931; Copenhagen, Jan. 13, 1942); Pasteur, school opera (1935; Copenhagen, March 9, 1938). ORCH.: 4 syms.: No. 1, Sinfonia impetuosa (1923; Copenhagen, Aug. 22, 1925), No. 2, II Canto de Liberato, for Soprano, Chorus, and Orch. (1924), No. 3 for 2 Pianos and Orch. (1928), and No. 4, Sinfonia concertante, for Chamber Orch. (1934); Overture for Small Orch. (1930); Concerto for Oboe and Strings (1933); Fanfare (1939); 4 symphonic fantasies: No. 1, Evolution (1939; Copenhagen, Sept. 4, 1940), No. 2, Det er ganske vist (It Is Perfectly True; 1940; Copenhagen, March 6, 1944; as a pantomime, Copenhagen, July 1, 1948), No. 3, Vâr-Hô’st (Spring-Autumn) for Baritone and Orch. (1944; Danish Radio, Jan. 24, 1946), and No. 4, The Arsenal at Springfield, for 3 Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1953; Danish Radio, Sept. 22, 1955); Fire Minespil, suite (1944); Majfest (1945); Fantasia concertante (Danish Radio, Copenhagen, April 1, 1965). CHAMBER: 2 string quartets (1920, 1925); 2 wind quintets (1940, 1954); Oboe Sonata (1943); piano pieces. OTHER: Various choral works, songs, and pieces for school performance.

Bibliography

S. Bruhns and D. Fog, F. H.s Kompositionen (Copenhagen, 1969).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire