John Frandsen (composer)

John Frandsen is a Danish composer, organist and choral conductor, whose work includes operas, chamber music, and religious music. His 1999 Now Flashes the White Light of the Spirit commissioned to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church was performed simultaneously in over 100 Danish churches on the day of the anniversary.

Biography

Frandsen was born in Aalborg and studied at Aarhus University and the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus with Hans Abrahamsen and Karl Aage Rasmussen. From 1993 to 1995 he was chairman of the music committee of the Danish National Arts Foundation, and since 1999 he has been chairman of the Danish Composers' Association.
His opera trilogy, Tugt og Utugt I Mellemtiden, based on the novel of the same name by Svend Aage Madsen premiered in 1998 at the Aarhus Summer Opera. His other operas include Amalie, Dronning Boudicca and I-K-O-N (premiered in 2002 at the Royal Danish Theatre.

John Frandsen's commissions for religious music include:

Stabat Mater for tenor and organ, commissioned by the Sorø Organ Festival
Det evige Halleluja cantata for soprano, contralto, mixed choir, recitation and organ, commissioned by the Amager Music Festival
Talsmand som på jorderige for mixed choir a cappella, commissioned by the Dansk Kirkesang
Nu blitzer Åndens hvide lys ten variations for organ solo with a concluding choral movement, commissioned by the Danish National Evangelical Lutheran Church
Messe til det nye Årtusinde for five soloists, chamber choir, male choir, large choir, brass, chamber orchestra and organ, first performed in Aarhus on 31 December 1999.