Hans Jacob Højgaard

Hans Jacob Højgaard (11 September 1904, Toftir, Faroe Islands – 10 June 1992, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands) was a composer from the Faroe Islands in the 20th century. When he was 15 years old, he went to sea and sailed with fishing boats for four years. He took a compulsory exam in Tórshavn in 1923. In 1924, he went to Denmark, where he attended Karise Folk High School. In 1929, he received a teaching degree from the Jonstrup's Seminar. He then returned to his birthplace, Toftir. He was an assistant teacher from 1929 to 1931, a secondary teacher from 1931 to 1933, and a school director from 1934 to 1953.

Højgaard was a chorister in Toftir and Tórshavn and composed numerous Faroese songs and hymns. He continued and refined the "ko sang" tradition that existed in the Faroe Islands as a teacher and choreographer. Højgaard's songs are distinguished by their freshness and romanticism. They have a style reminiscent of the peculiar tones that characterize old Faroese quadrilles and hymns.

Højgaard was an honorary member of the Harbors Song Event in 1978.

Works

 * 1951 – Føroysk Songløg I (Faroese Trad. Music Tunebook)
 * 1977 – Føroysk Songløg II (Faroese Trad. Music Tunebook)

Recordings

 * 1976 – LP: "Í hesi sælu jólatíð", (Faroese Christmas Carols, HJH directing his own Melodies/Compositions), HCW TÓRGARÐ
 * 2003 – CD: "Í hesi sælu jólatíð", (Faroese Christmas Carols, HJH directing his own Melodies/Compositions), HCW TÓRGARÐ
 * 2003 – CD: Komponisten Hans Jákup Højgaard, musikeksempel, (Musical examples of HJH Compositions) RAES, Faroese Radio
 * 2004 – CD: Hans Jacob Højgaard 100 ár, (100-Year Anniversary) TUTL

Literature

 * S. Anderssohn: Komponisten Hans Jákup Højgaard, et liv som traditionsbærer, nyskaber og lærer, Research Archive for Ethnomusicological Studies [RAES], Arendal 2003 (Danish)