Otto Mortensen
composer · musicologist · pianist
- August 18, 1907 · Copenhagen
- August 30, 1986 · Aarhus
- 79 years
About Otto Mortensen
Otto Mortensen, 79, Danish composer.
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Full Biography
|Otto Hübertz Mortensen (18 August 1907 – 30 August 1986) was a Danish composer and conductor. He also played the organ and piano. For a number of years he worked at the Royal Danish Theatre as a rehearser for the opera, and later worked at Aarhus University.
As a composer, Mortensen composed both vocal works and instrumental music. He is most famous for arranging countless choral works and for writing the melodies for a number of Danish songs, e.g. Septembers himmel, Min skat, Sommervise (Du danske sommer jeg elsker dig…), and the Norwegian Kringsatt av fiender (lyrics by Nordahl Grieg). In the years leading up to his death, he worked on new melodies to a number of psalms, e.g. At sige verden ret farvel.
The melody for the poem by Helge Rode, Du gav os de blomster, som lyste imod os, was selected by the Danish Ministry of Culture in 2006 as one of 12 songs to be a part of the Canon of Culture (Danish: Kulturministeriets Kulturkanon) in the category musical scores.
List of compositions
The following works do not make a complete listing.
- Quintette pour Flûte, Hautbois, Clarinette, Cor et Basson (1944)
- Quartet 1937 (1937)
- Sonata for oboe and piano
- 10 Danish Songs (1928–1943)
- Four Songs (1945)
- Three Songs (1946)
- Selected Songs (1939–1949)
- Sange af Nordiske Digtere (10 songs, undated), for voice & piano
- Songs (7 songs, undated), for voice & piano
- Septembers himmel er så blå, for voice & piano
- Min Skat. Hun er sød, hun er blød (My Sweetheart. She is neat, she is sweet), song for voice & piano
- Septembers himmel er så blå (The Skies of September Are So Blue), for voice and piano
- Sommervise. Du danske sommer, jeg elsker dig (A Song to Summer. I love you, Danish summer mine), for voice and piano
- Det var en lørdag aften, song
- Du gav os de blomster (Danmark)
- Lørdag aften (Saturday Evening), for chorus
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Mortensen
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 21, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Otto Mortensen's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Otto Hübertz Mortensen born?
- A.18 August 1907correct
- B.30 August 1907
- C.18 August 1986
- D.30 August 1986
Otto Hübertz Mortensen was born on 18 August 1907.
Source: Biography introduction
2.What instruments did Otto Hübertz Mortensen play besides the piano?
- A.Organcorrect
- B.Flute
- C.Violin
- D.Cello
Otto Hübertz Mortensen played the organ and the piano.
Source: Biography introduction
3.At which institution did Otto Hübertz Mortensen work as a rehearser for the opera?
- A.Aarhus University
- B.The Royal Danish Theatrecorrect
- C.The Danish Ministry of Culture
- D.The Copenhagen Conservatory
Otto Hübertz Mortensen worked at the Royal Danish Theatre as a rehearser for the opera.
Source: Biography introduction
4.Which Norwegian song did Otto Hübertz Mortensen write the melody for?
- A.Kringsatt av fiendercorrect
- B.Sommervise
- C.Septembers himmel
- D.Min skat
Otto Hübertz Mortensen wrote the melody for the Norwegian song Kringsatt av fiender.
Source: Biography introduction
5.Which of these works did Otto Hübertz Mortensen compose in 1944?
- A.Quintette pour Flûte, Hautbois, Clarinette, Cor et Bassoncorrect
- B.Quartet 1937
- C.Three Songs
- D.Four Songs
The Quintette pour Flûte, Hautbois, Clarinette, Cor et Basson was composed by Otto Hübertz Mortensen in 1944.
Source: List of compositions
6.What kind of work did Otto Hübertz Mortensen focus on in the years leading up to his death?
- A.Operatic rehearsals
- B.New melodies for psalmscorrect
- C.Wind quintets
- D.Orchestral symphonies
In the years leading up to his death, Otto Hübertz Mortensen worked on new melodies to a number of psalms.
Source: Biography introduction
7.Which song by Otto Hübertz Mortensen was selected for the Canon of Culture in 2006?
- A.Min skat
- B.Septembers himmel
- C.Sommervise
- D.Du gav os de blomster, som lyste imod oscorrect
The melody for the poem Du gav os de blomster, som lyste imod os was selected for the Canon of Culture in 2006.
Source: Biography introduction
8.Who wrote the lyrics to the song Kringsatt av fiender for which Otto Hübertz Mortensen wrote the melody?
- A.Nordahl Griegcorrect
- B.Danish Ministry of Culture
- C.Helge Rode
- D.Otto Hübertz Mortensen
Nordahl Grieg wrote the lyrics to the song Kringsatt av fiender.
Source: Biography introduction
9.In what year did Otto Hübertz Mortensen die?
- A.2006
- B.1949
- C.1986correct
- D.1907
Otto Hübertz Mortensen died on 30 August 1986.
Source: Biography introduction
10.Besides the Royal Danish Theatre, where else did Otto Hübertz Mortensen work?
- A.The Royal Opera House in Oslo
- B.The National Library
- C.Aarhus Universitycorrect
- D.The Danish Parliament
After his time at the Royal Danish Theatre, Otto Hübertz Mortensen worked at Aarhus University.
Source: Biography introduction
11.Which of these works is listed as a composition for voice and piano by Otto Hübertz Mortensen?
- A.Quintette pour Flûte
- B.Det var en lørdag aftencorrect
- C.Quartet 1937
- D.Sonata for oboe and piano
The composition Det var en lørdag aften is identified as a song for voice and piano by Otto Hübertz Mortensen.
Source: List of compositions
12.What category of works is Otto Hübertz Mortensen most famous for arranging?
- A.Instrumental sonatas
- B.Choral workscorrect
- C.Operatic scores
- D.Psalms
Otto Hübertz Mortensen is most famous for arranging countless choral works.
Source: Biography introduction
13.How many songs are included in the collection Sange af Nordiske Digtere by Otto Hübertz Mortensen?
- A.Tencorrect
- B.Seven
- C.Four
- D.Twelve
The collection Sange af Nordiske Digtere contains 10 songs.
Source: List of compositions
14.What is the full name of the composer described in the biography?
- A.Otto Hübertz Mortensencorrect
- B.Otto Rode Mortensen
- C.Otto Grieg Mortensen
- D.Otto Danish Mortensen
The composer's full name is Otto Hübertz Mortensen.
Source: Biography introduction
15.Which of these is a known title of a psalm melody worked on by Otto Hübertz Mortensen?
- A.Du gav os de blomster
- B.At sige verden ret farvelcorrect
- C.Sommervise
- D.Min Skat
At sige verden ret farvel is a psalm for which Otto Hübertz Mortensen wrote a new melody.
Source: Biography introduction
16.Who was the poet of the work Du gav os de blomster, som lyste imod os?
- A.Otto Hübertz Mortensen
- B.Helge Rodecorrect
- C.Danish Ministry of Culture
- D.Nordahl Grieg
The poem Du gav os de blomster, som lyste imod os was written by Helge Rode.
Source: Biography introduction
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