Erling Møldrup

Erling Møldrup (1943 - 2016) was a Danish classical guitarist best known for championing Danish guitar music from all periods. Born in Aarhus, Møldrup grew up as an only child in Nørregade, in the inner city, in a music loving workers family. He started apprenticeship as a mason, like his father, but soon fell in love with the guitar. At the age of 15 he started to take classes at the Aarhus Folk Music School where he heard classical guitar music for the first time and his talent was spotted by the teachers. Later on, at the Danish Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus, Møldrup received his initial training under Jytte Gorki Schmidt, obtaining his academy diploma in 1972. He has performed around the world as a soloist, chamber musician and with various orchestras. He has also toured as a guest lecturer. The first of many recordings by him appeared in 1975; among them are J. S. Bach's lute works and the complete guitar works of Per Nørgård. He played repertoire from all periods — Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, 'Segovia-style' and modern — and he commissioned a large number of works from living Scandinavian composers (see below). Møldrup also authored the book "Guitaren, et eksotisk instrument i den danske musik" (The Guitar, an exotic instrument in Danish music) and a number of articles.