Sunleif Rasmussen
Encyclopedia
Sunleif Rasmussen is the foremost Faroese composer of classical music.
Rasmussen studied in Norway
, then returned to Tórshavn
in the Faroes as music teacher and jazz
pianist. From 1990 to 1995 he studied musical composition at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen
under Ib Nørholm
and electronic music under Ivar Frounberg. In 1992 he received grants from the Leonnie Sonning Foundation and the Danish Composer's Society.
He also became familiar with spectral music
, which has its roots at the IRCAM
in Paris
, and the work of composers such as Tristan Murail
. Rasmussen has produced a number of works combining electronic and acoustic instruments, some produced in co-operation with DIEM (the Danish Institute for Electro-Acoustic Music).
In 1997 he was awarded a three-year grant from the Danish State Arts Foundation.
In 2002 he won the Nordic Council Music Prize
for his Symphony no. 1 - "Oceanic Days", which, in the NOMUS committee description: "derives its inspiration from Faroese nature and from age-old Faroese hymns, from which Rasmussen has created a work of comprehensive dimensions. It radiates a natural artistic integrity, combining tightness and structure with lyric feeling."
In 2004 he was visiting composer at the prestigious Korsholm
Festival in Finland
.
and spectral music
. He transforms folk music themes using spectral and serial
techniques, using intervals
in the original melody to generate rhythmic segments and harmonic overtone spectra to determine the melodic and timbral material; the result is an abstraction from Faroese traditional music, even though none of the original melodies can be discerned in the finished composition. He also draws much inspiration from the Faroese author and artist William Heinesen
(1900-1991), using both the text and the mood of Heinesen's poetry in his music.
The result is highly evocative, beautiful, and not difficult to listen to. The power and complexity of his music often reflects nature, shimmering with energy and movement.
Orchestral works:
Solo instrument and orchestra/ensemble
Large chamber ensemble
Chamber works
Solo instrument
Vocal works
Rasmussen studied in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, then returned to Tórshavn
Tórshavn
Tórshavn is the capital and largest town of the Faroe Islands. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy. To the north west of the town lies the high mountain Húsareyn, and to the southwest, the high Kirkjubøreyn...
in the Faroes as music teacher and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
pianist. From 1990 to 1995 he studied musical composition at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
under Ib Nørholm
Ib Nørholm
Ib Nørholm is a Danish composer and organist.Nørholm studied with Vagn Holmboe at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, where he later taught , becoming a professor in 1981...
and electronic music under Ivar Frounberg. In 1992 he received grants from the Leonnie Sonning Foundation and the Danish Composer's Society.
He also became familiar with spectral music
Spectral music
Spectral music is a musical composition practice where compositional decisions are often informed by the analysis of sound spectra. Computer-based sound spectrum analysis using tools like DFT, FFT, and spectrograms...
, which has its roots at the IRCAM
IRCAM
IRCAM is a European institute for science about music and sound and avant garde electro-acoustical art music. It is situated next to, and is organizationally linked with, the Centre Pompidou in Paris...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and the work of composers such as Tristan Murail
Tristan Murail
Tristan Murail is a French composer. His father, Gérard Murail, is a poet and his mother, Marie-Thérèse Barrois, a journalist. One of his brothers, Lorris Murail, and his younger sister Elvire Murail, aka Moka, also write, and his younger sister Marie-Aude Murail is a French children's writer...
. Rasmussen has produced a number of works combining electronic and acoustic instruments, some produced in co-operation with DIEM (the Danish Institute for Electro-Acoustic Music).
In 1997 he was awarded a three-year grant from the Danish State Arts Foundation.
In 2002 he won the Nordic Council Music Prize
Nordic Council Music Prize
The Nordic Council Music Prize is awarded annually by NOMUS, the Nordic Music Committee. Every two years it is awarded for a work by a living composer...
for his Symphony no. 1 - "Oceanic Days", which, in the NOMUS committee description: "derives its inspiration from Faroese nature and from age-old Faroese hymns, from which Rasmussen has created a work of comprehensive dimensions. It radiates a natural artistic integrity, combining tightness and structure with lyric feeling."
In 2004 he was visiting composer at the prestigious Korsholm
Korsholm
Korsholm is a municipality of Finland. The town of Vaasa was founded in Korsholm parish in 1606 and today the municipality completely surrounds the city. It is a coastal, mostly rural municipality, consisting of a rural landscape and a large, fractured archipelago...
Festival in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
.
Music
Rasmussen’s music always has a natural complexity, combining his jazz background with a rich tradition of Faroese folk music and electroacousticElectroacoustic music
Electroacoustic music originated in Western art music during its modern era following the incorporation of electric sound production into compositional practice. The initial developments in electroacoustic music composition during the mid-20th century are associated with the activities of composers...
and spectral music
Spectral music
Spectral music is a musical composition practice where compositional decisions are often informed by the analysis of sound spectra. Computer-based sound spectrum analysis using tools like DFT, FFT, and spectrograms...
. He transforms folk music themes using spectral and serial
Serialism
In music, serialism is a method or technique of composition that uses a series of values to manipulate different musical elements. Serialism began primarily with Arnold Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique, though his contemporaries were also working to establish serialism as one example of...
techniques, using intervals
Interval (music)
In music theory, an interval is a combination of two notes, or the ratio between their frequencies. Two-note combinations are also called dyads...
in the original melody to generate rhythmic segments and harmonic overtone spectra to determine the melodic and timbral material; the result is an abstraction from Faroese traditional music, even though none of the original melodies can be discerned in the finished composition. He also draws much inspiration from the Faroese author and artist William Heinesen
William Heinesen
Andreas William Heinesen was a poet, composer and painter from the Faroe Islands.- His Writing :The Faroese capital Tórshavn is always the centre of Heinesen's writing. He is famous for having once called Tórshavn "The Navel of the World". His writing focuses on contrasts between darkness and...
(1900-1991), using both the text and the mood of Heinesen's poetry in his music.
The result is highly evocative, beautiful, and not difficult to listen to. The power and complexity of his music often reflects nature, shimmering with energy and movement.
Works
His works include:Orchestral works:
- 1990: Grave - In memoriam Karsten Hoydal for String orchestra + percussion (11 or 22 strings: 3.3.2.2.1) (09'00)
- 1995: Vox Humana, the song of the sea - for orchestra and tape for 3.3.3.3/4.3.3.1/timpani/2 percussion/harp/strings (22'00)
- 1995-97: Symphony no. 1 - "Oceanic Days" for 4.4.4.4/4.4.4.1/4 percussion/2 synth/strings (min. 12.12.10.8.6) (40'00)
- 2003: De grædendes nat for children's choir (including 3 soloists) + 3.3.3.3/4.3.3.1/2 percussion/harp/strings (15'00)
- 2004: Movings and Melodies for 2.2.2.2/2.2.1.0/timpani/percussion/5.5.3.3.2 (17'00)
- 2008: Prelude to an Orchestra
Solo instrument and orchestra/ensemble
- 1992-93: Landid for soprano solo + 3.3.3.3/4.3.3.1/timpani/2 percussion/harp/piano/strings (15'00)
- 1996: Tilegnelse for mezzo-soprano solo + 1.0.1.1/0.1.0.0/2 percussion/harp/guitar/0.0.1.0.1 (10'00)
- 2000: Rejsen for soprano, tenor, bass soli, mixed choir + 3.3.3.3/2.3.3.1/timpani/percussion/piano/strings (30'00)
- 2001: Dem Licht entgegen for saxophone solo + 3.3.3.3/4.3.2.1/timp/2 percussion/piano/strings (18'30)
- 2004: Songs of Seasons for violin solo + string orchestra (10.0.4.3.2) (22'00)
Large chamber ensemble
- 1999: Trauer und Freude for 1.0.1.1/1.0.0.0/piano (+cemb)/guitar/1.1.1.1.0 (21'00)
- 2000: Surrounded for 1.1.1.1/1.1.1.0/percussion/piano/1.1.1.1.1 (13'00)
Chamber works
- 1989: Fantasi yvir Tívilsdøtur for clarinet and horn (04'00)
- 1989-90: Strygekvartet nr. 1 for string quartet (10'00)
- 1990: Vetrarmyndir for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn and piano (09'00)
- 1991: Tid, ild, baglæns (Time, fire, backwards) for twelve singers and tape (16'30)
- 1995: Cantus Borealis for Wind Quintet (13'00)
- 1995: Dancing Raindrops for clarinet, piano and violin (12'00)
- 1998: Pictures from the sea’s garden for saxophone and percussion (15'00)
- 1999: Mozaik/Miniature for flute, clarinet, piano and violin (07'00)
- 2000: Sunshine and Shadows for string quartet (13'00)
- 2002: Nordisk Fanfare for 2 horns, 2 trumpets, trombone and tuba (04'00)
- 2002: Engführung for chamber choir, piano and cello (20'00)
- 2003: Four Gardens for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, piano, violin, viola and cello (15'00)
Solo instrument
- 1992: Echoes of the Past for violin solo (12'00)
- 1993: A light is lit for organ solo and tape (10'00)
- 1993: Like the golden sun for piano solo and effect processor (12'00)
- 1997: Chaindance with Shadows for amplified piano solo (12'00)
- 2001: Le psaume salé for saxophone solo + tape + live-electronics (10'00)
- 2007: Suite for guitar solo and effect processor (15'00)
Vocal works
- 1982-89, revised 1992: 5 færøske korsange (5 Faroese choir songs) for chamber choir or large mixed choir (11'30)
- 1983, revised 1993: Vár for Soprano, baritone soli + chamber choir, (SATB), fl, cl (09'20)
- 1995: Psalmus 8 for soloists, choir and organ (08'00)
- 1996: Creatio caeli et terrae. Dies unus for triple choir (SATB+SATB+SATB) (09'00)
- 1999: Arktis for mezzo-soprano solo + clarinet, percussion, harp and cello (08'00)
- 1996: Creatio caeli et terrae for 2 violins and choir (SATB) (12'00), commissioned by RIAS KammerchorRIAS KammerchorThe RIAS Kammerchor is a professional chamber choir of the RIAS in Berlin, founded originally for contemporary music, with an international reputation.-History:...
and Duo GellandDuo GellandDuo Gelland is a Swedish-German violin duo on the international classical scene. It was founded in 1994.-Biography:Duo Gelland was founded in 1994...
Recordings
Recordings of Rasmussen's music include:- Rasmussen - Symphony No 1; Saxophone Concerto, Danish National Symphony OrchestraDanish National Symphony OrchestraThe Danish National Symphony Orchestra , is a Danish orchestra based in Copenhagen. The DNSO is the principal orchestra of DR...
, Hannu Lintu (Conductor), Jeanette Balland (saxophone) - Da Capo, May 2005 - Sunleif Rasmussen - Surrounded: Arktis (The Arctic), Mozaik / Miniature, Tilegnelse (Dedication), Trauer und Freude, Helene Gjerris (mezzo-soprano), Caput Ensemble, Guthmundur Oli Gunnarsson, Guthni Franzson - BIS RecordsBIS RecordsBIS Records is a record label founded in 1973 by Robert von Bahr. It is located in Åkersberga, Sweden.BIS focuses on classical music, both contemporary and early, especially works that are not already well represented by existing recordings....
- Cantus borealis: Wind Music from Faroe Islands includes Rasmussen: Cantus Borealis for wind quintet, Reykjavík Wind Quintet - BIS RecordsBIS RecordsBIS Records is a record label founded in 1973 by Robert von Bahr. It is located in Åkersberga, Sweden.BIS focuses on classical music, both contemporary and early, especially works that are not already well represented by existing recordings....
- Landid for Soprano And Symphony Orchestra, Gerandisdagur I Havn For Soprano And String Orchestra, Grave In Memoriam Karsten Hoydal For String Orchestra, Clarinet And Percussion, Klarinettkonsert Concerto For Clarinet And Orchestra - The OrchardThe Orchard (music label)The Orchard is a New York City based digital distribution and entertainment services company that works with independent artists and labels, and content providers...
, May 2000 - Skærur Vindur includes Sig mær, hví er foldin føgur, Kvøldvísa um summarmála, Syngjandi grót, Sóljurnar og náttin, Blátt, Fyrsti sálmur Dávids, Vár, Skærur vindur and Tid, Ild, Baglæns - The OrchardThe Orchard (music label)The Orchard is a New York City based digital distribution and entertainment services company that works with independent artists and labels, and content providers...
, April 2000