A marriage made in heaven

Rodney Newton surveys the life and works of Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen, Composer-in-Residence at this year’s RNCM Festival of Brass, with particular reference to his large catalogue of works for brass band

In the late 1980s, Edward Gregson introduced the National Youth Brass Band of Wales to a new piece written by a young Norwegian composer. It was his first foray into writing for a brass band and the piece made a great impression on everyone, proving to be demanding, but ultimately rewarding. The piece was Circius – Wind of the North and the composer, Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen. 22 years on, he has become a well-established figure in contemporary Norwegian music and his catalogue includes well over 60 original compositions and arrangements for brass band, therefore this miniature festival of his music at the Royal Northern College of Music during this year’s RNCM Brass Festival is timely. Those in attendance will have the opportunity to hear a number of works by Aagaard-Nilsen, including the first UK performances of Chant (written for the 2007 Grenland International Brass Band Festival) and Dampsanger (Steam Songs) for brass ensemble, commissioned by Gjøvik Bybrass to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the paddle steamer, Skibladner, in 2006, along with the first performance of Concerto for Euphonium and Brass Band, commissioned and performed by David Thornton with Black Dyke Band under Professor Nicholas Childs, as well as the chance of meeting the composer himself. Although the creator of a considerable number of works for orchestra and chamber groups, Aagaard-Nilsen has gained an international reputation for his music for brass and wind bands, and his list of works in that direction include several concertos for prominent soloists, the latest being the new concerto for euphonium (his second for the instrument, the first being scored for orchestra and premièred in 2000 by Steven Mead in Lahti, Finland, with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra conducted by Osmo Vänskä). Prior to this, his inventive Aubade (Dawn Songs of Fabulous Birds) was the Championship Section set test-piece for the 2003 European Championships in Bergen.