Oslo Sinfonietta, Norway's oldest running contemporary ensemble, was founded in 1986 by Norwegian composer Asbjørn Schaathun.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Steen-Andersen's aesthetic involves intentionally incorporating 'accidental' sounds that arise from the physical actions of musicians, rather than being explicitly acted.
Performer Biography
Oslo Sinfonietta was awarded the prestigious Spellemannspris, Norway's equivalent of a GRAMMY, in 1999 for their album 'Boyl' featuring music by Rolf Wallin.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The composer, Simon Steen-Andersen, is increasingly fascinated by changing the perspective and meaning of familiar things by altering their context or turning them upside down.
Recording & Production
This album includes a world premiere recording of Simon Steen-Andersen's 2003 work 'Besides' for amplified piano, piccolo flute, violin, and dampened string trio.
Performer Biography
Rei Munakata, the conductor on this album, is a Japanese conductor and composer specializing in contemporary classical music, known for his imaginative creativity and experimental curiosity.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Simon Steen-Andersen, the composer, describes his 1999 String Quartet as his 'opus 1' because it was his first attempt to remove 'distracting' elements like intervals and harmonies from his music.
