LAWO Classics

Egil Hovland

Composer | Norwegian | 1924–2013

About Egil Hovland

Egil Hovland (1924–2013) was one of Norway's most significant church musicians and composers throughout the post-war era. From 1949 to 1994 Hovland was organist and choirmaster at Glemmen Church in Fredrikstad — a position he held for 45 years. This gave the musical life of Glemmen, especially its church choir, a distinct national status.

Hovland's compositional work was marked by a constant search for new modes of expression, and he left behind a large body of work in church music, choral music and organ music. The work "Elementa" — "the elements" — is based on themes Hovland used recurrently throughout his output. In 1975 he became musical consultant to the Liturgical Commission and a member of the Hymnal Committee, and he led the work on the Norwegian Chorale Book and the Norwegian Church Hymnal.

He took his organist examination in 1948 and through his career adopted, then questioned, modernist techniques — eventually arriving at what he himself called a "complete turnaround" in 1974. He composed organ chorales in six volumes, often drawing on the polyphonic tradition of church music.

Listen to Egil Hovland

Discography of Egil Hovland 11

Composer (11)

Works by Egil Hovland recorded on LAWO Classics 30

  • Cantus II Recorded on LWC1069
  • Cantus IX 3 movements Recorded on LWC1377
  • Cantus VII 3 movements Recorded on LWC1377
  • Cantus VIII for Oboe and String Quartet 3 movements Recorded on LWC1186
  • Crux Ave, Orgelpartita No. 7 “Variationen über Jerusalem, du hochgebaute Stadt” 7 movements Recorded on LWC1377
  • Den vakreste rosen Recorded on LWC1377
  • Elementa pro organo 5 movements Recorded on LWC1078
  • Fire interludier til “Missa Vigilate” 4 movements Recorded on LWC1078
  • Gloria Patri, Op. 137, No. 2 Recorded on LWC1134
  • Han gikk den tunge veien Recorded on LWC1077
  • Improvisata – Hymnus in Honorem Sancti Magni, Comitis Orcadiæ 3 movements Recorded on LWC1400
  • Koralpartita nr. 1 6 movements Recorded on LWC1078
  • Koralpartita Nr. 2 Hvo ene lader Herren råde 7 movements Recorded on LWC1400
  • Koralpartita Nr. 6 Gelobt sei Gott im höchsten Thron 10 movements Recorded on LWC1400
  • Koralpartita nr. 8 over “Guds kyrkjefolk, syng” 7 movements Recorded on LWC1078
  • Kortere komposisjoner for orgel 4 movements Recorded on LWC1078
  • Lukk opp kirkens dører Recorded on LWC1302
  • Magnificat 10 movements Recorded on LWC1204
  • Nu la oss takke Gud Recorded on LWC1377
  • Orgelkoraler bind 2 3 movements Recorded on LWC1400
  • Orgelkoraler bind 2 Recorded on LWC1400
  • Orgelkoraler bind 3 5 movements Recorded on LWC1400
  • Orgelkoraler bind 6 11 movements Recorded on LWC1400
  • Orgelkoraler hefte 4 4 movements Recorded on LWC1078
  • Se, dager kommer Recorded on LWC1134
  • Suite for fløyte og strykere 5 movements Recorded on LWC1127
  • Syng for Herren Recorded on LWC1302
  • Te Deum 6 movements Recorded on LWC1400
  • Toccata over “Kjærlighet er lysets kilde” Recorded on LWC1075
  • Vi ser deg, Herre Jesus Recorded on LWC1302