01 May LUFTSPEILING 2

Sjøforsvarets musikkorps, with soloist Anthony Ringdal on bassoon, premiered version 2 of "Luftspeiling" (Fata Morgana) in Håkonshallen in Bergen on April 10, 2024. Conductor: Leif Arne Pedersen.

Mirage (or Fata Morgana) is a phenomenon I observed during my upbringing at the outer edge of the Hardangerfjord. During boat trips on the fjord, there were times when a glance toward the sea sparked great wonder. Islands and islets appeared to hover slightly above the water's surface. This strange visual impression awakened a sense of the supernatural. It seemed as though the laws of nature had been suspended. The boat continued its journey across the fjord, and the phenomenon moved with us; islands, ships, and skerries of varying sizes floated suspended on the horizon out at sea.

Måten orkesteret lagar klangflater basert på kluster og interferens, kan assosierast med den synlege avstanden (som eigentleg ikkje finst) mellom sjø og holme. Ein enkel rytme går gjennom heile første del, vekslande mellom ulike instrument og grupper. Summen av desse verkemidla er tenkt å tilføra noko hypnotsisk bak dei mange skiftande lydlandskapa, som elles har ein meir aktiv gestikk i dialog mellom solist og orkester.

Below you can watch the premiere performance on YouTube:

The original version of Luftspeiling, featuring nine additional musicians, was premiered in Oslo on October 28, 2022, by Anders Gedde Dahl and the Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces. Conducted by Kai Grinde Myrann.