Preface
The Danish research project “Danmarks Radio og den ny musik efter Anden Verdenskrig” presents a documentation of 700 broadcastings in radio and television and has for the first time systematically collected part of the Danish new music, cultural and media history containing an important contribution to the history of the Danish and international avantgarde.
 

This project was initiated by Mogens Andersen (1929-2008), former head of music in Danmarks Radio, and it was after his death continued by Agneta Mei Hytten. “Historien om Vor tids musik” based on posthumous works was released this spring. The book contains an examination of changes after WW2 up till today. It shows representation of contemporary music in radio and television, the interrelations between DR and the Danish music life, and different kinds of media and art institutional collaborations. It also shows the way DR has been in close contact with contemporary composers by commission works and experimental broadcasting and development of the media.
 

Abstract
As we want to discuss avantgarde in musicology, we often refer to modernism, the aesthetic avantgarde, but viewing media experiments and renewal in nordic media collaboration and broadcasting technique we shall discuss the representation of avantgarde movements as well as individual artists and results thereof being broadcasted to a mass audience. We shall also discuss television as a contemporary kind of art in relation to avantgarde music representation in the media.
 

We have chosen the composer Gunnar Berg (1909-1989), this year celebrating 100 years anniversary with many concerts in Denmark and abroad, as our avantgarde model. Berg holds a unique position in Danish music dealing as an individual with the international avantgarde questions as a lifelong experience.
 

Another problem to discuss is to what extent different media broadcastings were suited for avantgarde performance due to the demands and possibilities of the medium (thereby distinguishing between adaption to the medium and proper aesthetic innovation) and the artistic mission. In what way different genres (e.g. television opera, ballet, documentary, experimental productions, magazines and music concert with regard to visualization and sound reproduction) were produced and also the meeting between culture and a new mass audience - the confrontation with a public not accustomed to new kinds of art.
 

Project sponsors:
Danmarks Radio, The Research Council for the Humanities, Augustinus Foundation, The Danish Arts Council, Danish Composers Society/Kodas national resources, the Ministry of Education, Jürgen Baltzers Foundation, Lademanns Foundation, Montana, Velux Foundation and Sonning Foundation.
 

Avantgardemusik-team:
Agneta Mei Hytten, Denmark – contact: musicaart@mail.dk, +45 39203108, www.vortidsmusik.dk.
 

Jørgen Lekfeldt, Denmark – contact: JL@musicaart.dk, +45 39203108, www.teomus.dk.
 

Jens Rossel, Denmark – contact: mail@gunnarberg.dk, +45 40862066, www.gunnarberg.dk.