[Thor Joachim Haga]

Since this is a Norwegian site, but with an international audience, I thought it would be interesting to have a thread where us Nordic folks recommend some of our own, and the non-Nordic folks recommend what’s registered for them on the international scene.

What are some of your favourite Nordic film composers — dead or alive?

[Malte Müller]

I can’t say I have real favorites as my knowledge is a bit (quite) limited but here are some more or less recent TV scores I found quite fitting:

• Jacob Groth: Millennium, Ørnen
• Halfdan E: Borgen
• Fläskkvartetten: The 2nd Wallander movie series
• Frans Bak: The Killing (The original version)
• and a little older: Stefan Nilsson: Pelle The Conquerer

[Thor Joachim Haga]

Good selection, Malte. Stefan Nilsson is genius. PELLE THE CONQUEROR is one of my favourite Nordic scores of all time, and I treasure my Nilsson compilation dearly.

Frans Bak I know personally; I particularly loved his recent score for the series DISPARUE.

Halfdan E is a friend of mine too, and he regularly does good stuff, although he’s missing that one big breakthrough assignment.

Fläskkvartetten is a group that doesn’t get the credit they deserve. Their score for the Norwegian movie EGGS was great; one of the best Norwegian films of the 90s.

Jacob Groth I’m familiar with, but haven’t really taken the time to check out his work.

I love Søren Hyldgaard’s work, as well as Björn Isfält — two composers that were taken from us way too early.

[Malte Müller]

I am not surprised that you know a bunch of them personally 🙂 I have to explore more of their work.

I am totally unfamiliar with Søren Hyldgaard but I do know at least “My Life As A Dog” by Isfält.

I also know Bengt Nilsson, Adam Norden, Johann Johannsson, Johan Söderquist, Tuomas Kantelinen and Atil Övarsson peripherically who I think are also Nordic composers. I thought Ceiri Torjussen was Nordic but is actually Welsh.

[Thor Joachim Haga]

I sometimes think about who is the “greatest” living composer within each Nordic country. Of course, what ‘greatest’ means is in the eye of the beholder. But some international exposure is needed for my parameters, I think.

NORWAY — no doubt, the greatest living legends of Norwegian film music are Bøhren & Åserud. But they never had much exposure outside Norway, and they’ve not been very active in the last 20 years. I’m tempted to choose Knut Avenstroup Haugen — based on the immense success of his videogames scores, especially AGE OF CONAN. But soon also a new DUNE game.

DENMARK — Per Nørgård is still alive, age 92, and probably the greatest composer living in Denmark at the moment, but he only did a few scores. Again, I’m tempted to go to videogames and choose Jesper Kyd. He’s a big shot in that industry.

ICELAND — after the passing of Jóhann Jóhannsson, there’s no doubt that the greatest living Icelandic film composer is his protegée, Hildur Gudnadottir. No offense to Atli Örvarsson, Olafur Arnalds and others.

FINLAND — this is tricky. There was a time I would say Tuomas Kantelinen, but these days I’m more tempted to choose Panu Aaltio.

SWEDEN — this is easy. Johan Söderqvist continues to dominate throughout the Nordic countries (he also does lots of Norwegian films). He’s probably the greatest in the Nordic countries right now, after the death of Jóhannsson.

[Malte Müller]

As as side note: Some time ago I discovered an ice ballet, “Snow Queen” in English, by Kantelinen via our French-German broadcaster arte: https://www.arte.tv/de/videos/112555-000-A/die-schneekoenigin-als-eis-ballett/ (probably the video is geo blocked for you though…)

[Thor Joachim Haga]

I’ll check that out, thanks! Good to hear that he’s keeping busy. There haven’t been any buzz scores by him lately, AFAIK.

[Thor Joachim Haga]

Eirik Myhr is a Norwegian composer who is also a member here, and I hope will chime in soon. He’s been a friend of mine for at least 15 years, and he’s produced some fine scores, especially for theatre. My favourite thus far is probably THE LIONHEART BROTHERS, a play based on the Astrid Lindgren book. He’s currently working on a new theatre adaptation of Narnia, nothing less. I’ve heard some clips, and they sound beautiful. Any words on the progress, Eirik?

[Eirik Myhr]

Chiming in to wish everyone a happy easter! 🐣

Good to be back on the forum, and what a great idea to bring it back, Thor!
In this age of Facebook Fatigue™, I have often missed the good old-fashioned messageboard format.

Thanks for the kind words. My theatre score for THE LEGEND OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE (which is in fact the first new stage dramatisation in over 40 years to be approved by the C.S. Lewis estate!) will be released in full in the autumn. But before that, there will be three singles, the first one already in one week. You can in fact pre-save it here: https://frontl.ink/kaqbqgn

[Nick Zwar]

Jóhann Jóhannsson was terrific, enjoy a lot of is work.

[Nick Zwar]

My favorite current “Nordic” composer is hands down Esa-Pekka Salonen. What a terrific and unique composer. He has not actually composed any film music, though he has conducted some.

[Thor Joachim Haga]

I wasn’t even aware that Salonen composed music.

[Nick Zwar]

Salonen is a superb composer. Like Mahler in his day was more known as a superb conductor, so it is with Salonen, but he is a very original, fascinating and modern composer. Salonen actually only became a conductor so he could ensure at least someone would perform his music.

[Thor Joachim Haga]

I would have to double-check, but I believe I only have two Salonen albums. The Herrmann CD and the Debussy CD with IMAGES/LA MER/A L’APRES-MIDI D’UN FAUNE. So not very impressive collection.

But thanks for the heads-up! I’ll try to sample some of his own compositions.

[Nick Zwar]

Well, those two are very good ones for sure, both of the recording you mention I have and would highly recommend. The Salonen recording of Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune may be the one I would pick if I could keep only one of the recordings I have. I’ve got more Salonen (Mahler, Bartók, Lutoslawski, etc.); of all the recordings of Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du Printemps I have, I think Salonen’s is my favorite (packs a lot of whop).

My first encounter with Salonen as a composer was an album with five of his compositions, which I picked up in 2001: LA Variations, Five Images After Sappho, Giro, Mania, Gambit
I don’t think I ever listened to them all at once in a row, as I like to let them sink in, I started with “L.A. Vartiations” and then “Gambit”, and the others at a later time (even after I had some other Salonen albums). The last was “Five Images after Sappho”, which was beautiful when I finally listened to it, I just had to wait for the right moment. It’s a great album if you are interested in contemporary classical music by a great composer/conductor. Top album. That was my start with Salonen as a composer, I have since picked up most of what is officially recorded/released (violin concerto, piano concerto, etc.)

Salonen: LA Variations, etc./Salonen

As a starting point, the album “Wing on Wing” may be a good album for those with a film music background, it contains very “filmic” orchestral pieces, such “Foreign Bodies” and “Insominia”.

My most recent acquisition is his cello concerto with Yo-Yo Ma (released on Pentatone), but I haven’t yet listened to it.

[Forfatter]

Innlegg