C.V.
John Høybye (1939) is a composer, conductor and arranger.
He has made an important contribution to the renewal of Nordic choral music, not least because he combines elements from the “classical” choral sound and texture with elements from gospel- and jazzmusic.
He enjoys great acclaim at home and abroad, not just for his music but also for his work as a conductor and arranger. In 1993 the Danish Choral Society honored him as Choral Composer of the Year. Six years later he was honored by the Danish Composer’s Society who gave him the “1999-prize”.
John Høybye has directed workshops and courses with presentation of his own music in Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Estonia, Russia, England and Germany.
Since 2014, he has collaborated with the renowned German publisher CARUS.
Music
(Selected:)
AllelujAlelujA
A pop-style motet with a brisk and rhythmically demanding Alleluia theme.
SATB & piano
Carus-Verlag
Celebrate All Heaven And Earth
Three Christmas song for SSA & Piano.
Norsk Musikforlag.
Sound samples here
Den Villeste
9 songs by the most famous Danish composer, Carl Nielsen, arranged for SATB a capella.
Edition Wilh. Hansen.
Sound samples here
Duke Ellington Sacred Concert
Arranged by Peder Pedersen and John Høybye for Soprano-solo, Choir (SATB) and big-band.
Gehrmans Musikförlag.
Gabriel and Mary
Christmas oratorium.
SATB, flute, church-organ, piano & bass.
Edition Wilh. Hansen.
HOPE – Easter music
SATB, piano, sax, bass & percussion.
Text: Edward Broadbridge
Carus-Verlag
Magnificat
SSAATTBB & Soprano-solo
Norsk Musikforlag.
Sound sample here
Nunc Dimittis
SSAATTBB & tenor-solo
Norsk Musikforlag.
Sound sample here
PSALM 151
Solo-violin and Choir (SSAATTBB).
A commission from the violin-virtouso Ida Bieler.
Text: Edward Broadbridge
The composer stages, so to speak, a theatrical play, assigning clear roles to the soloviolin and the choir. The violin, representing the voice of God, enters into a dialogue with the choir, which represents the voice of man. They speak to one another, they comment on each other, wrestle with each other, spur each other and thus develop musical dynamics.
Roselil og hendes moder
A commission from the virtuoso singing group Calmus.
A rhythmically demanding arrangement of the cheerful Danish folk song.
SATB a cappella.
Listen to the Calmus’ recording here.
Carus-Verlag
Saul and David
Songs for equal voices and rhythm section.
Text by Anna Haxworth
Edition Wilh. Hansen.
Spring Morning
Obo, String Quartet and choir SATB
Text by A.A. Milne
Edition Wilh. Hansen.
The Arrow And The Song
A lyrical suite with a touch of jazz and gospel for choir SATB, piano, bass and drums.
Norsk Musikforlag.
The Little Mermaid
Seven pieces for choir, SATB a cappella.
The famous story of the girl with the beautiful voice and a consuming passion for the Prince.
H.C.Anderson/Edward Broadbridge
Edition Wilh. Hansen.
The Magic Paint Brush
Choir SATB a cappella.
Text: Edward Broadbridge.
The Magic Paint Brush was commissioned by WSCM8 (8th World Symposium on Choral Music) and was first performed by Schola Cantorum, conducted by the composer.
The music follows the symposium’s aim to incorporate the visual aspect of a concert, using voice, human body and space. It also meets the requirement that “the work must be written from a difficulty so that it may easily be sung by many choirs all over the world”.
The Slow Spring
A madrigal for choir SATB and a solo-quartet SATB.
Spring is always a long time coming, but suddenly it is “Now is the month of maying…..”
This little optimistic piece is dedicated to Thomas Morley.
Edition Wilh. Hansen.
Three Bright Motets in Stereo
1. Cantate Domino for SSAATTBB
2. Haec Dies for SSAATTBB and 3 soloists (S/A)
3. Jubilate Deo for double choir (2 x SATB)
Edition Wilh. Hansen.