Ejnar  Kanding
Photo: Anne Sandner

Ejnar Kanding

(1965-)

Ejnar Kanding is known for exploring the possibilities within a wide range of musical expressions, from the bodily expanding to the emotionally static or melancholic. His uniquely colorful timbre unites the electronic and acoustic sound in complex textures, bodily energy, and delicate simplicity. Kanding’s music is a sensuous voyage into the unknown areas of inner life. Like a hall of mirrors, his music is a journey into the ambiguous. The musical expression, form, and phrase are in focus, often with electronic sound as a counterpoint. He is the artistic leader in the ensemble Contemporánea – Live Electronics Denmark and in EarUnit – concert series.

Kanding got his degree in composition and musical theory at The Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen in 1993, followed by studies at IRCAM in Paris and with Professor Lev Koblyakov in Jerusalem in 1994 and 1995, and he has since his debut concert from the Royal Danish Academy of Music in 1996 specialized himself in composing music for computer and instruments (live electronics). This has led to extensive use of the software MaxMSP in the development of his works and as an instrument in live performances.

The way Kanding uses the digital mixing console and MaxMSP as an instrument is pioneering the new assignment as a musician which is known as live electronics or sound direction. His virtuosity in this field has led to numerous performances of his own works or others of both improvised and written music with various groups, for example ensembles as Cikada (NO), Ars Nova (SE), Jack Quartet (NYC), Transit ensemble (NYC), ACME (NYC), Ensemble Adapter (DE) and Ensemble Mosaik (DE).

His works have been released on several albums, in 2022 Nordic Broken featuring Trio Ismena (DK), Stillstehen featuring Ensemble Adapter (DE), and Garden of Gethsemane featuring ensemble Contemporánea (DK); and in 2021 Nine Waves featuring Nordic String Quartet (DK/SE) and Textures & Mosaics II featuring American Contemporary Music Ensemble (US). Earlier releases on CD: such as the numbered albums titled “…unsägliche Stelle” (1997) of his debut concert with the Danish ensemble Figura, “Profundización de Azul” (2001) – an entire album of Kanding’s music inspired by his many travels with ensemble Contemporánea to five South American countries in the late 90s, “Flug der Farben” (2012) with chamber and solo works composed for Contemporánea in the course of a 10 years period and the 2013 release of “Auxiliary Blue”, Dacapo, which marks a five-year-long collaboration with Frank Bretschneider (DE).

Kanding’s music has been selected for prominent festivals such as International Computer Music Conference (2001, 2004, 2010), International Society for Contemporary Music (2002, 2008), Festival Synthése, Nordic Music Days, Up North, and Interactive Arts Performances Series at New York University, etc. Besides the Danish Arts Foundation’s three-year stipend and numerous work grants, Kanding has received several commissions from a string of international ensembles such as Osiris Trio (NL), Harry Sparnaay Trio (NL), Crash ensemble (IR), Cikada ensemble (NO), ensemble Ars Nova (SE), ensemble Adapter (DE), JACK quartet (NYC), Transit ensemble (NYC), American Contemporary Music Ensemble (NYC), Quinteto del Fuego (CH), The Six Tones (SE), Black Page Orchestra (AT), ConCordis (CH), Camerata Deià (ES), Zoë Martlew (GB), Todd Reynolds (US) as well as the Danish ensembles Figura, Athelas, Alpha Trio, Copenhagen Art Ensemble, Messerkvartetten, Ensemble Midtvest, Nordic String Quartet, Messiaen Quartet Copenhagen, Trio Ismena, Rudersdal Kammersolister.

Selected works:

Texture 1 (2013)

Obscure Transparence (Mosaico 2) (2013)

Stilstehen 1-4 (2009-2011)

Fluctuant (2013)

Kontur des Fühlens (2004)

Gaukler (2001)

Vergeuder der Schmerzen (1995)

Available Works

All categories Solo 2-6 Instruments 7+ Instruments Orchestra Music Drama and Stage Music Educational Music

  1. KRAPLAK – Intensely Red

    2021 • Ejnar Kanding

    Solo

    10:51 minutes

    Violin & live-electronics

  2. Nordic Extraction

    2021 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    29 minutes

    Violin, viola, cello, piano & live-electronics (Max)

  3. Une claire eau

    2019 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    9 minutes

    Guitar & double bass

  4. Garden of Gethsemane

    2021 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    16 minutes

    Bass clarinet, cello & piano

  5. Harmonices Mundi

    2021 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    31 minutes

    String quartet & live-electronics (Max)

  6. Arild Duo

    2019 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    11 minutes

    Guitar, double bass & live-electronics

  7. Meditation

    2021 • Ejnar Kanding

    Solo

    1:50 minutes

    Bass clarinet and piano

  8. Impression

    2021 • Ejnar Kanding

    Solo

    1:45 minutes

    Clarinet and piano

  9. VANITAS

    2021 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    17:30 minutes

    Violin, cello, piano & live-electronics (Max)

  10. Papilio Machaon

    2012 • Ejnar Kanding

    Solo

    11 minutes

    Double bass, video (Jitter) & live-electronics (Max)

  11. Nordic Fragments

    2021 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    23:30 minutes

    Violin, cello, piano & live-electronics (Max)

  12. Still Waters – Hvilens Vande

    2014 • Ejnar Kanding

    Solo

    3:20 minutes

    Piano solo

  13. Suite Résonance

    2015 • Ejnar Kanding

    Solo

    13 minutes

    Guitar & live-electronics (Max)

  14. Textures & Mosaics, Vol. 2

    2018 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    34 minutes

    String quartet & live-electronics (Max)

  15. Simplichitas

    2018 • Ejnar Kanding

    Orchestra

    16 minutes

    2.2.2.2/2.2.0.0/perc/6.5.4.4.2

  16. Ardent Flame I & II

    2018 • Ejnar Kanding

    Educational Music

    Cello solo or duo

  17. Nordic Broken

    2020 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    17 minutes

    Clarinet in Bb, violin, cello, piano & live-electronics (Max)

  18. Danish Golden Age Pieces

    2019 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    21 minutes

    Cello, piano & live-electronics

  19. Emotion Waves

    2019 • Ejnar Kanding

    7+ Instruments

    11 minutes

    Wind quintet and piano quintet

  20. Miniature 2

    2018 • Ejnar Kanding

    Educational Music

    Accordeon solo

  21. Miniature 1

    2018 • Ejnar Kanding

    Educational Music

    Accordeon solo

  22. Transparent Mosaic

    2018 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    7 minutes

    String quintet

  23. Nine Waves

    2013 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    23 minutes

    String quartet and live-electronics (Max)

  24. Partita Mallorca

    2018 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    10 minutes

    Violin, viola, cello, piano & live-electronics (Max)

  25. Viste Sueños

    2003 • Ejnar Kanding

    Solo

    11:03 minutes

    Recorder (alto, voice & bass) & live-electronics

  26. Schichtstruktur

    2016 • Ejnar Kanding

    Solo

    4:33 minutes

    Cello & live-electronics (Max)

  27. Sunstone

    2016 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    8:31 minutes

    Cello, piano & live-electronics (Max)

  28. Canzone 3

    2015 • Ejnar Kanding

    Solo

    5:20 minutes

    String instrument & live-electronics (Max)

  29. Canzone 2

    2015 • Ejnar Kanding

    Solo

    5:20 minutes

    String instrument & live-electronics (Max)

  30. Canzone 1

    2015 • Ejnar Kanding

    Solo

    5:20 minutes

    String instrument & live-electronics (Max)

  31. Anagram 1

    2017 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    6 minutes

    Flute (with glissando headjoint), piano & live-electronics (Max)

  32. Mosaico 5

    2015 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    8 minutes

    Clarinet (Bb & bass), percussion, piano, violin, violoncello & live-electronics (Max)

  33. Mosaico 4

    2015 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    3 minutes

    Bass clarinet, percussion, piano, violin, violoncello & live-electronics (Max)

  34. Canzone 1-3

    2015 • Ejnar Kanding

    Solo

    16 minutes

    String instrument & live-electronics

  35. Sensitive Shades

    2016 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    10 minutes

    String quartet and live-electronics

  36. Zaffre 1

    2015 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    16 minutes

    Violin, accordion, visuals & live-electronics

  37. Hammershøi Pieces

    2015 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    23 minutes

    for cello, piano, and live-electronics

  38. Textures & Mosaics, Vol. 1

    2015 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    34 minutes

    Clarinet, percussion, piano, violin, violoncello & live-electronics

  39. Texture 4

    2015 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    5 minutes

    Bass clarinet, percussion, violin & live-electronics (Max)

  40. Obscure Transparence

    2013 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    11 minutes

    String quartet and live electronics (Max 6)

  41. Mosaico 1

    2013 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    6:19 minutes

    Cello, piano & live-electronics (Max)

  42. Texture 1

    2013 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    11 minutes

    Clarinet (Bb & bass), percussion, piano, violin, cello & live-electronics (Max)

  43. Stillstehen

    2017 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    53 minutes

    Work cycle for bass clarinet, percussion, harp, cello & live-electronics (MaxMSP)

  44. Fluctuant

    2013 • Ejnar Kanding

    Solo

    10:16 minutes

    Cello solo and live electronics (Max)

  45. Vergeuder der Schmerzen

    1995 • Ejnar Kanding

    Orchestra

    11 minutes

    1.1.4.2/0.2.6.1/4 perc/8.8.8.8.8

  46. Three Colors – String Quartet No. 2

    2007 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    11 minutes

    String quartet and live electronics (MaxMSP)

  47. tonlos Los tonlos

    2007 • Ejnar Kanding

    Solo

    17 minutes

    Tam-tam and live electronics (MaxMSP)

  48. Sich hingab – String Quartet No. 3

    2010 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    8 minutes

    String quartet and live electronics (MaxMSP)

  49. Gaukler

    2001 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    11 minutes

    Bass cl, perc, vn, db, live electronics (MaxMSP)

  50. Kontur des Fühlens – String Quartet No. 1

    2004 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    10 minutes

    String quartet and live electronics (MaxMSP)

  51. Ciudad de las sombras

    2000 • Ejnar Kanding

    Solo

    13 minutes

    Bass cl + live electronics (MaxMSP)

  52. Berge des Urleids

    1999 • Ejnar Kanding

    Solo

    13 minutes

    Violin & live electronics (MaxMSP)

  53. Arild

    2003 • Ejnar Kanding

    Solo

    8 minutes

    Double bass & live electronics (Max)

  54. Entbergen II

    2001 • Ejnar Kanding

    2-6 Instruments

    11 minutes

    Bass cl, perc, vn, db, live electronics (MaxMSP)

  55. Operanic

    1989 • Ejnar Kanding

    Music Drama and Stage Music

    31 minutes

    Soprano, Tenor, Baryton solo + 1.0.1.1/0.1.1.0/perc/cel/tape/1.0.0.1.0

  56. Winter Darkness

    1992 • Ejnar Kanding

    Solo

    12:30 minutes

    Accordion solo




Advanced works search

News

  1. Work Grants from the Danish Arts Foundation 2023

    nominations / awards

    Work Grants from the Danish Arts Foundation 2023

  2. Ejnar Kanding World Premiere in New York

    general

    Ejnar Kanding World Premiere in New York

  3. Ejnar Kanding Album Release

    general

    Ejnar Kanding Album Release

  1. Ejnar Kanding: Garden of Gethsemane

    releases

    Ejnar Kanding: Garden of Gethsemane

  2. Edition·S at KLANG Festival

    general

    Edition·S at KLANG Festival

  3. Ejnar Kanding World Premiere

    interviews

    Ejnar Kanding World Premiere

  4. Work Grants from the Danish Arts Foundation

    general

    Work Grants from the Danish Arts Foundation

  5. Ejnar Kanding World Premiere

    general

    Ejnar Kanding World Premiere

  6. Ejnar Kanding Single Release

    releases

    Ejnar Kanding Single Release

  7. Ejnar Kanding Single Release

    releases

    Ejnar Kanding Single Release

  8. Selected summer performances

    general

    Selected summer performances

  9. Album release · Ejnar Kanding

    releases

    Album release · Ejnar Kanding

  10. Digital Concert Series

    general

    Digital Concert Series

  11. World Premiere · Ejnar Kanding · Der Zauberlehrling

    general

    World Premiere · Ejnar Kanding · Der Zauberlehrling

  12. Significant grants for Edition·S composers 2020

    general

    Significant grants for Edition·S composers 2020

  13. Uropførelse: Kanding

    general

    Uropførelse: Kanding "Guldalder Stykker"

  14. Ejnar Kanding in New York

    general

    Ejnar Kanding in New York

  15. Save 25% on all solo pieces

    general

    Save 25% on all solo pieces

  16. Upcoming Ejnar Kanding performances

    general

    Upcoming Ejnar Kanding performances

  17. Accordion extravaganza at RDAM

    general

    Accordion extravaganza at RDAM

  18. Premiere - Piano Pieces by Kanding

    general

    Premiere - Piano Pieces by Kanding

  19. Significant work grants for Edition·S composers

    general

    Significant work grants for Edition·S composers

  20. Ejnar Kanding headlines new Concordia Festival in Sofia

    general

    Ejnar Kanding headlines new Concordia Festival in Sofia

  21. Danish Arts Foundation grants for Edition·S composers

    general

    Danish Arts Foundation grants for Edition·S composers

  22. Ejnar Kanding and Nordic Noir in New York City

    general

    Ejnar Kanding and Nordic Noir in New York City

  23. Edition·S composers portray Copenhagen Phil musicians

    general

    Edition·S composers portray Copenhagen Phil musicians

  24. Ejnar Kanding · from Copenhagen to New York

    general

    Ejnar Kanding · from Copenhagen to New York

  25. Jack Quartet in Denmark

    general

    Jack Quartet in Denmark

  26. Kanding premiere in Copenhagen

    general

    Kanding premiere in Copenhagen

  27. Ejnar Kanding in New York

    general

    Ejnar Kanding in New York

  28. Nordlichter 2013 - Nordic Music and Arts in Berlin

    general

    Nordlichter 2013 - Nordic Music and Arts in Berlin

  29. Ejnar Kanding On Tour

    general

    Ejnar Kanding On Tour

  30. Ejnar Kanding Performance at VEGA

    general

    Ejnar Kanding Performance at VEGA

  31. Kanding & Bretschneider Concert & Release Party at VEGA

    general

    Kanding & Bretschneider Concert & Release Party at VEGA

  32. New Composer at Edition·S

    general

    New Composer at Edition·S

  33. Suså Festival – two decades of art music

    general

    Suså Festival – two decades of art music

  34. One-woman-show at Copenhagen Music Theatre

    general

    One-woman-show at Copenhagen Music Theatre

  35. Abyss music and Gothic accordion

    general

    Abyss music and Gothic accordion

Show More News

Calendar

  1. October 2021
  2. 31

    October

    Ejnar Kanding: Suite Résonance Duo

    time18:00

    location Hôtel de Ville de Sierre, Switzerland

    performed by Duo Concordis

  1. November 2021
  2. 28

    November

    Ejnar Kanding: Meditation

    location Frikirken Salem, Frederiksværk, Denmark

    performed by -

  3. 28

    November

    Ejnar Kanding: Impression

    location Frikirken Salem, Frederiksværk, Denmark

    performed by -