For far too long, I’ve neglected my works after their premieres. A significant amount of work remains after a world premiere—post-production, proofreading, revisions, and, most importantly, publication. However, I’m now in the middle of a larger effort to revise and publish sheet music and bring order to my archives.
I’ve had far too few scores published, which makes it harder to get my music programmed. But this issue is frustrating on multiple levels. My archives contain multiple drafts or versions of the same piece, making it difficult to locate the correct materials for a performance or an application. One of the tasks my composition assistant is currently helping with is speeding up this process.
Two pieces are now available on NBnoter: my oldest and newest solo works! My assistant has been invaluable as a proofreader and layout reviewer. Naturally, I handle all musical decisions myself, so a significant part of the work still rests on my shoulders. But it’s incredibly helpful to have someone to spar with, handle tedious tasks, and simply be there to keep the workflow moving. Sometimes, just knowing someone is waiting for me to finish so they can take the next step makes all the difference.
Soon, an older piece that previously only existed in handwritten form will be available. For that, Astrid transcribed the music into Sibelius for me. There have also been a few older works where I couldn’t figure out which version was the final one. In those cases, she’s had to compare multiple drafts to identify differences and determine which version to use. Progress is slow but steady!
As I mentioned, two works are now on NB, and I’m sending off another one today. Several more are on the way, so stay tuned!
About the two pieces:
here you can read the piece at NBnoter
“Sjonero Solo” is my oldest solo work. During my composition studies at the Norwegian Academy of Music, I had a principal instrument exam. My flute teacher, Sissel Dørum, insisted I write a piece for myself. I didn’t have the time or energy to create something entirely new, so I looked at what I already had. “Sjonero” was a piece for oboe and piano that had never quite worked – it was finished, but it never left the drawer. The whole piece essentially belongs to my very short serialist period.
Despite its flaws, the piece had something compelling about it, so I began reworking it. I extracted the oboe part, refined it, and adapted sections to work specifically for flute. Once I let go of all the old ideas surrounding the original “Sjonero”, I could play musically with the material.
Now, “Sjonero Solo” is available in a newly restored layout at NBnoter!
“Lush darkness – glaring light” was composed for Clare Farr’s debut CD. There isn’t a vast repertoire for solo bass trombone, nor are there many female bass trombonists, and even fewer solo bass trombone pieces by female composers. So this is something of a rarity. I aimed to write a piece that suited Clare’s unique playing style. What was wonderful to hear was that, in one section with sparse interpretative markings, she played it exactly as I had envisioned. The piece includes some virtuosic passages—because a solo work simply needs that—but perhaps it’s the beautiful melody that ultimately stands out. Clare’s album has been out in the world for some time and has received several glowing reviews! – and now you can also view and purchase the sheet music on NBnoter!
here you can read the piece at NBnoter