Magnar Åm
Magnar Åm (b. 1952) has studied organ at the Music Conservatory in Bergen. He has also studied composition, both in Bergen and the College of Music in Stockholm. In 1971 he debuted as an organist. The big breakthrough as a composer came one year later with the work Prayer for strings, choir and soprano soloists. In 2006 he was awarded the European composer award at the festival young.euro.classic.
Aam is full-time composer and Government guaranteed income for artists. He lives in Volda, More og Romsdal. At the University College here, he teaches each fall in the topic “Intuitive composition / improvisation and musical philosophy.” In Volda he works with children and youth. He directs the youth choir Digitalis, which mainly performs contemporary music. Among the compositions Åm working on currently, is a concerto for accordion and orchestra, written for Geir Draugsvoll and Ålesund Symphony Orchestra and will be played in Ålesund 17 May 2010.
Magnar Åm production ranges from vocal and chamber music by electro-acoustic music to large orchestral works and multimedia. Much of Magnar Åm music is characterized by a polyphonic, freely dissonant or free-tonal style, with a dense expressive yet austere, introspective tone language. Melodic and experimental work goes side by side, and the musical elements’ movements in the concrete, three-dimensional space has played an increasingly important role. In recent years he has left the works contain elements that knows customary concert rituals. One example is the cage birds dream, a multimedia work where choirs constantly stroking past the audience in different directions, while they carry their sounds with them.
Personally Åm including said this about his work: “Time and space structured as music is an excellent tool for those seeking to sharpen the deepest essence and meaning to himself, whether one creates, performs, or listens. But the pleasure of letting things become habit is a tempting veil and a hindrance for all searching, also here. This is why I even said that a task to pick at old Music ways both often as frequently – partly to awaken, partly to find new rituals that can better strengthen the deeper functions of music. “
The local involvement in children’s and youth are mentioned. The commitment is also reflected in Åm work with Innovate, a project for local development in Volda. Here he is one of the driving forces behind the “egg”, a cultural center for experimental music will have a central place. In “Egg” will a concert hall, composition workshop, adventure and simulatorrom and music pool to be among the facilities.
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h3. Award Winner
Press Release: Arne Nordheim composer award 2009 to Magnar Åm