Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen

Biography

Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen (born 11 January 1964) is a Norwegian contemporary composer.

Life

Aagaard-Nilsen was born in Oslo and grew up in Kabelvåg on Lofoten in northern Norway. From 1986 to 1990, he studied at the Bergen Conservatory of Music (now known as the Grieg Academy) and at the University of Bergen. From 1990 to 1994, he worked at the Bergen Conservatory as a teacher of contemporary classical music. Furthermore, he was leader of the Autunnale-festivalen - (Music Factory and Autunnale), also in Bergen.
In 1992 and 1993, he arranged and composed for the Forsvarets Stabsmusikkorps Vestlandet - Norwegian Army Band, Bergen (NABB), writing, among other works, Arctic Landscape. In this period Aagaard-Nilsen wrote many works for wind band and brass band.
As a composer, he has written for orchestra, chamber ensemble, choir, wind band and brass band. Works that exemplify Aagard-Nilsen's focus on narrative and visual aspects in a nearly impulsive form include Fabula I and Fabula II (1996), Sinfonietta (1998) and The Season of Blue Lights (2008) commissioned by BIT20 Ensemble. A stronger focus on expressive elements in Aagard-Nilsen's output is evident in works such as Pierrot's Lament (Concerto for Euphonium and Orchestra), premiered in 2001 with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra. The trumpet concerto Blue Phrases (2007), the sinfonietta The Season of Blue Light and quartet Blue Fragments (2008) are additional examples of Aagard-Nilsen's expressive focus; while the orchestral work Boreas Sings (2012) represents a new direction in which a spectrum of colours and dancing rhythms become evident. 2014 saw his orchestral work Boreas Blæs (2014) premiered by the Norwegian Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra at the opening ceremony of Stormen, Bodø's concert hall.
In 2016, Aagard-Nilsen received the Norwegian Music Publishing Association's Annual Award for his work Dirty Dancing, commissioned and premiered by the Christiania Blåseensemble in 2015.

For orchestra

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 rev.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"

For wind band

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)
Call and Awakening
Ritual I
De Profundis
Ritual II
Call and Conclusion
2002 Cantilena Cradle Song for solo trombone and wind band
2002 Wings of Changes for Wind Ensemble (Recordinglabel SIMAX)
2002 "Cantilena: Cradle song for trombone and wind band"
2004 Cantilena II: Mountain Song for euphonium and wind ensemble
2004 "The Playground Project"
2006 "Cantilena III for 3 trombones and wind ensemble
2013 Ljodgata for Wind Band
2015 Dirty Dancing, premiered by Christiania Blåseensemble conducted by 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 (also a version B from 2009) (recording on DOYEN)
1998 Riffs and Interludes
1998/1999 Dynamis - Missa Sophia (recording on LAWO)
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 for the 2003 European Brass Band Competition in Bergen, Norway)
2003 Bloodaxe Lament for Tuba and Brass Band
2005 "Klotho"
2005 Hommage á Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
2006 "Steam Songs"
2006 Cantigas (recording on LAWO)
2007 "Blue Phrases" for solo trumpet, electronics and brass band
2007 "Chant" (recording on LAWO)
2007/2008 "Totem" Concerto gross for brass band and electronics
2009 "Euphonium Concerto"

For choir

1992 Ensomme skip for female choir (SSAA) - text (Norwegian): Rolf Jacobsen
1994/2010 Bølgje for mixed choir - text (Norwegian): Halldis Moren Vesaas
1996 "I otta du rise" for male choir (TTBB)
2001/2002 Aldri før... for mixed choir - text (Norwegian): Rolf Jacobsen
2002 Et annet lys for mixed choir - text (Norwegian): Stein Mehren
2005 "Sorg" fir male choir - text (Norwegian): Stein Mehren
2008 "Jolekvad (variations on In Dulci Jubilo) for two female choir

Vocal works with orchestral or instrumental accompaniment

1990/1991 Jacobsen sanger for baritone and trumpet text: Rolf Jacobsen
1999 Det andre lyset for voice, saxophone, trombone and piano text: Stein Mehren

Cantatas and masses

1994 Vår jord, vår Evighet cantata for Tromsø on the occasion of the 200-year anniversary, for soprano, baritone, mixed choir, wind band and strings - text: Rolf Jacobsen
Preludium
Det ryker
Små lys på havet
Nord
Sol i sorg
Hyss
1998/1999 Dynamis - Missa sophia for cornet, trombone, tuba, percussion and brass band

Piano

1993 Hot-house - Drivhus
2000/2002 "Views"
2006 "Akvarell (Watercolour) (for Rune Alver)
2008 "Nattsvermer (for Rune Alver)
2009 "Lofotbrev (for Rune Alver)
2010 "Blue Traces" (for Rune Alver)

Chamber music

1989/95 "Four Lyric Pieces" for solo EUphonium
1990 "Black Rain" for solo Euphonium
1991 Black Light for recorder, violin, singer (alto) and piano, version 2: for recorder, violin, cello and harpsichord, version 3: for flute, oboe, violin and piano
1992/2001 "The Fourth Angel" for trumpet and sinfonietta
1993 Novelle for Brass Ensemble for 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, bass trombone, French horn and tuba
1996 Fabula I for flute, clarinet, vibraphone, piano, 2 violins, viola, cello and double bass
1996 Fabula II for oboe, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, percussion, 2 violins, viola, cello and double bass
1996/98 "Sinfonietta" (1. Fabula III, 2. Fabula IV, 3. Fabula V, 4. Singing Landscape) for sinfonietta
1998 Crossing Lines quartet for trombone, accordion, violin and cello
1998 Glance of a Landscape quartet for percussion
1999 Light for trombone and percussion
1999 "Two Insects" for Solo Euphonium
2000 "Spin" for brass quintet
2001 "Kyklos" for brass quintet
2002 Winds of Change for Oboe, E♭ clarinet, 3 B♭ clarinets, Bass Clarinet, and 2 Saxophones
2003 "Knock" for percussion trio
2005 "Of Night and Darkness" for trombone quartet
2008 "Blue Fragments" for Piano trio and percussion
2008 "The Season of Blue Lights" for sinfonietta
2009 "Song for Kharon" for tuba and electronics
2010 "Orpheus Lament" for trumpet and electronics
2016 "Musical Doodles" for accordion and cello