[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.

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