Koppel's two forenames, Danish-German Herman and Jewish David, symbolically represent two central threads in his songs: his connection to Danish nature and his Jewish roots.
Composition History
The Three Songs on Psalm 142, the Songs of Songs and Psalm 100, Op. 96, were composed in Australia around 1975-76 and are dedicated to Koppel's wife, Vibeke, who died shortly after.
Composition History
Koppel's study of the Old Testament, which he initially distanced himself from, revealed possibilities for setting words to music and helped him process the Holocaust's revelation.
Performer Biography
Pianist Christian Westergaard received international acclaim for his 2021 11-CD box set release, Peter Heise: The Song Edition, one of the largest Danish classical new releases to date.
Composer Biography
Herman D. Koppel, the composer, began composing songs in earnest after tenor Aksel Schiøtz, a frequent collaborator, asked him to write songs in 1949.
Compositional Technique
Koppel's 'Joy' from Op. 96 draws inspiration from Balinese gamelan music, suspending the usual hierarchical sense of key for a liberated, dance-like sound.
Composer Biography
Many of Koppel's songs were composed for his daughter, soprano Lone Koppel, whose dramatic talent influenced the expressive nature of his vocal works.
