Royal Composer Frederik Magle Is Not Only Magleficent But Also Reachable

by Cecile Cinco

He swept my feet away towards his domain. When I reached the golden door and entered, I did not want to leave. I wanted to stay. It felt like home. I felt my feathers matching with his colors.

Frederik Magle is a living talent since age 5 in Copenhagen, Denmark. He is a composer, a pianist and organist. Not an ordinary one, if I may say. He composes and plays for HRH Prince Henrik!

At age 8, he started to write hymns and had managed to collect 30 in the span of 6 years. It was also at age 8 that his first performance was recognized. His childhood years added 20 compositions until age 15. That’s in addition to the 30 hymns.

Various instruments take part like violin, cello, flute, clarinet, percussion, bass, piano, organ, bassclarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, timpani, oboe, harp, sax, tuba, cornet, baryton, ripieno, flygelhorn, marimba, glockenspiel, and euphonium. I hope I did not miss any but with all that, that’s a whole lot of talent and skill!
I asked him yesterday, “How do you do it?” Composing, I meant.

How I do it? Well, I’ve been composing since I was a little child and also gotten an education in various instrument techniques, even though I cannot play every instrument in the orchestra myself, I know how they are played. I have to know that in order to compose for them.

Usually I don’t write my own lyrcis. With exception of the work “phoenix” other authors write the lyrics and, for example the lyrics for the “souffle le vent” are from a collection of poems by the Danish Prince Henrik. Then reworked into my music.

Beyond age 15, he managed to compose more than 30 and several are awaiting to be finished.

Frederik Magle’s music has been performed by The London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zürcher Kammerorchester, The Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Riga Philharmonic Orchestra, South-Jutland Symphony Orchestra, The Danish Radio Sinfonietta, Nikolaj Znaider and many other outstanding ensembles and soloists.

The world premiere performance of the first movement of Frederik Magle’s symphonic poem »Cantabile« (with text by H.R.H. Prince Henrik) took place at a televised gala concert in 2004, with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, in celebration of H.R.H. the Prince Consort’s 70th birthday.

Frederik Magle also works with film scores and crossover music, blending contemporary classical music with other genre such as jazz, rock, and electronica. He also has extensive experience as producer on recording sessions.

There’s just too much enveloped in his being. Frederik Magle is truly magleficent! It is my great pleasure to know him. You can too, if you want to. You can see him at the Magle International Music Forums and it’s also where you can download his compositions to your enjoyment.

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