Favourite Nordic film composers?
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Ola can be a liiiiittle too slow sometimes, in his many ambient explorations, but this one is a gem. Melodic, sensous, kinda grand as it sneaks its way into the subconscious. The film is a great De Palma exercise for Joachim Trier; maybe still my favourite film of his.
Ola Kvernberg, who is currently working on the new PINCHCLIFFE GRAND PRIX movie (slated for a Christmas release) is an interesting composer who dabbles in jazz, folk music and progressive rock. But he has also done several film scores. This remains his best — using his main instrument violin/fiddle to create these swirling, bittersweet, waltz-like melodies. Although only 16 minutes in length, it’s a shame it has never been commercially released; this is a composer promo.
Alright….last Nordic recommendation for the day. Ólafur Arnalds is one of the those interesting Icelandic composers that keep the Jóhannsson tradition alive – slowmoving, slightly minimalist, melancholic. Nice guy too, I hung out with him a bit in Cannes some years ago. While this may be his most famous work, I prefer the two 2014 efforts GIMME SHELTER and LIFE IN A FISHBOWL more, the latter still not commercially released, AFAIK.
Finnish composer Panu Aaltio did some fabulous, lush work for this 2012 documentary (as well as its sequel TALE OF A LAKE), but he seems to have been caught up in various contemporary tropes in recent years(?). Either way, certainly one of the foremost composers from Finland, as I believe I mentioned on the first page already.
Anyone familiar with Pessi Levanto? Another Finn that has delivered some gems over the years. Listening to his SAATTO-KEIKKA (2017) at the moment, which has some fine Williams-esque passages (in Williams’ delicate drama style). Another one worth noting is OMA MAA (2018).
Yes, DE USKYLDIGE was a fine film, although the sound design-y score doesn’t work that well alone.
There was a curious situation with LA ELVA LEVE (2023), wherein Levanto is credited as composer, yet he didn’t write anything for it. The score was all Ola Fløttum’s. Levanto was credited because they applied for Finnish co-production money (according to people in the production that I spoke with), and they had to fill certain functions with Finnish people to do so, even if said people never did anything for it in the end. Kinda sneaky, if you ask me, but hey – if there’s a loophole in the system…
A fine score by Roy Westad, from 2017. Only 13 minutes in length and unreleased (the cover is mine), but great showcase of Eastern European/romani stylings, with cembalom and Bregovic-ian energy. But more to the point – Roy Westad has been hired to score the upcoming Norwegian adventure film KRAKEN, which premieres next year. Curious to hear what he’ll come up with, I’m sure you’ll all hear about this movie when it comes out.
Before the days of the two Johans (Johan Söderqvist and Jóhann Jóhannsson), Stefan Nilsson was IMO the greatest Nordic film composer. Of course, now both Nilsson and Jóhannsson have left this mortal coil, leaving Söderqvist as the “pater familias”.
Be that as it may, Nilsson has always been a major favourite for me. I even met him once, when we both participated in a seminar here in Oslo in the late 2000s. Such an expert in the melancholic, bittersweet, bucolic, pastoral — adjectives often used on Scandinavian sentiments. PELLE THE CONQUEROR stands as one of my absolute favourite Nordic scores of all time. I’ve reached him now, in my collection walkthrough. I have two individual soundtracks: SÅ SOM I HIMMELEN, featuring his eternal hymn “Gabriella’s Song”, and the PELLE THE CONQUERER album on Milan that is coupled with Björn Isfält’s MY LIFE AS A DOG.
But…if you need just one thing by him, you should definitely get this compilation from 1998, which is to die for. A must-have, really. I just wish it had more from the Tage & Alfredson collaborations, like JIM & PIRATERNA BLOM (1987), a rollicking swashbuckler score that sadly remains unreleased, AFAIK.
I’m surprised no-one’s mentioned Björn Isfält. For my money, this is some of the best film music there is. Too bad the score hasn’t gotten a proper release.
I’m surprised no-one’s mentioned Björn Isfält
I actually did mention his MY LIFE AS A DOG somewhere in the beginning of this 😉
I actually did mention his MY LIFE AS A DOG somewhere in the beginning of this.
I did, too, in fact right above Sigbjørn’s post. 🙂
Isfält is great, another one gone too soon. He has a similar compilation to the Nilsson one above that is also a must-have, IMO. It has a little bit of his Astrid Lindgren work, but not enough. Especially RONJA RÖVERDOTTER, which Sigbjørn mentions, deserves its own proper soundtrack.
He has a similar compilation to the Nilsson one above that is also a must-have, IMO.
Found the Nilsson compilation on my public library’s streaming service and will take a listen as soon as I get to it! I like his score/theme to PELLE a lot.
Especially RONJA RÖVERDOTTER, which Sigbjørn mentions, deserves its own proper soundtrack.
Sadly the Isfält one is not there. The movie is well know over here, too. Interesstingly there is a recent series with a Söderquist score. Have neither seen it nor listend to the score.
Interesstingly there is a recent series with a Söderquist score. Have neither seen it nor listend to the score.
Yes, I mini-reviewed it here, back in April of 2024.
Would love to hear what you think of the Nilsson once you get to it.
I actually did mention his MY LIFE AS A DOG somewhere in the beginning of this
I’m surprised I didn’t notice this.
I did, too, in fact right above Sigbjørn’s post.
…and this. I guess I was scanning for the score to Ronja in particular.
Thanks to Jon for alerting me to this! Beautiful synth score from 1989, for an ancient and forgotten Norwegian crime series. Album is a bit too long at 70 minutes, but not a lot of filler material. I’ve met Stein (Berge Svendsen) a few times, but never Erik.
I even met him once, when we both participated in a seminar here in Oslo in the late 2000s.
And wouldn’t you know it, I actually found a mini report that I did back in 2007. Oh, the memories! RIP, Stefan Nilsson.
Sure, if it were more current and longer. But a messageboard post for an event almost 20 years ago, maybe not so much. 😉
You could collect shorter ones into a longer article. Well if it is worth citing here it maybe is worth otherwise 😉
Thanks to Jon for alerting me to this! Beautiful synth score from 1989, for an ancient and forgotten Norwegian crime series. Album is a bit too long at 70 minutes, but not a lot of filler material. I’ve met Stein (Berge Svendsen) a few times, but never Erik.
It’s not a norwegian series, it’s an icelandic movie 😅
I often pass Erik’s house, and I see him now and then, but I have never talked to him.
The film is on YouTube.
It’s not a norwegian series, it’s an icelandic movie 😅
A-ha! Even more obscure. Wasn’t there a Norwegian police series called Foxtrot, though? Or something like it?
I love Søren Hyldgaard’s work, as well as Björn Isfält — two composers that were taken from us way too early.
And I’ve just now reached Hyldgaard in my collection walkthrough – listening to his gorgeous NOGET I LUFTEN (SOMETHING IN THE AIR) from 2011, which had its premiere release on Plantsounds last year. Only 20 minutes long, but it’s in that warm 90s melodrama style – think Cliff Eidelman’s A SIMPLE TWIST OF FATE or Michael Gore’s DEFENDING YOUR LIFE.
But if you need ONE Hyldgaard album, get the compilation EYE OF THE EAGLE – THE FILM MUSIC OF SØREN HYLDGAARD, which was reissued on Moviescore Media a few years ago (if memory serves, Kritzerland released it first?). Absolutely wonderful stuff.
Perhaps Google translate will help for this not understanding German, but its rare any film composer gets a portrait like Hildur Gudnadottir just got: https://www.epd-film.de/themen/nahaufnahme-von-hildur-gudnadottir
Perhpas we should have a topic “Did they mention the music?” which I think FSM had in the past.
Søren Hyldgaard’s
Heard the name but totally unfamiliar. The public library streaming service has exactly one album by hin and that’s NOGET I LUFTEN you recommended above. Put it on my list, will get to once I managed to listen to the Nilsson compilation 😉
Impressed they have NOGET I LUFTEN on a German public library streaming service, since it’s a boutique release. But cool!
Also, the aforementioned EYE OF THE EAGLE compilation is on Spotify:
Perhaps Google translate will help for this not understanding German, but its rare any film composer gets a portrait like Hildur Gudnadottir just got: https://www.epd-film.de/themen/nahaufnahme-von-hildur-gudnadottir
That’s nice with some coverage. I met Hildur once, during an event in Cannes, but that was before she hit it big. Right after Jóhannsson’s death, I think, in 2016. I like some of her work, but I also find lot of it quite “samey”. Jóhannsson was also rather static, but always managed to make his textures interesting and even beautiful. I haven’t quite heard that from Gudnadottir yet, even if I liked – and own – her JOKER score. I didn’t find 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE very appealing either, at least not in the film.
I don’t have Spotify, not even a free account 😉 But probably I find it on Youtube to sample, too. I am not actual fan of hers and I know far to few things by her for that, too. I like JOKER, too. At least she stands out doing things a bit off the mainstream if you will.
I never got into Johannsson that much which I indeed found a bit static. But I really like ARRIVAL and it was fitting in the movie.
Impressed they have NOGET I LUFTEN on a German public library streaming service, since it’s a boutique release. But cool!
There is a lot to be found. They have some Intradas, their re-recordings, many Buysoundtrax releases, some Vareses and a lot of mainstream releases, too. But it is a shadow of the content on Spotify and else of course.
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