World Premiere at BrassWind Festival

The stage is set for the world premiere of “Hunting Low and High – six variations for euphonium and wind ensemble”. Tormod commissioned the work from the young and important composer Ørjan Matre and it is supported by the Arts Council Norway. The 19 minute work is accompanied by the Norwegian Army Band, Bergen (Forsvarets Musikkorps Vestlandet) and their artistic director Trond Korsgård. The concert will take place at Teatergarasjen in Bergen at 1930 on Friday September 29 as part of the BrassWind Festival. The work is very exciting and it promises to be an event not to be missed! Take a look at the score.

Here’s what the composer writes about his piece:

Hunting Low and High is inspired by the traditional virtuoso air varie solos which the euph repertoire is so full of. In these works a rather simple melody is usually developed into more and more breathtaking variations. The aim is to impress the audience as much as possible, and to show what our hero, the soloist, can do. My work is in many ways a meta-solo. It is a variation type solo, but it also comments the variation type solos. It is a virtuoso work, but it also comments on the virtuosity.

The work follows the air varie structure, with an introduction, variations and cadenzas, but the outcome is rather unusual – the work collapses under the weight of all the crazy virtuoso ideas.

Hunting Low and High is almost a parody, but every good parody is made with love. It is full of bizarre humour, but has also got a sad undertone – what is the soloist hunting for (low and high)? A meaning behind all the tones?