Terje Bjørklund
Encyclopedia
Terje Bjørklund is a Norwegian jazz musician (piano) and composer. He was an active jazz pianist until approximately 1980. From then on he has concentrated on composing.
at the University of Oslo
in 1971, Bjørklund studied composition with Finn Mortensen
at the Norwegian Academy of Music
(1971–1973).
Bjørklund has collected his experiences as a jazz musician in the text book “Moderne jazzimprovisasjon”
In 1983 he was awarded the Norwegian Jazz Association’s highest award: the Buddy prize, for his efforts within Norwegian jazz life.
From 1973 onwards Bjørklund has been employed at the Conservatory of Music in Trondheim. In 1979 he initiated the Jazz Program at the Conservatory. The Conservatory is now part of
The Department of Music at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology
) and today Bjørklund is an Associate Professor there, with the responsibility for courses in composition and music theory.
As a composer Bjørklund has primarily been oriented toward serious art music. In many of his works harmony is a main element. The way in which he handles harmony and sound is reminiscent of modern jazz.
Bjørklund’s music was played at the LOOC Festival “Olympic Winter Land” in Tokyo in 1993.
He was the festival composer during the North Norwegian Festival in 1993 and at the Chamber Music Festival Vinterfestspill. in Røros
in 2004.
He was “Artist/Composer of the Week” in the Norwegian national radio station NRK P2 in both 1991 and 2004.
, Christian Lindberg
, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
, The Chilingerian String Quartet, Trondheim Soloists
, Marianne Thorsen, Nidaros Cathedral Boys' Choir
, Aage Kvalbein
, Stig Nilsson, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra and Bjarne Fiskum.
Selected works
In the last few years Terje Bjørklund has also composed two full-evening so-called “crossover works”
:
In addition, many of his works are included on other CDs. A complete list is found on his own website.
Education and career
After obtaining his Master’s Degree in MusicologyMusicology
Musicology is the scholarly study of music. The word is used in narrow, broad and intermediate senses. In the narrow sense, musicology is confined to the music history of Western culture...
at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
in 1971, Bjørklund studied composition with Finn Mortensen
Finn Mortensen
Finn Mortensen was a Norwegiancomposer, critic and educator. Finn Einar Mortensen was born in Oslo. His parents were publisher Ernst Gustav Mortensen and Anna Marie Damnæs . Mortensen grew up in a publishing environment and it was at first expected that he would go into his father's...
at the Norwegian Academy of Music
Norwegian Academy of Music
The Norwegian Academy of Music is a music conservatory located in Oslo, Norway, in the neighbourhood of Majorstuen, Frogner. It is the largest music academy in Norway and offers the country's highest level of music education. As a university college, it offers both undergraduate and postgraduate...
(1971–1973).
Bjørklund has collected his experiences as a jazz musician in the text book “Moderne jazzimprovisasjon”
In 1983 he was awarded the Norwegian Jazz Association’s highest award: the Buddy prize, for his efforts within Norwegian jazz life.
From 1973 onwards Bjørklund has been employed at the Conservatory of Music in Trondheim. In 1979 he initiated the Jazz Program at the Conservatory. The Conservatory is now part of
The Department of Music at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology , commonly known as NTNU, is located in Trondheim. NTNU is the second largest of the eight universities in Norway, and, as its name suggests, has the main national responsibility for higher education in engineering and technology...
) and today Bjørklund is an Associate Professor there, with the responsibility for courses in composition and music theory.
As a composer Bjørklund has primarily been oriented toward serious art music. In many of his works harmony is a main element. The way in which he handles harmony and sound is reminiscent of modern jazz.
Bjørklund’s music was played at the LOOC Festival “Olympic Winter Land” in Tokyo in 1993.
He was the festival composer during the North Norwegian Festival in 1993 and at the Chamber Music Festival Vinterfestspill. in Røros
Røros
is a town and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Gauldalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Røros. Other villages include Brekken, Glåmos, Feragen, Galåa, and Hitterdalen....
in 2004.
He was “Artist/Composer of the Week” in the Norwegian national radio station NRK P2 in both 1991 and 2004.
Works
Terje Bjørklund has in particular written for strings, partially because of the rich string milieu in Trondheim. He has also written a series of works on commission for chorus, orchestra and various solo and chamber music groups. Among these are: Ole Edvard AntonsenOle Edvard Antonsen
Ole Edvard Antonsen is a Norwegian trumpeter, musician and conductor.Antonsen was born in Vang, Hedmark, now part of Hamar. He is best known as a solo trumpeter, active in different genres of music; classical music, chamber music, baroque, jazz and pop. Since the mid 2000s, he has also been...
, Christian Lindberg
Christian Lindberg
Christian Lindberg is a Swedish trombonist, conductor and composer.As a youth, Lindberg learned to play the trumpet, and subsequently began to learn the trombone at age 17. He originally borrowed a trombone to join his friends' Dixieland jazz group, inspired by records of Jack Teagarden...
, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
The Oslo-Filharmonien is a symphony orchestra based in Oslo, Norway. The orchestra was founded in 1919, and has since 1977 had its home in the Oslo Concert Hall. The orchestra consists of 69 musicians in the string section, 16 in the woodwinds, 15 in brass, 5 in percussionists, 1 harpist, and 1...
, The Chilingerian String Quartet, Trondheim Soloists
Trondheim Soloists
Trondheim Soloists are a musical chamber ensemble of string players based in Trondheim, Norway. The ensemble was founded in 1988 and has been an arena for professional concert training for string-players at the Music Conservatory at the Norwegian University of Science and...
, Marianne Thorsen, Nidaros Cathedral Boys' Choir
Nidaros Cathedral Boys' Choir
The Nidaros Cathedral Boys' Choir is a Norwegian choir in Trondheim, consisting of 76 boys and men as of spring 2008. It represents a tradition of boy and men cathedral choristers in Nidaros Cathedral stretching back almost 900 years...
, Aage Kvalbein
Aage Kvalbein
Aage Kvalbein is a Norwegian cellist and a professor in cello at the Norwegian Academy of Music. He is one of the most well-renowned musicians in Norway, both as a soloist, chamber musician and as a pedagogue....
, Stig Nilsson, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra and Bjarne Fiskum.
Selected works
- Sarek (1989); for string orchestra. When recorded with The Trondheim Soloists in 1992, Sarek received the following critique in the American music magazine Fanfare MagazineFanfare MagazineFanfare is a magazine devoted to reviewing classical music performance and recordings.Fanfare's contributors have a range of expertise from the medieval to contemporary work...
: “Terje Bjørklund’s brief tone poem <…> with vistas of breathtaking expanse and lyrical outpourings that sound, in their strong melodic profile, almost like updated Grieg” This work was played as the opening piece for Anne-Sophie MutterAnne-Sophie MutterAnne-Sophie Mutter is a German violinist.- Early life :Mutter was born in Rheinfelden, Germany. She began playing the piano at age five, and shortly afterwards took up the violin, studying with Erna Honigberger, a pupil of Carl Flesch...
’s USA tour with The Trondheim Soloists in November 2001. - Carmina (1994); for string orchestra. Carmina was released in 2008 on the TrondheimSoloists’ CD “Divertimenti.” This CD was nominated for 3 Grammy AwardsGrammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in 2009. - Moréne (1983) and Narvik 2002 (2002); for symphony orchestra
- Magnificat, and Requiem for soloists, chorus and orchestra
- Arctos (1993); violin concerto
- Frøken Victoria (1992); opera – based on Knut HamsunKnut HamsunKnut Hamsun was a Norwegian author, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920. He was praised by King Haakon VII of Norway as Norway's soul....
’s novel “Victoria.”
In the last few years Terje Bjørklund has also composed two full-evening so-called “crossover works”
Crossover (music)
Crossover is a term applied to musical works or performers appearing on two or more of the record charts which track differing musical tastes, or genres...
:
- Norwegian Sanctus (2006) for jazz soloists, chorus and chamber orchestra had its premier at the Molde Jazz FestivalMoldejazzMolde International Jazz Festival takes place annually in July, and is known as one of the oldest jazz festivals in Europe. It was initiated by the local Storyville Jazz Club...
in 2006. It was also performed during St. Olav Festival in Trondheim the same year and during the Oslo International Church Music Festival in 2009. - The Wedding (2009) written for jazz soloists and chamber orchestra was a commission from the Trondheim Jazz Festival on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Jazz Program at the Conservatory of Music in Trondheim.
- Bjørklund has recently finished a violin concerto, commissioned by the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra in cooperation with Concerts NorwayConcerts NorwayConcerts Norway was established in 1967 on the initiative of the Arts Council Norway , with the main purpose described as follows: "Concerts Norway should do living music of high artistic quality accessible to all people in the country." The organization had its opening concert in Hammerfest...
. The concerto will have its premier on 30 September 2010.
Publications
- Bjørklund, Terje (2000) Moderne jazz-improvisasjon. 2nd ed. Oslo, Norsk musikforlag. ISBN 82-7093-436-4
- Music and scores are published by the following: Pizzicato (Italy/Switzerland); Warner/Chappell; Norwegian Music Publishers (Norsk Musikkforlag); Music House Publishers (Musikkhusets forlag); Music Information Center in Oslo (MIC).
Recordings
Bjørklund’s music has been released on 3 dedicated CDs:- “Music for Strings” (Hemera HCD 2923)
- “Sacred Music” (MIT CD 0197)
- “Silent Tracks” (Arctos CD 0104)
In addition, many of his works are included on other CDs. A complete list is found on his own website.