Oscar Borg (1851-1930) is Norway’s march king and wrote many of the most performed marches used by Norwegian bands. However, this march was recently discovered by the Swedish military musician and arranger Birger Jarl. The march is based on themes from the Swedish troubadour Bellman.
Knut Nystedt is Norway’s most performed contemporary composer. He turns 90 in 2005. This piece was written for the St. Olaf College Band in the USA. Norwegian folk music is a clear feature of the three movements: 1. Springar (a Norwegian folk dance) 2. Song and 3. Halling (a Norwegian folk dance).
Christmas in Blue Mountain /Jul i Blåfjell
Bøhren/Aaserud/Idar Torskangerpoll
Christmas Party is a folio with 14 popular Christmas songs. Here are 3 of them: All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth, We Wish You a Merry Christmas and Jingle Bell Rock. Flex 7 instrumentation.
Crownprince Olavs March /Kronprins Olavs Marsj (1906)
Johannes Hanssen/Jan Eriksen
After Norway had gained total independence in 1905, the new hope for the next generation was little Crown Prince Olav. After writing the world-famous "Valdres March", Johannes Hanssen decided also to write this wonderful and brilliant march for the new Crown Prince, then 3 years old.
Down by the station /Nede på stasjonen Trad./Scott Rogers
This film is the most watched film in Norway over the years. The music was written by the Danish composer Bent Fabricius Bjerre, the man behind “Alley Cat” and other well-known pieces. The challenging arrangement is by Lars Erik Gudim.
Geithol Fortifications, called the “Battery”, were part of the defence of Drammensdalen in case of war with Sweden in 1905. Helge Hurum wrote the march in connection with the 100th anniversary in 2005.
Here is a balanced and romantic piece from Edvard Grieg based on a folk melody also played on the Harding fiddle. The piece has an ABA form. It gives many of the lead players a challenge in small solos.
Have you seen my old lady? /Har du sett noko til kjærringa mi?
Trad./Scott Rogers
A folk melody that has probably done the rounds, but is still sung in a folk music context. All “Ready, Steady Go” versions are available for brass/woodwind and brass.
The Royal Norwegian Navy Band is one of Norway’s most active professional military bands. Here they have got one of Norway’s best arrangers, Lars Erik Gudim, to arrange the Village People song “In the Navy”. The song was recorded by the band and is on the CD “In the Navy”.
Jingle Bells/Bjelleklang James Pierpoint/Bjørn Morten Kjærnes
Sammy Nestico, composer and arranger for the US Air Force Band and Count Basie, among others. We are now making this entertainment classic available again for bands around the world.
Quincy Jones, musician, arranger, composer and producer for Michael Jackson, among others. In “Listen Up”, Lars Erik Gudim has selected some of the best jazz gems. Delightful.
Love song / Kjærlighetsvisa
Halvdan Sivertsen/Idar Torskangerpoll
Here is a march you have never heard before. It is fresh, it is funky and it is contemporary. This is the third movement from Suite for Band no. 3 by Idar Torskangerpoll. It is a piece that can stand alone or it can be played together with the first movement, "Donner en spectacle", and the second movement, "Valse en melancolie".
Here we have collected some of Norway’s all-time favourite evergreens. Imaginatively arranged by Tom Skjellum, whose day job is as trumpeter in The Norwegian Radio Orchestra.
O Holy Night /Cantique de Noel / O helga natt Adolphe Charles Adam/Idar Torskangerpoll
Every child’s favourite postman. Fun for all musicians. Can be played by a quartet of clarinets, saxophones, brass or a mixture and by up to a full band.
Rudolf, the red-nosed Raindeer /Rudolf er rød på nesen
Johnny Marks/Scott Rogers
In 2005, Norway celebrates 100 years of liberty. In 1905 we got a new king, a Danish prince who took the name Haakon VII. This march was written as a salutation to the new royal couple by Johan Halvorsen, who is best known for another march: The Entry March of the Boyares.
For all romantic trombone players or baritone players. You can let loose on this one. A new original composition that will be a fine interlude at any concert.
So What’s New? was in the US Top 40 for 141 weeks in the mid-60s - Herb Albert's LP. This arrangement can be played by anything from a quintet to a full band.
Repetitive rhythms make this new piece interesting and quite easy also for younger players. All parts are within moderate ranges for each instrument and will certainly spread joy to both the musicians and the audience.
Chick Corea's most popular tune. if you have a few good musicians who can play the difficult parts, the lower parts are much simpler and can be played by most people.
New Norwegian contemporary music with challenges for all groups without being insuperable. A fine piece for both competitions and concerts. The 1st movement (4:55) "Fanfare and Allegretto" is written for a trumpet trio and band (with trumpet parts in the band too). There are also challenges for the woodwind. The 2nd movement (4:15) "Andante" is written for a tuba quartet (2 euphoniums and 2 tubas) with a band, but also has cues for other parts. The 3rd movement (5:20) "March" has challenges for everyone but the percussion often plays the lead in this movement.
Spinning Wheel
David Clayton Thomas/Bjørn Morten Kjærnes
Mezzoforte, the jazz rock group from Iceland, is more active than ever. They are touring Europe and are also doing concerts together with Wind Bands. Here is one of their old hits arranged by Per-Olof Ukkonen.
Just north of the Arctic Circle there is a valley with a lot of coal mines just on the border between Norway and Sweden. This piece was written for this small community - Sulitjelma. Nature is very close and you have to live in harmony with it, not against it.
This is the first track on the Icelandic jazz rock group Mezzoforte’s new album Forward Motion. There are openings for soloists and the lower parts are much simpler than the lead parts.
This is the second movement from Suite for Band no. 3 by Idar Torskangerpoll. It is a piece that can stand alone or it can be played together with the first movement, "Donner en spectacle", and the last movement, "Marche ça suffit".
Winter (from the four Seasons)
Vivaldi/Gunnar Lintvedt
