WORKS

Released in November 2023 on the label Klokkereint, the album Jazzfonietta brings together a string quartet, a sax quartet, a brass quartet, a «rhythm section» consisting of accordion, double bass and drum set, plus an extra percussionist and flutist, with music written and conducted by David Hveem. The ambition was to make music precisely in the intersection between modern jazz/improvised music and modern art music; exactly where it ended up may not be so easy to put your finger on - just as it should be.

With a star team of young Norwegian musicians and a relatively different way in thinking ensemble construction than most others in the jazz field, the stage is set for a release packed with fantastic soloist performances, well-composed ensemble parts, and a particularly rich and interesting soundscape that is constantly changing. 

You can listen to the music here or see several videos from the recording here.

Det rekomponerte Nye was released in 2023 together with Det Nye Norske Storband (The New Norwegian Big Band). The compositions on the album is based on improvisations from the various members of the band, cut into pieces and recomposed by David Hveem. Written for a standard big band lineup (5 saxes, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones and rhythm section), the various pieces highlights both the great ensemble playing while maintaining spots for all the great soloists of the band.

In relation to the release of the three singles from the recording, I make some videos that explains some of the compositional process which you'll find here: Arizona Skater, Jassbilen and Orsak!

Quincunx was commissioned by the New Norwegian Big Band (Det Nye Norske Storband) for their project Orch - so named because the ensemble was expanded with an orchestra for the occasion - in March 2022. The project was overseen by Helge Sunde, and a total of four composers each wrote 20–25 minutes of music.

Quincunx was composed around the number 5 and various ways of playing with that number, hence the title corresponding to a geometric figure: "an arrangement of five things in a square or rectangle with one at each corner and one in the middle". 

Samtidig, ein annan stad enn no was commissioned by Hygge Korpsensemble for the Norwegian Championships for Wind Bands in March 2023. The piece consists of three movements played as one continuous whole, with the ensemble’s positioning in the room changing from movement to movement in line with the music.

Movement I "enn no", aims to draw the audience and musicians into a sonic universe centered around a horn solo that occupies most of the movement. The fragments presented by the soloist, along with the various timbres and motifs used by the ensemble, surround one another and simultaneously offer important hints of what’s to come in the following movements.

Movement II "Samtidig,", is the folk music-inspired, dance-like main section of the piece, where the recurring main theme in particular is meant to come across as playfully light. Here, the music is varied and developed in a more "traditional" sense, and although the rhythmic aspects can be quite intricate at times, the clear, singable themes keep the listener engaged and guide us forward.

Movement III "ein annan stad", brings it all together through a renewed use of space, while also introducing a new element in the form of a sung text. The poem "Morfar til minne" was written by Odd Eirik Sætre Færevåg, who also provided the title of the piece, "Samtidig, ein annan stad enn no."

Den vesle bygda som glømte at det var jul was commissioned by Elvebyen Messingkvartett in 2021, and had it's premiere on a Christmas tour in December that year. The brass quartet performed a small tour of the piece in the following years.

Composed as a 35 minute piece based on the text by Alf Prøysen, it included detailed performance notes for all the four members of the brass quartet doubling as actors, and one as the narrator of the story.

This composition was made possible thanks to the support of Det Norske Komponistfond.

For the recording Paintings of an Exhibition by the Silent Explosion Orchestra I arranged the opening and closing versions of Mussorgskys promenade theme from Pictures at an Exhibition, which you can hear briefely in the video.

For the Norwegian Radio Orchestra's tribute to Norwegian singer-songwriter Lillebjørn Nilsen, I had the opportunity to arrange two songs for the orchestra together with vocalist Tuva Syvertsen. Click on the image to the left to listen to the arrangement in NRK's online player. Here you can also hear my arrangement of the song Jørgens blues, from the same project.

On several occasions I have arranged for the Oslo Fagottkor Christmas show, and in 2019 I made an arrangement of Kate Bush's beautiful December Will Be Magic Again. The arrangement had to be adapted to the song's function in the show, and new choreography was created for the music.

In addition to the male choir with a soloist, the choir has a small orchestra at its Christmas shows, which is also in action here.

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Vålerenga Mannskor the choir commissioned a number of new arrangements of music with texts associated with Vålerenga. One of these was the poem Mitt kongerike by Wilhelm Holteberg-Hansen, with melody by Are Volmert Sørensen.

The arrangement is structured with some aleatoric parts, and allows the choir to make use of the concert venue with some variations in positioning for the choir.

For the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporations annual fundraising telethon (the world's largest fundraising campaign), I arranged the tune Noe for Norwegian artist Lars Vaular in 2023. It was recorded live with The Norwegian Radio Orchestra in their rehearsal space Store Studio.

One of my personal Christmas favorites is Jul, jul, strålande jul by Edvard Evers with music by Gustaf Nordqvist. The arrangement on the left was commissioned by Jaren Hornmusikkforening and soloist Gunda-Marie Bruce, both an ensemble and singer I have had the chance to work with on several occasions.

In this arrangement, I have tried to preserve the core of both the melody and lyrics, but given it more time and space to breathe than the way this song is traditionally performed.

The arrangement is one of several I’ve written that have been published by Norsk Musikkforlag, and therefore also received a great recording by the Royal Norwegian Navy Band. It has been released for both wind band and brass band.

Although the arrangement is written for a vocal soloist, it also works excellently with a solo instrument instead, and you can choose whether or not to include guitar, in order to stay even more true to the original recording.

For the Norwegian Radio Orchestra's traditional Christmas selebration in 2023, I had the opportunity to arrange several songs for the orchestra together with various traditional folk singers. Click on the image to listen to the arrangement in NRK's online player. Here you can also hear my other arrangements from the concerts of traditional Norwegian Christmas songs.