The Music

Kari Beate Tandberg prefers to work with acoustic instruments both in chamber format and for orchestra as well as vocal music and electro-acoustic works. She explores and utilizes modern playing techniques as a means to expand the sound palette. Her music is playful, humorous, inquisitive, dramatic and expressive. Her musical references are rooted in the classical music. She draws on different types of jazz and rhythmic, improvised music. The focus on the sound as a forming object has been composer models such as Saariaho, Gubaidulina, Lachenmann and Ligeti. This has inspired her since she was introduced to sonology as an auditory tool of analysis at the composition studies (Norwegian Academy of Music). Also geology has been a starting point for making music. In Porphyry Imitations for violin and piano the texture of a rock (porphyre) has been a source for musical ideas. Faults in the mountain gave inspiration for the piece Displacements for solo piano. Several works include or are linked to text. Poems by Jon Fosse are integrated in Attitudes II for piano quintet and actor. The double bass concerto Dét (to be premiered January 13th 2023) is inspired by the lyrics of the Danish poet Inger Christensen. The book The Unwomanly Face of War by Svetlana Alexievich (Nobel Prize in Literature 2015) is an important backdrop for a work in progress; Blooming for piano and sinfonietta.

Works

  • Blooming — Piano and sinfonietta (2023) 30 min.

    Duggpunkt — 7 instruments (2023) 8 min.

    Fabel — Orchestra (2020) 11 min.

    Deviations [Avvik] — String orchestra and accordion (2021) 12 min.

    Dét Double Bass and orchestra (2019) 15 min.

    Fløy — Flutequintet (2018) 11 min

    Jubileumsbrudd — Ensemble-groups (2016)

    (W)hole — Percussion trio (2015) 30 min.

    Attitudes — Pianoquintet (2011) 18 min.

    Attitudes II — Pianoquintet + Actor, 4 integrated poems by Jon Fosse 18 min (2015)

    Symbols — Sinfonietta (2011) 9 min.

    Eagle Nebula — 8 trombones version for 5 trb (2010) 12 min

    Modes and Moves — Windensemble (33 instr.) (2008/16) 9 min.

    Thymos — Alt-saxophone, marimba and windensemble (2008) 18 min

    On pins and needles — 8 instruments

    Version b) — 2 saxophones (ss, as) trumpet, horn (F) (2007) 6 min.

    Ballade-Riss [part by KBT] — Windensemble (2007) 4 min.

    View — String quartet, 2 percussionists (2006) 10 min.

    Optophonia — Sinfonietta, enlarged (2005) 19 min.

    Abstraktes Bild — String-orchestra (2001) 6 min.

    Skulpturlandskap Nordland — en musikalsk dialog — 8 instruments (2001)

    Tremble — 9 instruments (1999) 10 min.

    Trakt — Orchestra (1999) 11min.

    Grace notes — Pianoquintet (1998) 9 min.

    Summit — For fløyter og ensemble (1997)

    Riss — 11 strings, 6 percussionists (1996) 8 min.

    Nexus — Sinfonietta (1995) 8 min.

    Koloritt — Horn (F), stringquartet (1993) 8 min.

  • Metis — Euphonium, brass quintet (2024/25) 10 min.

    Polynya — Bassoon, piano (2017/2024) 10 min.

    Den Membranøse Labyrint — Violin, piano (2023/24) 10 min.

    Duggpunkt — Ensemble CLBb, Alto-sax, div. perc. str.quartet (2023) 8 min.

    Chiaroscuro — Trio violin, horn (F), piano (2022/23) 17 min.

    Parnassius nomion — String quartet (2022) 7 min.

    Ørkenvandring — Actor, saxophones (s, bs), piano. Texts by Einar Økland (2020) 15 min.

    Ørkenvandringar [alternative version] (2022)

    Processus — Trio accordion, guitar, cello (2020) 12 min.

    Tsudoi — Trio Flute, koto, celtic harp (2019) 7 min.

    Tsudoi II — Version for flute, violin, viola (2022) 7 min.

    Sound–Tales — Alto-saxophone, piano (2018) 15 min.

    Polynya — Bassoon, piano (2017) 10 min

    Porphyry imitations — Violin, piano (2017) 15 min.

    Exposures — Trombone, piano (2012) 11 min.

    Sétsi — Euphonium, african percussion instruments (2010) 14 min.

    Brudd 2 — Saxophones (ss, as) (2010) 10 min.

    Akantus — Voice, shamisen (2010) 10 min.

    Dwindle — Stringquartet (2009) 10 min.

    Grace notes — Pianoquintet (1998) 9 min.

    Zest — Percussion trio (1997 10 min.

    Condition — Trio soprano, flute, small perc. instruments Text: Louis Kvalstad (1995) 8 min.

    Kali — Violin, percussion (1992) 14 min.

  • Displacements — Piano solo (2015) 7 min.

    Vuoi — Percussion soloist 3 pieces (2014) 14:00

    Siluett — Ephonium solo (2013) 11 min.

    Transit —Cello solo and actor (2011) 3 min.

    I sinn og skinn — Clarinet (Bb) solo (1997) 10 min.

  • Visuell musikk/audtive bilder [visual music/auditive pictures] (2019) 30 min. In collaboration with Mia Göran.
    Contains: Fossefall (4:45) Trær i vann (1:45) Skygge (4:10) Grønn flate (3:35) Boiling (3:30) Grenseland (5:12) Tåke (2:30) Portrett 1 (6:45)

    Glassblås — Audiovisual performance Flute-quartet, 2 laptops, 2 glassblowers (2016). In collaboration with Mia Göran.


    Songlines     — Bass Clarinet solo, electronics (2000) 10 min.

  • Variabiliteter — Narrator and choir SATB text Inger Christensen, translated by Endre Ruset (2024/25) 10 min. Upcoming

    Unfathomable — 3 Pieces SATB Text: Percy Bysshe Shelley (2014) 14 min.

    Kaiwa — Voice, shamisen, mans choir (TTBB) (2013) 3 min.

    NKLMT — Womans choir (SSA) text Eldrid Lunden (2011) 6 min.

    Siv — En valgopera act 3, 3 Voices and ens. text Torgeir Rebolledo Pedersen (2010) 4 min.

    Hummarandakt — Mans choir text Einar Økland (2002) 5 min.

    Cirkeln är inte en återkomst — Mezzo + 6 instruments, text Gunnar Ekelöf (1996) 17 min.

    Søren Sørpå & Nora Nordpå — Text André Bjerke, Soprano + 4 instruments (1996) 14 min.

    Custodia — Soprano, Mezzo, Alto + 8 instruments text Octavio Paz (1995) 18 min.

    En skjeggete brud — 3 voices, children choir + 5 musicians text Tor Åge Bringsværd (1993). Cl Bb/bs cl, trb, pno, perc. 14 min.

    Songcycle — Vocal, carinett, piano. (1990?) Text Einar Økland. Parole, Ein slager, Og, Kan ikkje

    3 Songs — Vocal, carinett, piano. Text Einar Økland (1989?). Du er min beste venn, Tida går, Himmelnatta

  • Brass

    Collodictyon — Brassband (2012) 10 min.

    Theater, Pedagogical, Other

    Lyset i mellom — Text: Ragnhild
    Vannebo (2012) 10 min.

    I møte med — 6 vocalists and EA + ballet-ensemble. Text: Tarjei Vesaas, Innbying (2002) 9 min.

    Brikker — Piano 6 hands, 6 piano-players (1998) 5 min.

    Leik — Clarinet-quintet and percussion-ensemble (1990) 3 min.

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