Nils Henrik Asheim

Nils Henrik Asheim

Nils Henrik Asheim (b. 1960) is a composer who combines work and performance, and whose co-operations on a steady basis touches other artists in projects with spatial and theatrical elements integrated. Asheim started off as student of the composer Olav Anton Thommessen, and he had his début as composer at the age of 15. In 1978, he was awarded the EBUs Rostrum award for the piece “Ensemblemusikk for 5”, after which he educated as an organist and composer at the Norwegian Academy of Music and the Sweelinck Music Academy in Amsterdam.

From year 2000 and onwards, a stronger focus on tone and the physical and tactical aspect of sound can be sensed in Asheim’s music. The music thus gains several parallel temporal proportions, and Asheim finds himself labouring on layers of proximity and distance. Recurrent material is given constant variations, creating a form that acts both inclusive and self-generating. During the same period, Asheim stands out as a performer on the freely improvised solo release “16 pieces for organ”, which is succeeded by 19.03.04, Oslo Cathedral and a co-operation with the soprano Anne-Lise Berntsen in the projects “Engleskyts” and “Kom Regn”. Asheim also plays the piano in various projects.

Nils Henrik Asheim has written chamber pieces such as “Vannspeil”, “Navigo”, “Chase”, “Nicht” and “Broken Line”, as well as orchestral pieces, such as “Speil”, “Turba” and “Wind Songs”. Also in his portfolio larger, sacral pieces, can be found. Since 1991, Asheim has been living in Stavanger, where he is an active composer, performer and administrator, acting, among others, as the driving force behind the alternative cultural centre Tou Scene.