Breaking Another Wall
For wind ensemble
Works...
Breaking Another Wall
Release date: 2020
Written by: Knut Vaage
Performed by: The Norwegian Army Band Bergen
Orchestration
For wind ensemble
Duration
19 minutes
First performance /Commissioned by
First performance at the Autonnale festival, 2002 by the Norwegian Armed Forces Music Corps
Commissioned by Autonnale
Project Summary...
"Knut Vaage's Breaking Another Wall is the turning point in our history."
reaking Another Wall (the project has taken its title from the play, the composer's note) deals with the fight for freedom, political discrimination and oppression. A welcome turning point occurs towards the end of the concert, and the conclusion is hopeful. James MacMillan's composition Sowetan Spring was written in honor of Nelson Mandela's release from Robben Island in 1990, but the work depicts more Mandela's struggle against a discriminatory regime than the actual triumph of being released after 27 years. Dimitri Shostakovich had a difficult life as an artist under Stalin's surveillance in the Soviet Union. His music is extremely emotional even WITHOUT knowing anything about his inner struggle not to write something that could end up in prison. Penderecki's Ubu Rex has a comedic edge to it.
The revolutionary Ubu kills the king of Poland and puts himself in charge of the country. His morbid urge for more power leads him and his family into the most absurd situations. But even if both the story and the music on the surface are comical and bizarre, the unpleasant darkness that arises from a power-hungry and dictatorial regime is clearly discernible. Knut Vaage's Breaking Another Wall is the turning point in our history; he is constantly trying to dissolve the hard and domineering forces in
the music. It eventually succeeds, but only by total disarmament; the brass players regularly have to pick apart their "weapons" while playing. And as trumpets, horns, trombones, baritone and tuba are dismantled, soft and warm take over for hard and cold. It finally leads us into the infinitely beautiful Lux Aurumque by Eric Whitacre.
PRESS
5 OUT OF 5. "It is gratifying when new Norwegian music for wind instruments is recorded. And you are exuberantly happy when the musical expression sparkles. For "Divisjonsmusikken" in Bergen has here brought three relatively new works into the studio, and together have with conductor Peter Szilvay's exploratory conductor's stick created a result that excites and fascinates. And there are several things that really "set" this record. Knut Vaage's "Breaking Another Wall" pushes the traditional "corps walls" in musical expression. The musicians are challenged to an exciting way and the execution of the piece is exciting and appealing. It's funny that Jon Øivind Ness has chosen the clarinet as the solo instrument in "Bad News for the Desert". A piece that oozes frustration with American foreign policy - and you can hear it. Here goes a whole bouquet of flowers for soloist Rolf Borch for his eminent playing - both tonally and technically. The record opens with "Songs of Dances and Death" by the Scottish composer James Clapperton. This work is perhaps the closest to slightly more traditional new band music, very listener-friendly, in other words. The record is yet another proof that Norwegian military bands belong in today's Norwegian music picture, with their excellent presentation of new Norwegian and international music for brass bands."
