Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen
Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 11, 1964 Oslo, Norway |
| Occupation | Composer |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Known for | Contemporary music composition |
Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen (born 11 January 1964) is a Norwegian composer specializing in contemporary music.
Life
Born in Oslo and brought up in Kabelvåg, located in northern Norway's Lofoten region, Aagaard-Nilsen pursued his studies from 1986 to 1990 at the Bergen Conservatory of Music (currently known as the Grieg Academy) as well as the University of Bergen. Between 1990 and 1994, he served as an instructor in contemporary classical music at the Bergen Conservatory and took on the role of artistic director for the Autunnale-festivalen held in Bergen.
During 1992–93, he was involved in arranging and composing for the Forsvarets Stabsmusikkorps Vestlandet - Norwegian Army Band, Bergen (NABB), producing works such as Arctic Landscape. This timeframe also saw him create numerous compositions tailored for wind band and brass band formats.
Aagaard-Nilsen’s oeuvre encompasses orchestra, chamber groups, choir, wind bands, and brass ensembles. Among his narrative-centered pieces are Fabula I and Fabula II (1996), Sinfonietta (1998), and The Season of Blue Lights (2008), the latter commissioned by BIT20 Ensemble. His expressive style is highlighted in works like Pierrot's Lament (a Euphonium Concerto premiered in 2001 with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra), the trumpet concerto Blue Phrases (2007), sinfonietta The Season of Blue Light, and the quartet Blue Fragments (2008). The orchestral composition Boreas Sings (2012) signaled a transition toward vivid tonal colors and rhythmic vitality. In 2014, his orchestral piece Boreas Blæs debuted with the Norwegian Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra during the inauguration of Stormen concert hall in Bodø.
In recognition of his work, Aagaard-Nilsen was honored with the Norwegian Music Publishing Association’s Annual Award in 2016 for Dirty Dancing, which Christiania Blåseensemble commissioned and premiered in 2015.
Orchestral Works
- 1992/2000 The Fourth Angel for trumpet and sinfonietta
- 1995–1996 Concerto for Cello and Orchestra
- 1996 Concerto for Trumpet and String Orchestra – Hommage
- 1997, revised 2003 The Cry of Fenrir – Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra
- 1998 Concerto for Trombone and String Orchestra
- 2000 Pierrot's Lament – Concerto for Euphonium and Orchestra
- 2003 Fanfares and Fairytales (Concerto No. 2 for Trombone and Orchestra)
- 2007 Wind Eyes
Wind Band Compositions
- 1992 Arctic Landscape for Military Band
- 1994 Preludium for Symphonic Band
- 1994 Triade – "The Angels of Destruction" for large wind ensemble
- 1998 Pang – Introduction No. 4 for Symphonic Band
- 2001 Concerto for Large Wind Ensemble (Pentagram), comprising:
- Call and Awakening
- Ritual I
- De Profundis
- Ritual II
- Call and Conclusion
- 2002 Cantilena: Cradle Song for solo trombone and wind band (recorded by SIMAX)
- 2002 Wings of Changes for Wind Ensemble
- 2004 Cantilena II: Mountain Song for euphonium and wind ensemble
- 2004 The Playground Project
- 2006 Cantilena III for three trombones and wind ensemble
- 2013 Ljodgata for Wind Band
- 2015 Dirty Dancing, premiered by Christiania Blåseensemble under conductor Peter Szilvay
For brass band
- 1988 Circius (various recordings)
- 1989 Abstractions
- 1990 Entrada: Introduction No. 2
- 1990–1991 Awakening
- 1991 The Binding of the Wolf
- 1993 Concerto for Bb Cornet and Brass Band
- 1996 Seid (version B from 2009) (DOYEN recording)
- 1998 Riffs and Interludes
- 1998/1999 Dynamis - Missa Sophia (LAWO recording)
- 1999 Mosquito for trombone and brass band
- 2000 Vikingkirken (The Viking Church) for Brass Band
- 2002/2005 Myth
- 2003 Aubade - Dawn Songs of the Fabulous Birds, test piece at the European Brass Band Competition, Bergen
- 2003 Bloodaxe Lament for Tuba and Brass Band
- 2005 Klotho and Hommage á Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- 2006 Steam Songs and Cantigas (LAWO recording)
- 2007 Blue Phrases for solo trumpet, electronics, and brass band; also Chant (LAWO recording)
- 2007/2008 Totem, Concerto grosso for brass band and electronics
- 2009 Euphonium Concerto
For choir
- 1992 Ensomme skip, female choir (SSAA), text by Rolf Jacobsen
- 1994/2010 Bølgje, mixed choir, text by Halldis Moren Vesaas
- 1996 I otta du rise, male choir (TTBB)
- 2001/2002 Aldri før..., mixed choir, text by Rolf Jacobsen
- 2002 Et annet lys, mixed choir, text by Stein Mehren
- 2005 Sorg, male choir, text by Stein Mehren
- 2008 Jolekvad, variations on In Dulci Jubilo, two female choirs
Vocal works with orchestral or instrumental accompaniment
- 1990/1991 Jacobsen sanger for baritone and trumpet, text by Rolf Jacobsen
- 1999 Det andre lyset for voice, saxophone, trombone, and piano, text by Stein Mehren
Cantatas and masses
- 1994 Vår jord, vår Evighet cantata for Tromsø's bicentennial celebration, featuring soprano, baritone, mixed choir, wind band, and strings – text by Rolf Jacobsen
- Preludium
- Det ryker
- Små lys på havet
- Nord
- Sol i sorg
- Hyss
- 1998/1999 Dynamis - Missa sophia composed for cornet, trombone, tuba, percussion, and brass band
Piano
- 1993 Hot-house - Drivhus
- 2000/2002 Views
- 2006 Akvarell (Watercolour) (dedicated to Rune Alver)
- 2008 Nattsvermer (for Rune Alver)
- 2009 Lofotbrev (written for Rune Alver)
- 2010 Blue Traces (for Rune Alver)
Chamber music
- 1989/95 Four Lyric Pieces composed for solo euphonium
- 1990 Black Rain written for solo euphonium
- 1991 Black Light, arranged for recorder, violin, alto voice and piano; alternate versions include recorder, violin, cello and harpsichord; also flute, oboe, violin and piano
- 1992/2001 The Fourth Angel, a work for trumpet and sinfonietta
- 1993 Novelle for Brass Ensemble, scored for various brass instruments
- 1996 two pieces: Fabula I and Fabula II, designed for mixed chamber ensembles
- 1996/98 sinfonietta series including Fabula III-V and Singing Landscape
- 1998 quartet titled Crossing Lines, featuring trombone, accordion, violin and cello
- 1998 percussion quartet named Glance of a Landscape
- 1999 piece called Light, written for trombone and percussion
- 1999 solo euphonium work titled Two Insects
- 2000/2001 compositions titled Spin and Kyklos, both for brass quintet
- 2002 ensemble piece called Winds of Change, scored for woodwinds and saxophones
- 2003 percussion trio named Knock
- 2005 trombone quartet entitled Of Night and Darkness
- 2008 piano trio with percussion called Blue Fragments, alongside sinfonietta piece titled The Season of Blue Lights
- 2009 electronic-enhanced tuba composition named Song for Kharon
- 2010 trumpet with electronics work titled Orpheus Lament
- 2016 duo piece called ‘’Musical Doodles’’ for accordion and cello
Discography
- Rune Alver, Blaue Blume (2011)
- Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces, Håkon Austbø, Peter Szilvay, Oiseaux exotiques (2009)
- Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag, Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces, Frisk Pust (2008)
- Ning Trio, Works by Barrett, Hagen, Buene, Aagaard-Nilsen, Apollyon (2004)
- Bodø Sinfonietta, Singing Landscape (2003)
- Helge Haukås, Jaren Marching Band, Silver Mountain (2002)
- Einar Røttingen, Avgarde (2000)
- Rolf Gupta, Stavanger Brass Band, The Colour-Gobbler: Stavanger Brass Band presents contemporary brass band music (1996)
- Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag, Kings Messenger (1995)
- David King, Introduction (1995)
- Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag, Light (1990)
References