Danish composer, pianist and organ player Life of Anders Koppel (b. 1947) is often characterised as a musical journey. He was born into a family of musicians as a son of the composer and pianist Herman D. Koppel, and soon he started playing the clarinet and the piano. His road turned from classical music to experimental rock and to world music. But later he returned to the classical forms, influenced by the intervening journey and musical experiences. Anders Koppel began his music career as a classically trained clarinettist and pianist, but in the 1960s and 1970s he mainly worked with experimental rock music. Together with his brother Thomas he formed the famous rock group Savage Rose in 1967, and toured all over the world.    Anders Koppel left the group in 1974, and in the 1980s and 1990s he mainly composed music for theatre and film: He made the music for eight ballets with the Danish Dance Theatre, 50 theatrical plays and for more than 100 movies. Besides his work for the theatre and film industry, he started playing world music. But he returned to the classical genres and forms, and since 1997 he has mostly composed for classical ensembles. All Anders Koppel’s music is characterized by an impressive and poetic approach, and the music often centre on a feeling or a story. It is obvious that he is as much a practising musician as a composer: It is very important for Anders Koppel to write music which is out-turned, meaningful and communicating. In the heart of his score music production stands a list of instrumental concerts. His four marimba concerts are being performed all over the world, the first one more than 300 times. Anders Koppel is one of the most versatile Danish composers, and the idea and instinct to unite genres as rock, world and classical runs all through his story. In 1998 Anders Koppel received the life long grant of the Danish Arts Foundation. By Malene Wichmann August 2007

Anders Koppel’s life and music unites genres as rock, world and classical. Read about Anders Koppel at: Edition Wilhelm Hansen Dacapo Records