COMPOSER

With a predilection for large ensembles, it is natural that most of my output as a composer is written for big bands and wind bands, but below you will also find examples of music for other ensembles, both large and small.

The featured compositions and projects are followed by a broader list of works at the bottom of the page, divided into sections of compositions for big band, other jazz ensembles, wind band and other ensembles.

Please get in touch if you are interested in hearing more about my music or performing any of the compositions, or if you want to talk about commissioning new music for you or your ensembles.

Det rekomponerte nye

released February 2023

  • The music for the project Det rekomponerte Nye (“The recomposed New”) is based on improvisations from some of the members of Det Nye Norske Storband (The New Norwegian Big Band). Phrases, rhythmic ideas and chords were extracted as small fragments from the improvisations, and joined together with a lot of my own ideas to become the music on the album.

    The project was recorded in Newtone in May 2022, and released in February 2023.

  • Almost standard big band line-up:

    5 saxophones (alto/sop, alto, ten, ten, bari)
- 4 trumpets (4th double flhn)
- 3 trombones + tuba/cimbasso
- Electric guitar
- Piano
- Electric and double bass
- Drum kit

  • In connection with the singles ahead of the album release, I made some simple videos explaining parts of the composing process, which you can find here: Arizona Skater, Jassbilen and Orsak!

samtidig, ein annan stad enn no

commissioned by Hygge Korpsensemble

  • Samtidig, ein annan stad enn no was commissioned by Hygge Korpsensemble for the Norwegian Wind Band National Championship in March 2023. The piece is comprised of three movements played as one, where the position of the band in the room varies from movement to movement.

    Movement I, "enn no", attempts to take the audience and musicians into a sound universe centered around the horn solo that fills most of the movement. The fragments presented by the soloist and the various sounds and motifs used by the band encircle each other, and at the same time introduces melodic fragments used in the next movements.

    Movement II, "samtidig," is the folk music-inspired dance-like main part of the piece, where especially the main theme tries to appear playfully light. Here the music is varied and developed in a more "traditional" sense, and although the rhythmic aspect of the music is sometimes quite intricate, the clear, singable themes guide the listener's ears onward.

    Movement III, "ein annan stad", summarizes it all through a new use of the performance space, and at the same time adds a new element through the text that is sung by the Soprano soloist. The poem, "Morfar til minne", was written by Odd Eirik Sætre Færevåg, who also wrote the title of the piece, "Samtidig, ein annan stad enn no».

  • Woodwind: Piccolo, 2 flute parts, alto flute, oboe, English horn, bassoon, 3 clarinet parts, bass clarinet, soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophone

    Brass: 3 trumpet parts, 4 horn parts, 3 trombone parts, 2 euphonium parts, tuba

    4 percussionists

    Cello, accordion (both opt.) and soprano voice

Quincunx

for big band and orchestra

  • Quincunx was commissioned by Det Nye Norske Storband (The New Norwegian Big Band) for their project "Orch" (since the line-up was expanded with an orchestra for the occasion), and premiered in March 2022. The project was supervised by Helge Sunde, and a total of four composers wrote 20-25 minutes of music each.

    Quincunx was composed around the number 5 and different ways of playing with this number, hence the title of the piece. At the concert, I conducted the performance.

  • Woodwinds: 2 flutes, oboe, two clarinets, two bassoons, five saxophones (sop, alto, ten, ten, bari)

    Brass: 4 horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, cimbasso/tuba

    Comp: Guitar, piano, bass, drums, 3 percussion instruments (melodic and various percussion)

    Strings

den vesle bygda

som glømte at det var jul

  • Den vesle bygda som glømte at det var jul was commissioned by Elvebyen Messingkvartett in 2021, and premiered on tour in December the same year. The performance is based on Alf Prøysen's text of the same name, with newly composed music by David Hveem. All four performers also participate as actors with simple direction and lines, in addition to the hornist's dual role as narrator.

The piece was created with support from the Norwegian Composers' Fund.

  • Brass quartet (2021) : trumpet & piccolo trumpet, flugelhorn & trumpet, French horn & narrator, euphonium

    or

    Brass quartet (2023): trumpet & piccolo trumpet, flugelhorn & trumpet, euphonium & narrator, tuba

  • In addition to the score and excerpts below, please contact Elvebyen Messingkvartett if you are interested in booking a performance of the work, or contact me if you have any other questions.