Some years seem to be all about doing new things, thinking in new ways and getting new perspectives. Up until now 2014 is one of those years. From the end of April to the end of May I will have performed nine new pieces. That’s nine different musical countries and continents and landscapes to assimilate myself into! Will I loose myself and get lost in the mace of tonalities and rhythms? Or will it be a walk in the park? I’m guessing somewhere in between.
First… ”Lux Illuxit- officium st Olav”. Here, I am working with Elisabeth Vatn, Poul Høxbro, Britt Pernille Frøholm and Anders Røine, to create a musical web in, out and around the Office of St Olav (from around 1170), using folk music, improvisation and all the musical knowledge we have of medieval music. OK, the music is not new. But the setting and the sound will be.
Then… Gotland and seven new pieces for song and piano, written by seven young composers studying at Gotland school of Music Composition.Kenneth Karlsson and I have been working with these students over the past year and now it’s finally time for us to show the world these musical treasures! There is hope for the future! We have some great music here and the process has been very exciting!
After Gotland I will travel to Piteå, ”New Directions Festival” together with Cikada. World premiere of Henrik Hellstenius ”Sounds of places and words”. Talking about this project without using too many superlatives will be hard. Both Henrik and Cikada are two of my all time favorites, so I will just leave it there.
In between all this I will record the opera Ophelias:death by water singing (with superb colleagues such as Tora Augestad, Silje Aker Johnson, Ebba Rydh and ensemble Cikada). Now this! Again it’s the work of Henrik Hellstenius and it’s… No, I will have to write a post of its own about ”Ophelias…” Coming soon. (in the meantime you can see video clips from the premiere performance on my Media page)
There will also be some ”Old” music: Lully and Bach at Trollhättan tidigmusikdagar (and a gig in the local pub with Odd Size. No rules- just music.)
All of this in May. So…come what May?