Fire Walker

Featuring

Marion Walker
Ingvill Hafskjold
Sara Övinge
Anders Rensvik
Marius Flatby
Thomas Rimul

Gunnar Hauge
Ensemble Ernst
Sergei Prokofiev
Jon Øivind Ness

Did you know?

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Composition History

Prokofiev's Quintet, Op. 39, was commissioned by Boris Romanov, a central figure in Russian ballet, for a roving dance troupe.

Compositional Technique

The titles Bælsiþ and Bælþræk, composed by Jon Øivind Ness, are old Anglo-Saxon words meaning 'Journey of the Flame' and 'Power of the Flame', reflecting the composer's attraction to musical and linguistic 'tipping points'.

Performer Biography

Marion Walker, the oboist on this recording, is a pioneer in the oboe community, having launched the first 'Oboes and bassoons for Children' project in Northern Europe.

Compositional Technique

Prokofiev's Quintet, Op. 39, features an unconventional ensemble of oboe, clarinet, violin, viola, and double bass, chosen to accompany a ballet with a simple plot based on circus life.

Performer Biography

Ensemble Ernst, featured on Bælsiþ, is a Norwegian contemporary music ensemble that has won a Spellemann prize (Norwegian Grammy) and the Norwegian Composers' Association's 'Performer of the Year' award.

Composer Biography

Sergei Prokofiev, the composer of the Quintet, Op. 39, had a prolific output of 131 opuses, including symphonies, concertos, piano sonatas, film music, ballets, and twelve operas.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Jon Øivind Ness, the composer of Bælþræk and Bælsiþ, is known for incorporating humor into his music, as seen in his trombone concerto Dangerous Kitten.