Danish Culture Canon

The Danish Culture Canon (Danish: Kulturkanonen) consists of 108 works of cultural excellence in eight categories: architecture, visual arts, design and crafts, film, literature, music, performing arts, and children's culture. An initiative of Brian Mikkelsen in 2004, it was developed by a series of committees under the auspices of the Danish Ministry of Culture in 2006–2007 as "a collection and presentation of the greatest, most important works of Denmark's cultural heritage." Each category contains 12 works although music contains 12 works of score music and 12 of popular music and the literature section's 12th item is an anthology of 24 works.[1][2]

Architecture

The committee for architecture was asked to choose 12 works covering both buildings and landscaping. It was decided that works could either be in Denmark designed by one or more Danes or abroad designed by Danish architects. The committee consisted of: Lone Wiggers (chair), Carsten Juel-Christiansen, Malene Hauxner, Lars Juel Thiis and Kent Martinussen.[3]

Building	Location	Year	Architect	Image
Hover Church	near Ringkøbing, Jutland	12th century	Unknown
Glorup Manor	near Nyborg, Funen	12th century rebuilt 1742–1743 1762–1765 and 1773–1775	Philip de Lange, Christian Joseph Zuber and Nicolas-Henri Jardin
Frederiksstaden	Copenhagen	1749–1771	Nicolai Eigtved
Church of Our Lady	Copenhagen	1811–1829	C.F. Hansen
Dyrehaven	Klampenborg, Zealand	1846	Rudolph Rothe
Lægeforeningens boliger—Brumleby	Østerbro, Copenhagen	1854–1856	Michael Gottlieb Bindesbøll and Vilhelm Klein
Mariebjerg Cemetery	Gentofte, Zealand	1925–1935	G.N. Brandt
Aarhus Universitet	Århus	1931	Kay Fisker, C.F. Møller, Povl Stegmann and C.Th. Sørensen
Aarhus City Hall	Århus	1937–1942	Arne Jacobsen and Erik Møller
Finger Plan	Copenhagen	1947	Peter Bredsdorff
Sydney Opera House	Sydney	1957–1973	Jørn Utzon
Great Belt East Bridge	Zealand and Funen	1991–1998	Dissing+Weitling

Visual arts

The committee for visual arts decided that only works of artists who had completed their oeuvre could be included. They also decided that members of the committee could each select a work they especially appreciated. In this way the committee first selected seven works whereafter five members selected one work each. The committee consisted of Hein Heinsen (chair), Hans Edvard Nørregård-Nielsen, Bente Scavenius, Bjørn Nørgaard and Sophia Kalkau.[4]

Work	Location	Year	Artist	Image
Sun chariot	National Museum of Denmark	c. 1300 BC	Unknown
The Resurrection	Undløse Church	c. 1440	Union Master
Bordesholm Altar	Schleswig Cathedral	Completed 1521	Hans Brüggemann
Frederik V on Horseback	Amalienborg	Completed 1771	Jacques Saly
Jason with the Golden Fleece	Thorvaldsens Museum	Completed 1828	Bertel Thorvaldsen
A View through Three of the North-Western Arches of the Third Storey of the Coliseum	Statens Museum for Kunst	1813–1816	C.W. Eckersberg
Autumn Morning on Lake Sortedam	Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek	1838	Christen Købke
Dust Motes Dancing in Sunbeams	Ordrupgaard	1900	Vilhelm Hammershøi
Summer Day by Roskilde Fjord	Randers Kunstmuseum	1900	L.A. Ring
The Great Relief	J.F. Willumsens Museum	1923–1928	J.F. Willumsen
Standing Woman	Göteborgs konstmuseum	1937–1943	Astrid Noack
Stalingrad	Museum Jorn, Silkeborg	1957–1972	Asger Jorn

Design and crafts

The committee for design and crafts decided that selection should be based on works with a useful function which were relevant at the time they were created while remaining recognizable today. They should also fall into an international perspective. The committee consisted of Merete Ahnfeldt-Mollerup (chair), Erik Magnussen, Astrid Krogh, Ursula Munch-Petersen and Louise Campbell.[5]

Work	Designer	Year	Image
Viking ship Skuldelev 2	Unknown	c. 1042
Flora Danica (book) and Flora Danica (dinner set)	Georg Christian Oeder, Johann Christoph Bayer several artists	1761–1883
Thorvald Bindesbøll: life's work		1846–1908
Knud V. Engelhardt: life's work		1882–1931
Marie Gudme Leth: life's work		1895–1997
PH lamp shade system	Poul Henningsen	1925– still being developed
Tea service	Gertrud Vasegaard	1956
Gedser experimental wind turbine	Johannes Juul	1957
Panton chair	Verner Panton	1960
Polyurethane chair	Gunnar Aagaard Andersen	1964
Kevi wheel	Jørgen Rasmussen	1965
Fiberline facade system	Fiberline Composites and Schmidt hammer lassen	2006

Film

In their selection, the committee for film focused on films reflecting Danish life with Danish actors. The included nevertheless the film Sult (Hunger) which takes place in Oslo and has Swedish actors. The committee consisted of Susanne Bier (chair), Vinca Wiedemann, Tivi Magnusson, Ole Michelsen and Jacob Neiiendam.[6]

Work	Creator	Year	Image
Master of the House	Carl Th. Dreyer	1925
Day of Wrath	Carl Th. Dreyer	1943
Ditte, Child of Man	Bjarne Henning-Jensen	1946
Jenny and the Soldier	Johan Jacobsen	1947
Hunger	Henning Carlsen	1966
Benny's Bathtub	Jannik Hastrup and Flemming Quist Møller	1971
Matador	Erik Balling	1978–1982
Tree of Knowledge	Nils Malmros	1981
Babette's Feast	Gabriel Axel	1987
Pelle the Conqueror	Bille August	1987
The Celebration	Thomas Vinterberg	1998
The Idiots	Lars von Trier	1998

Literature

The committee for literature found it important to select works with a quality which had been appreciated over time. The selected works were also considered to have made an important contribution both to Danish literature and to Danish culture in the widest sense. They reflect an original and bold artistic approach to works of value. They are worthy of being preserved for posterity as they serve as reference points in a modern global context. The committee consisted of Finn Hauberg Mortensen (chair), Erik A. Nielsen, Mette Winge, Claes Kastholm Hansen and Jens Christian Grøndahl.[7]

Author	Work	Year	Image
Leonora Christina	Jammers Minde (literally Memory of Misery), translated as Memoirs of Leonora Christina	1673–1674, published 1869
Steen Steensen Blicher	The Rector of Veilbye	1829
Hans Christian Andersen	The Little Mermaid	1837
Søren Kierkegaard	Either/Or	1843
Jens Peter Jacobsen	Fru Marie Grubbe	1876
Herman Bang	Ved Vejen	1886
Henrik Pontoppidan	Lucky Per	1898–1904
Johannes V. Jensen	The Fall of the King	1900–1901
Karen Blixen	Winter's Tales	1942
Klaus Rifbjerg	Og andre historier (And Other Stories)	1964
Inger Christensen	Butterfly Valley	1991

The 12th item is an Anthology of lyrics consisting of the following 24 works:

Author	Work	Year	Image
Anonymous folk song	Ebbe Skammelsøn
Anonymous folk song	Germand Gladensvend
Thomas Kingo	Hver har sin Skæbne (Sorrig og Glæde...)
H. A. Brorson	Den yndigste rose er funden	1732
Johs. Ewald	Til Siælen. En Ode	1780
Schack von Staffeldt	Indvielsen	1804
Adam Oehlenschläger	Hakon Jarls Død eller Christendommens Indførsel i Norge	1803
N. F. S. Grundtvig	De Levendes Land	First published 1883
Christian Winther	Rosa unica	1849
Emil Aarestrup	Paa Sneen	1838
Holger Drachmann	Jeg hører i Natten den vuggende Lyd	1877
Sophus Claussen	Ekbatana	1896
Jeppe Aakjær	Aften	1912
Thøger Larsen	Den danske Sommer	1914
Tom Kristensen	Det er Knud, som er død	1936
Jens August Schade	Læren om staten	1928
Gustaf Munch-Petersen	det underste land	1933
Thorkild Bjørnvig	Anubis	1955
Ole Sarvig	Regnmaaleren	1943
Morten Nielsen	Øjeblik	1945
Frank Jæger	Sidenius i Esbjerg	1959
Ivan Malinowski	Myggesang	1958
Per Højholt	Personen på toppen	1985
Henrik Nordbrandt	Violinbyggernes by	1985

Music

The committee for music explained that, taking account of the wide range of Danish music, they gave focus to individual works rather than a composer's oeuvre. They presented two lists: one for what they called score music (classical), the other for popular music, although the two should be considered as a whole. The committee consisted of Per Erik Veng (chair), Jørgen I. Jensen, Torben Bille, Inger Sørensen and Henrik Marstal.[8]

Classical music

Composer/author	Work	Year	Image
F.L.Æ. Kunzen	Holger Danske	1789
C. E. F. Weyse	Otte Morgensange and Syv Aftensange	1837 and 1838
H. C. Lumbye	Three galops: Telegraph Galop, Champagne Galop and Copenhagen Steam Railway Galop	1844, 1845 and 1847
Niels W. Gade	Elverskud	1854
J. P. E. Hartmann	Vølvens Spaadom	1872
Peter Heise	Drot og marsk	1878
Carl Nielsen	Maskarade	1906
Carl Nielsen	Symphony No. 4: The Inextinguishable	1916
Rued Langgaard	Antikrist	1923
Per Nørgård	Symphony No. 3	1976
Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen	Symphony-Antiphony	1978

The 12th item titled Højskolesange (Folk High School Songs) consists of the following 12 songs:

Composer/author	Work	Year	Image
C. E. F. Weyse (1826), words: N. F. S. Grundtvig	Den signede dag med fryd vi ser	1826
Folk song, words rewritten by Svend Grundtvig	Det var en lørdag aften	1849
Folk song from the Mariager area	En yndig og frydefuld sommertid	Published in A.P. Berggreen's Danske folkesange 1869
Music: Carl Nielsen, words: Ludvig Holstein	Vi sletternes sønner	Music 1906, words 1903
Music: Carl Nielsen, words: Jeppe Aakjær	Jens Vejmand	Music 1907, words 1905
Music: Thomas Laub, words: St.St. Blicher	«Det er hvidt herude»	Melodi 1914, tekst 1838
Music: Oluf Ring, words: Thøger Larsen	Danmark, nu blunder den lyse nat	Music 1922, words 1914
Music: Poul Schierbeck, words: Hans Christian Andersen	I Danmark er jeg født	Music 1926, words 1850
Music: Thorvald Aagaard, words: Laurits Christian Nielsen	Jeg ser de bøgelyse øer	Music 1931, words 1901
Music: Otto Mortensen, words: Helge Rode	Du gav os de blomster, som lyste imod os	Music 1939, words 1921
Music: Otto Mortensen, words: Alex Garff	Septembers himmel er så blå	Music and words 1949
Music: Peter Erasmus Lange-Müller/Shu-Bi-Dua, words: Holger Drachmann	Vi elsker vort land	Music 1887 and 1980, words 1885

Popular music

Composer/author	Work	Year	Image
Kai Normann Andersen	A selection of 12 songs: Musens sang, Den allersidste dans, Pige træd varsomt, Å hvor jeg, ih, hvor jeg, uh hvor jeg vil, I dit korte liv, Man binder os på mund og hånd, Alle går rundt og forelsker sig, Gå ud og gå en tur, Glemmer du, Titte til hinanden, Drømmeland og Gå med i lunden	1925–1959
Dansk Guldalderjazz	Dansk Guldalderjazz Vol. 1–4	1940–1949
Savage Rose	The Savage Rose	1968
Kim Larsen	Værsgo	1973
Benny Andersen and Povl Dissing	Svantes Viser	1973
Gasolin'	Live sådan	1976
Kliché	Supertanker	1980
C.V. Jørgensen	Tidens Tern	1980
Sebastian	Stjerne til støv	1981
Palle Mikkelborg with Miles Davis	Aura	1984/1985
tv·2	Nærmest lykkelig	1988

The 12th item Evergreens is an anthology consisting of the following works:

Composer/author	Work	Year	Image
Sven Gyldmark/Poeten	Solitudevej – sung by Elga Olga Svendsen.	From Cirkusrevyen 1953
Sven Gyldmark & Erik Leth	Er du dus med himlens fugle – sung by Poul Reichhardt.	From the film Vagabonderne på Bakkegården 1958
Vidar Sandbeck & Peter Mynte – single	Heksedans (her kommer mutter med kost og spand) – sung by Raquel Rastenni.	1960
Bjarne Hoyer & Ida From	To lys på et bord – sung by Otto Brandenburg	From Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, 1960
Otto Helge Francker & Sejr Volmer-Sørensen	Dansevise – performed by Grethe Ingmann and Jørgen Ingmann.	From Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, 1963
Bent Fabricius-Bjerre & Klaus Rifbjerg	Duerne flyver – sung by Cæsar.	From the film Jeg er sgu min egen, 1967
John Mogensen	Så længe jeg lever – sung by John Mogensen.	Single 1970, also in the album John Mogensen: John, 1973
Anne Linnet	Smuk og dejlig – performed by Shit & Chanel.	From the album Shit & Chanel, 1975
Peter A. G. Nielsen/Gnags	Under Bøgen – performed by Gnags.	From the album Er du hjemme i aften, 1977
Shu-bi-dua	Danmark – performed by Shu-bi-dua.	From Shu-bi-dua 78'eren, 1978
Frans Bak & Per Nielsen	Danse i måneskin – performed by Trine Dyrholm & Moonlighters.	From Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, 1987
Lars Lilholt	Kald det kærlighed – performed by Lars Lilholt Band.	From Lars Lilholt Band: Portland, 1986

Performing arts

The committee for performing arts explained that their selection was based on works of unique creativity representing something new for their time while still remaining meaningful today. The committee consisted of Flemming Enevold (chair), Karen-Maria Bille, Jokum Rohde, Sonja Richter and Erik Aschengreen.[9]

Creator	Work	Year	Image
Ludvig Holberg	Jeppe på Bjerget	1722
Adam Oehlenschläger	Aladdin	1805
August Bournonville and Herman Severin Løvenskiold	La Sylphide	1836
Henri Nathansen	Indenfor Murene (Inside the Walls)	1912
Kaj Munk	Ordet (The Word)	1932
Kjeld Abell	Anna Sophie Hedvig	1939
Four revue numbers:	Man binder os på mund og hånd (Liva Weel, 1940), Skolekammerater (Kellerdirk, 1956), Brevet til Bulganin (Osvald Helmuth, 1957), Fingernummeret (Dirch Passer, 1974)	1940, 1956, 1957 and 1974
Harald Lander and Knudåge Riisager	Etudes	1948
Flemming Flindt and Georges Delerue	Enetime	1963
Solvognen	Julemandshæren	1974
Sort Sol	Sort Sol live, Carlton og Wurst	1986–1987
Jess Ørnsbo	Majonæse	1988

Children's canon

The committee was formed spontaneously as work proceeded in the other areas. It is therefore not an independent selection as suggestions were received from all the other areas.[10]

Creator	Work	Year	Image
C.Th. Sørensen	Children's building site	1931
Gunnar Nyborg-Jensen (ed.)	De små synger	1948
Astrid Henning-Jensen	Palle alene i Verden (Film)	1949
Carl Barks	The Golden Helmet	1954
Nanna Ditzel	High chair	1955
Godtfred Kirk Christiansen	Lego brick	1958
Cecil Bødker	Silas og den sorte hoppe	1967
Halfdan Rasmussen & Ib Spang Olsen	Halfdans ABC	1967
Katrine Hauch-Fausbøll	Kaj & Andrea	1971 ff.
Anne Linnet	Go' sønda' morn'	1980
Søren Kragh-Jacobsen	Gummi-Tarzan (Film)	1981
Steen Koerner	Nøddeknækkeren	2003

Impact

According to press reports, the canon has had limited impact and has been ineffective in its stated goal of fostering integration between the Danes and the immigrant communities.[11] Berlingske pointed out, nevertheless, that the canon will remain a milestone as a non-socialist government had dared to "simply state that some works are better than others" and assert in that "this country may well be a modern society in a globalised world but that does not mean we have no merit as a nation or no right to national pride."[12] Erik A. Nielsen, a member of the canon's literature committee, is not surprised the literature canon has had such limited effect, faced as it is with a "tsunami of international, strongly commercial cultural interests." He points out that the only reason his students take an interest in Danish culture is that "they have to take exams in it. If they are free to choose culture themselves, they go for films, rock music and a whole lot more that is essentially English or American in origin.[13]

References

1. "Denmark/ 4. Current issues in cultural policy development and debate", Compendium: Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
2. "Kulturkanon", Den Store Danske. (in Danish) Retrieved 11 January 2013.
3. "Om kanon for arkitektur" Archived December 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Kulturkanonen. (in Danish) Retrieved 12 January 2012.
4. Hein Heinsen, "Om kanon for billedkunst" Archived December 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Kulturkanonen. (in Danish) Retrieved 12 January 2013.
5. "Om kanon for design og kunstværk" Archived December 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Kulturkanonen. (in Danish) Retrieved 12 January 2013.
6. "Om kanon for film" Archived December 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Kulturkanonen. (in Danish) Retrieved 12 January 2013.
7. "Om kanon for litteratur" Archived December 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Kulturkanon. (in Danish) Retrieved 13 January 2013.
8. "Om kanon for musik" Archived December 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Kulturkanonen. (in Danish) Retrieved 13 January 2013.
9. "Om kanon for scenekunst" Archived December 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Kulturkanon. (in Danish) Retrieved 13 January 2013.
10. Henrik Marstal, "Om kanon for bornekultur" Archived December 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Kulturkanonen. (in Danish) Retrieved 13 January 2013.
11. "Denmark’s canon – a damp squib", Presseurop, 27 January 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
12. "Regeringens kulturkanon blåstemplede retten til være stolt af det bedste i dansk kultur. Det er dens store og varige fortjeneste". Berlingske, 23 January 2011. (in Danish) Retrieved 17 January 2013.
13. Annegerd Lerche Kristiansen and Morten Runge, "Hvad blev der af kulturkanonen?", Danmarks Radio, 16 January 2013. (in Danish) Retrieved 17 January 2013.

External links

• "Kulturkanon", PDF Copy of the Website from 2006 (in Danish)
• Danish Ministry of Culture: Kulturkanonen (English) PDF.