Udebleven uforsonlighed

Anna Thorvaldsdóttir: »Rituals«

Sune Anderberg. © Alexander Banck-Petersen

Hverdag er det ikke, at et dansk ensemble uropfører ny musik af en af tidens mest efterspurgte komponister. Men Den Danske Strygekvartets udogmatiske koncertrække Series of Four er netop et sted for usædvanligheder, og i aftes bestod usædvanligheden så i uropførelsen af islandske Anna Thorvaldsdóttirs Rituals (2022).

Et 11-satset værk, der med flere passager af højlandsk følsomhed passede ganske eminent til de fire musikeres sensible, men ikke rørstrømske temperament. Med en grundtone af dyb mol og dronende nænsomhed tegnede Rituals igen og igen en nær intimitet op, som enten splintredes af knips og faldende buer eller langsomt saboteredes af knirkende overtryk, flimrende glidninger og snigende dissonans.

Thorvaldsdóttir søgte tydeligt at angribe ritualet som fænomen fra flere sider – fra det store, filmiske fællesskabssug til uafvendelige tvangsgentagelser. Mellem melodisk skønhed og desorienteret bølgegang skvulpede musikken omskifteligt, men nåede måske derfor heller ikke helt ind til et præcist formuleret favntag med psyken eller samfundet.

Værket satte sig mellem flere stole i en køn og nogenlunde dramatisk, men altså også fornærmelsesløs pendulering mellem harmoni og et let kaos, der sagtens havde tålt mere outreret teknik og brudvilje; at skildre tvangstanker med næsten dansante knips på strengene er vel til den mådeholdne side.

Den uforsonlighed, der trods alt stadig findes i Thorvaldsdóttirs musik – lyt bare til hendes seneste orkesterværk, Archora (2022) – måtte godt have indfundet sig på Frederiksberg.

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My name is Søren Damm – would you like to see my playlist?

»For me, music is incredibly important. It is music that reveals who I am and who I want to be. Music is my muse, my solace, and my paintbrush. It paints my state of mind, serves as a frequent topic of conversation among my friends, and – along with the lyrics – acts as my preferred form of expression. To me, music represents the colors and shapes of my life. I have a particular fondness for Danish artists such as C.V. Jørgensen, Elisabeth, Olesen-Olesen, Peter Sommer, and Gravens Rand.«

Søren Damm is an award-winning author known for the novels Transit, Melodrama, and Finland. He is also a singer and songwriter, having released, among other works, the album Håbet Er Den Største Last.

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My name is Kaspar Kaae – would you like to see my playlist?

»For me, music is about curiosity and surprises – yet it’s also something in which you can feel right at home. Music resides within us all, in a physical way that sets it apart from any other art form. To me, music is something greater than the individual – something that will always outlive the individual. The good stuff, in other words ;) «

Kaspar Kaae is an award-winning film composer, music producer, and songwriter, known for his work with bands such as CODY and Bug Chaser. He holds a Master’s degree in film composition from SDMK. He has previously been a guitarist in a number of bands on the Danish indie scene, such as CODY, Broken Twin, and Bug Chaser. The latter is releasing the album My First Crippled Love in November. He was born in 1983 on Bornholm, but has lived in Copenhagen and Berlin throughout his adult life.

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My name is Francesco Rista – would you like to see my playlist?

»Music is like a black hole that sucks you in and shoots you out on the other side of the universe.«

Francesco Rista is a guitarist working across classical and electric guitar. His recordings have been reviewed by international music magazines and broadcast on BBC and RAI Radio 3. After studying at the Royal Danish Academy of Music and Lund University, he focused on studio recordings, exploring guitar repertoire from the Baroque and Romantic periods to contemporary music, as well as the instrument’s varied tonal possibilities. Rista is currently based in Iceland, where he teaches guitar, composes music, and collaborates with contemporary composers.

news

21.10

David Hildebrandt Receives Award From the Wilhelm Hansen Foundation

Percussionist and composer David Hildebrandt is honoured for his virtuosic work with new music and his efforts to push the boundaries of what rhythm can be.

David Hildebrandt is among the recipients of this year’s honorary awards from the Wilhelm Hansen Foundation. He receives DKK 200,000 in recognition of his uncompromising work with new music and multi-percussion, as well as his ability to challenge conventional ideas about rhythm.

Udebleven uforsonlighed

My name is Søren Damm – would you like to see my playlist?

My name is Kaspar Kaae – would you like to see my playlist?

My name is Francesco Rista – would you like to see my playlist?

David Hildebrandt Receives Award From the Wilhelm Hansen Foundation

Winners of the 2026 Nordic Council Music Prize announced