Nils Henrik Asheim is nominated for "Muohta - language of snow", a work for choir and string orchestra premiered in 2017 by Det Norske Solistkor and Ensemble Allegria. 13 composers from 8 Nordic countries are nominated for the Nordic Council Music Prize.

Here, from www.musikpris.com:

Muohta for choir and string orchestra was composed as a response to Joseph Haydn’s The Seasons from 1801, and immediately followed the classical Summer at its premiere in the autumn of 2017. Inherent in the work are uncomfortable undertones:

Lawo Classics present Nils Henrik Asheim's first recording from the organ of Stavanger konserthus.  Asheim's own transcriptions of Edvard Grieg's Ballade for piano opus 24 and excerpts from Geirr Tveitt's Hundrad Hardingtonar. Release concert May 25, Stavanger konserthus.

lwc1151 nils henrik asheim grieg tveitt cover

I compiled some excerpts from improvised organ concerts over the last few years. You can hear the 62 minutes mix here on SVS radio. Layered, slow-evolving music. Organs: 00:00 St.Petri, Stavanger - 09:56 Fagerborg, Oslo - 15:33 Oslo Cathedral - 26:40 Mariakirken, Århus - 42:56 St.Esprit, Paris - 48:32 Ørgryte, Gothenburg.

Singing Stones a piece that explores how to fuse the sonorities of brass and organ. It is loosely based on Martin Luther's chorale "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott", that is, on a setting by Stephane Mahu (d.1541). Some fragments of it may be heard towards the end of the piece. The piece was commisioned by NyNorsk Messingkvintett and premiered by this excellent ensemble together with organist Anders Eidsten Dahl, on Nov.18, 2017 in Bragernes Church, Drammen. The following day, the performance was repeated in Sofienberg Church, Oslo.

The first performance of Muohta was given by the Norwegian Soloists' Choir and Ensemble Allegria. Muohta is Sami for "Snow" and the piece is based on 18 snow-related words from that language. Performances took place in Nøtterøy and Vang churches, and finally on October 28 in Oslo, Universitetets Aula. Grete Pedersen conducted.

This piece was commissioned for a concert programme that also featured The Seasons (excerpts) by Joseph Haydn. Click below for more info...

On Sept 16, 2017 William Whitehead premiered my new piece Wir danken Dir, Herr Jesu Christ.  The event took place in Stavanger Cathedral as a part of Norsk Orgelfestival.  I am very proud to be a part of the international Orgelbüchlein project.

A very inspiring collaboration took place on Sept 15, as Barratt-Dues Juniororkester commissioned and premiered In Short, a 5-minute piece written in occasion of the 100 years anniversary of the Norwegian Composers Society. The concert took place during the Ultima festival, at Sentralen in Oslo. The rehearsals were lead by amazing energetic Soon-Mi Chung. On the concert, the orchestra played as they always do, without a conductor, and with amazing skill.  This also marked the 25 years since our first collaboration, "Etyder over Tiden".

More than 140 volunteer musicians, youngsters and children participated in the commissioned opening piece of Varen, Randaberg culture scene not far from Stavanger. The event lasted for 25 minutes and featured 2 vintage ship engines, 2 tractors, a number of motorcycles, flute players, brass bands, dancers, drummers, guitar players from the local Culture school, a male choir and an accordion group, custom made steel percussion, recording of the Nautofon at Tungenes lighthouse, and more. The dancers formed their own words with the 8 letters from Gilles & Cecilie studio, ending with the slogan TENK SJØL (think yourself). Idea, staging, direction and composition by Nils Henrik Asheim.