Composer · 1903–1986
Jens Bjerre
Biography
Jens Bjerre
(b Århus, 13 Oct 1903; d Copenhagen, 3 Jan 1986). Danish composer and organist. He studied at the Copenhagen Conservatory (1919–23) with Christiansen (piano) and Rung-Keller (organ and theory).
After passing the organists’ examination in 1925 he studied in Paris (1925–7), notably with Lazar Levy (piano), and served as organist at the Danish church there. From 1933 he was organist at the Stefans Kirke in Copenhagen, and from 1955 to 1973 at the Garnisons Kirke. Much of his music, such as the Piano Trio (1947), is marked by a lyrical and light style influenced by French neo-classicism and in accordance with the prevailing mood of Danish music in the 1930s. However, the density of musical argument in later works such as the dramatic Diapsalmata for cello and piano (1953), inspired by Kierkegaard, suggests that he was also influenced by Hindemith.