Bach Composing - Ulf Improvising
by Ulf Nilsen
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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital AlbumIn digifile cover.
Includes unlimited streaming of Bach Composing - Ulf Improvising via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.ships out within 2 days120 NOK or more
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Streaming + DownloadIncludes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
80 NOK or more
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Brahms greets the Master
04:07
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Russian Roulette
05:10
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Rendez-vous in Paris
05:28
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Bossa noBach
05:01
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Toccata Norvegienne
03:39
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Funeral meditation
06:05
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about
— Ever since I was young and began to play music, the joy of creation has been part of my life. The urge to take a playful approach to all the music I encountered. The need to do something intuitive and spontaneous within every style I became familiar with. This was
how the foundation was laid for the improvisational musician that I am. Paradoxically, at the same time I like notated music very much; I have always enjoyed learning music that is in written form, and then presenting my own interpretation of it. My identity as a musician is, then, based on the idea that imagination and creativity always go hand in hand with pleasure in and respect for “the great music”. And the album Bach composing – Ulf improvising emerged as a natural part of this identity.
— But why Bach in particular?
First, I like Bach! Second, he is old enough – with 300 years of music history following him – which gives an improvising musician of 2021 a wide variety of genres and styles to choose from. Third, Bach is adaptable; his music is always built up around well-defined rhythmic and melodic motifs. This definitely applies to the works I have selected for this album, in addition to another, and equally important, criterion: the motifs have to spark my imagination. I must be able to envisage them in totally different constellations and contexts. So Bach’s compositions and my improvisations are connected through the motifs I have used, while the improvised pieces themselves have become something entirely different from Bach. As the titles indicate, I have drawn inspiration from German and French romanticism as well as Russian, Brazilian and Norwegian music of the 20th century. And the church musician in me cannot be denied – improvisation VII is not the only one to include quotations from hymns. The love of hymns is something that we have in common, Bach and I.
how the foundation was laid for the improvisational musician that I am. Paradoxically, at the same time I like notated music very much; I have always enjoyed learning music that is in written form, and then presenting my own interpretation of it. My identity as a musician is, then, based on the idea that imagination and creativity always go hand in hand with pleasure in and respect for “the great music”. And the album Bach composing – Ulf improvising emerged as a natural part of this identity.
— But why Bach in particular?
First, I like Bach! Second, he is old enough – with 300 years of music history following him – which gives an improvising musician of 2021 a wide variety of genres and styles to choose from. Third, Bach is adaptable; his music is always built up around well-defined rhythmic and melodic motifs. This definitely applies to the works I have selected for this album, in addition to another, and equally important, criterion: the motifs have to spark my imagination. I must be able to envisage them in totally different constellations and contexts. So Bach’s compositions and my improvisations are connected through the motifs I have used, while the improvised pieces themselves have become something entirely different from Bach. As the titles indicate, I have drawn inspiration from German and French romanticism as well as Russian, Brazilian and Norwegian music of the 20th century. And the church musician in me cannot be denied – improvisation VII is not the only one to include quotations from hymns. The love of hymns is something that we have in common, Bach and I.
credits
released January 17, 2022
Grand piano by C. Bechstein, provided by Hellstrøm Flygel & Piano
Organ by Ryde & Berg Organbuilders, 1995.
Recorded in Lovisenberg kirke in Oslo, 4. – 7. October, 2021
Recording and editing:
Geir Inge Lotsberg
Organ assistent:
Kristoffer Myhre Eng
Design and photography: Erik(sen)
Translation: Shari G. Nilsen
Supported by: Fond for utøvende
kunstnere and Foreningen for blinde
Thanks to: Diakonissehuset, Lovisenberg
www.fabra.no
c + p Fabra 2021
Grand piano by C. Bechstein, provided by Hellstrøm Flygel & Piano
Organ by Ryde & Berg Organbuilders, 1995.
Recorded in Lovisenberg kirke in Oslo, 4. – 7. October, 2021
Recording and editing:
Geir Inge Lotsberg
Organ assistent:
Kristoffer Myhre Eng
Design and photography: Erik(sen)
Translation: Shari G. Nilsen
Supported by: Fond for utøvende
kunstnere and Foreningen for blinde
Thanks to: Diakonissehuset, Lovisenberg
www.fabra.no
c + p Fabra 2021
license
all rights reserved
tags
about
Fabra Oslo, Norway
Fabra label of Norway was founded in 1993 and has presently released 29 albums and 4 ep's. Run by Geir Inge Lotsberg. All artwork by Erik Johan Worsøe Eriksen.
discography
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Oct 2023 -
Jun 2023 -
Oct 2022 -
Jan 2022
contact / help
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