The Danish Culture Canon () 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. The literature section's 12th item is an anthology of 24 works."Denmark/ 4. Current issues in cultural policy development and debate" , Compendium: Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe. Retrieved 11 January 2013."Kulturkanon", Den Store Danske. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
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."Om kanon for arkitektur" , Kulturkanonen. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
Building Location Year Architect Image Hover Church near Ringkøbing, Jutland 12th century Unknown Glorup Manor near Nyborg, Funen 12th centuryrebuilt 1742–1743 1762–1765and 1773–1775 Philip de Lange, Christian Joseph Zuberand 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 Bindesbølland Vilhelm Klein Mariebjerg Cemetery Gentofte, Zealand 1925–1935 G.N. Brandt Aarhus Universitet Århus 1931 Kay Fisker, C.F. Møller, Povl Stegmannand C.Th. Sørensen Aarhus City Hall Århus 1937–1942 Arne Jacobsenand 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.Hein Heinsen, "Om kanon for billedkunst" , Kulturkanonen. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
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."Om kanon for design og kunstværk" , Kulturkanonen. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
Work Designer Year Image Viking ship Skuldelev 2 Unknown c. 1042 Flora Danica (book) and Flora Danica (dinner set) Georg Christian Oeder, Johann Christoph Bayerseveral 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."Om kanon for film" , Kulturkanonen. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
Work Creator Year ImageMaster of the House Carl Th. Dreyer 1925 Day of Wrath Carl Th. Dreyer 1943 Ditte, Child of ManBjarne Henning-Jensen 1946 Jenny and the Soldier Johan Jacobsen 1947Hunger 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 Vinterberg1998The 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."Om kanon for litteratur" , Kulturkanon. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
Author Work Year Image Leonora Christina Jammers Minde (literally Memory of Misery), translated as Memoirs of Leonora Christina 1673–1674, published 1869 Steen Steensen BlicherThe 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 RifbjergOg 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 ImageAnonymous 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 1732Johs. Ewald Til Siælen. En Ode 1780Schack 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 1877Sophus Claussen Ekbatana 1896Jeppe Aakjær Aften 1912Thøger Larsen Den danske Sommer 1914Tom Kristensen Det er Knud, som er død 1936Jens August Schade Læren om staten 1928Gustaf Munch-Petersen det underste land 1933Thorkild Bjørnvig Anubis 1955 Ole Sarvig Regnmaaleren 1943Morten Nielsen Øjeblik 1945Frank JægerSidenius i Esbjerg 1959 Ivan Malinowski Myggesang 1958Per Højholt Personen på toppen 1985Henrik 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."Om kanon for musik" , Kulturkanonen. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
Classical music
Composer/author Work Year ImageF.L.Æ. Kunzen Holger Danske 1789C. E. F. Weyse Otte Morgensange and Syv Aftensange 1837 and 1838 H. C. LumbyeThree galops: Telegraph Galop, Champagne Galop and Copenhagen Steam Railway Galop 1844, 1845 and 1847 Niels W. Gade Elverskud 1854 J. P. E. HartmannVølvens Spaadom 1872 Peter Heise Drot og marsk 1878 Carl Nielsen Maskarade 1906 Carl Nielsen Symphony No. 4: The Inextinguishable 1916 Rued LanggaardAntikrist 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 1826Folk 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 1869Music: Carl Nielsen, words: Ludvig Holstein Vi sletternes sønner Music 1906, words 1903 Music: Carl Nielsen, words: Jeppe AakjærJens Vejmand Music 1907, words 1905 Music: Thomas Laub, words: St.St. Blicher«Det er hvidt herude» Melodi 1914, tekst 1838Music: 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 fødtMusic 1926, words 1850Music: Thorvald Aagaard, words: Laurits Christian Nielsen Jeg ser de bøgelyse øer Music 1931, words 1901 Music: Otto Mortensen, words: Helge RodeDu gav os de blomster, som lyste imod os Music 1939, words 1921Music: Otto Mortensen, words: Alex Garff Septembers himmel er så blå Music and words 1949Music: 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 ImageKai 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 1925–1959Dansk Guldalderjazz Dansk Guldalderjazz Vol. 1–4 1940–1949Savage Rose The Savage Rose 1968Kim 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: