The Norwegian Wind Ensemble - Frank Nordensten: Organ Concertos (2017)

FRANK NORDENSTEN (b. 1955) started composing at the age of 12, earning accolades as both performer and composer in his teenage years. His impressive collection of LPs accompanied by their scores bear witness to a remarkably meticulous regime of self-study. He started his formal music education at the Norwegian State Academy of Music in 1975, initially a Bachelor's degree under the instruction of Søren Gangfløt (organ), Hans Solum (piano) and Ketil Haugsand (harpsichord). In 1979, he embarked on a composition class under the inspiring and encouraging tutelage of Finn Mortensen. Nordensten (who himself claims to have ‘conductive’ fingers) also established his own production studio for electronic music, and through this has been both a successful studio technician and record producer, continuing to be a key player in the field of digital music notation.

Nordensten has composed works in most genres, with the most notable amongst these being the chamber work Ricochet, Violin Concerto No. 1, Symphony No. 2, the ballet Grieg ajour (Bergen International Festival 1993, The Norwegian National Opera and Ballet 1994), 24 Preludes and Fugues for Piano, as well as the symphonic epos Masada. Organ works play a central role in his output, prolonging the streams of the Central European symphonic organ tradition. He has premiered several of his own organ works. In his capacity as solo pianist he has also premiered his Piano Concerto No. 2 with wind ensemble Norske Blåsere as well as Piano Concerto No. 3 with The Norwegian Wind Ensemble.