Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen (born 11 January 1964, in Oslo) is a Norwegian contemporary composer.
Life
Aagaard-Nilsen grew up in Kabelvåg on Lofoten in northern Norway. From 1986 to 1990 he studied at the Bergen Conservatory of Music (now known as the Grieg Academy) and at the University of Bergen. From 1990 to 1994 he worked at the Bergen Conservatory as a teacher of contemporary classical music. Furthermore, he was leader of the Autunnale-festivalen - (Music Factory and Autunnale), also in Bergen. In 1992 and 1993 he arranged and composed for the Forsvarets Stabsmusikkorps Vestlandet - Norwegian Army Band, Bergen (NABB), writing, among other works, Arctic Landscape. In this period Aagaard-Nilsen wrote many works for wind band and brass band.
Aagaard-Nilsen works as conductor of various school and amateur orchestras, and also as a teacher at the Manger Folkehøgskule. He founded the forum Av garde together with Ketil Hvoslef, Jostein Stalheim and Knut Vaage.
As a composer he has written for orchestra, chamber ensemble, choir, wind band and brass band. Works that exemplify Aagard-Nilsen's focus on narrative and visual aspects in a nearly impulsive form include Fabula I and Fabula II (1996), Sinfonietta (1998) and The Season of Blue Lights (2008) commissioned by BIT20 Ensemble. A stronger focus on expressive elements in Aagard-Nilsen's output is evident in works such as Pierrot's Lament (Concerto for Euphonium and Orchestra), premiered in 2001 with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra. The trumpet concerto Blue Phrases (2007), the sinfonietta The Season of Blue Light and quartet Blue Fragments (2008) are additional examples of Aagard-Nilsen's expressive focus; while the orchestral work Boreas Sings (2012) represents a new direction in which a spectrum of colours and dancing rhythms become evident. 2014 saw his orchestral work Boreas Blæs (2014) premiered by the Norwegian Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra at the opening ceremony of Stormen, Bodø's concert hall.
In 2016 Aagard-Nilsen received the Norwegian Music Publishing Association's Annual Award for his work Dirty Dancing, commissioned and premiered by the Christiania Blåseensemble in 2015.
Compositions
For orchestra
1992/2000 The fourth Angel for trumpet and sinfonietta
1995–1996 Concerto for Cello and Orchestra
1996 Concerto for Trumpet and String Orchestra - Hommage
1997 rev.2003 The Cry of Fenrir - Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra
1998 Concerto for Trombone and String Orchestra
2000 Pierrot's Lament - Concerto for Euphonium and Orchestra
2003 Fanfares and Fairytales (Concerto No. 2 for Trombone and Orchestra) 2007 "Wind Eyes"
For wind band
1992 Arctic Landscape for Military Band
1994 Preludium for Symphonic Band
1994 Triade - "The Angels of Destruction" for large wind ensemble
1998 Pang - Introduction No. 4 for Symphonic Band
2001 Concerto for Large Wind Ensemble (Pentagram) Call and Awakening Ritual I De Profundis Ritual II Call and Conclusion 2002 Cantilena Cradle Song for solo trombone and wind band 2002 Wings of Changes for Wind Ensemble (Recordinglabel SIMAX) 2002 "Cantilena: Cradle song for trombone and wind band" 2004 Cantilena II: Mountain Song for euphonium and wind ensemble 2004 "The Playground Project" 2006 "Cantilena III for 3 trombones and wind ensemble 2013 Ljodgata for Wind Band 2015 Dirty Dancing, premiered by Christiania Blåseensemble conducted by Peter Szilvay
For brass band
1988 Circius (various recordings) 1989 Abstractions 1990 Entrada : Introduction No. 2 1990-1991 Awakening 1991 The Binding of the Wolf 1993 Concerto for Bb Cornet and Brass Band 1996 Seid (also a version B from 2009) (recording on DOYEN) 1998 Riffs and Interludes 1998/1999 Dynamis - Missa Sophia (recording on LAWO) 1999 "Mosquito for trombone and brass band 2002/2005 "Myth" 2003 Aubade - Dawn Songs of the Fabulous Birds (test piece for the 2003 European Brass Band Competition in Bergen, Norway) 2003 Bloodaxe Lament for Tuba and Brass Band 2005 "Klotho" 2005 Hommage á Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 2006 "Steam Songs" 2006 Cantigas (recording on LAWO) 2007 "Blue Phrases" for solo trumpet, electronics and brass band 2007 "Chant" (recording on LAWO) 2007/2008 "Totem" Concerto gross for brass band and electronics 2009 "Euphonium Concerto"