Hornflowers

Hornflowers cover
Release year:
2020
Credits:
Press/media:

I really like this album. Lawo has compiled five works of Nils Henrik Asheim (f. 1960) involving brass instruments [...] and what a lively and varied programme they make up.
https://www.klassiskmusikk.com/cd-anmeldelser/hornflowers/

Nils Henrik Asheim develops a lively and varied language [...] he shapes his music in a narratively poetic way.
https://www.pizzicato.lu/die-untersuchung-der-schonheit/

The ease in Asheim's handling of musical ideas, often tied to a construction of interesting tensions, are felt from the first note [...] presented with skill and assurance.
https://www.morgenbladet.no/kultur/musikk/2021/09/17/blomster-i-messing/

On this recording, NyNorsk Messingkvintett are presenting some new and some slightly older pieces that really enrich the repertoire. [...] a musical result that is both descriptive and fascinating to listen to.
https://klassiskcd.blogspot.com/2021/08/messingens-vide-klang.html

Here Asheims shows his individuality as a composer. He makes this seeming chaos sound beautiful. Wild outbursts without tonality alternate with recognizable chords, arpeggi and melodic fragments. The balance between the unsettling and the soothing is wonderful.
https://www.ballade.no/kunstmusikk/heftige-primalskrik-og-pastellfarget-musikkbotanikk/

Album published by:
LAWO Classics (LWC1221)
Purchase/stream album:
Tracks:

  1. Singing Stones (2017) /// 13:04

  2. Hornflowers (2019) /// 11:49

  3. Burning Ice (1999) /// 09:02

  4. Scream Soft (2002) /// 10:16

  5. Griegs Akkord (1993/2007) /// 07:56

  6. Bonus: Hornflowers (2019) (instrumentalversjon) /// 10:35

Video:
Related work(s):

Hornflowers – for brass quintet

Singing Stones – for brass quintet and organ

Griegs akkord – for brass ensemble & harp

Scream Soft – for tuba & percussion

Burning Ice – for brass quintet & percussion