Tobias Broström

Composer

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NEW ALBUM TO BE RELEASED FALL 2019

Published on July 8, 2019

Today I got some copies of a new upcoming album planned for release early fall. Orchestral Works by Tobias Broström.

The album includes the following pieces:

1. Beatnik (2016) 04:00

2. Crimson Seas (2007) 16:07
for alto and orchestra

4. Stellar Skies (2015) 10:12
for flute and string orchestra

Theatron (2014/2015)
for two percussion soloists and orchestra

4. I. volante 06:44

5. II. molto tranquillo 09:58

6. III. deciso 05:22

Performed by:

Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Ingar Bergby conductor

Anna Larsson, alto

Malin Nordlöf, flute

Norrlandsoperan Symphony Orchestra, Johannes Gustavsson, conductor

MalleusIncus, percussion

Front cover:

Painting by Björn Warwas (www.bjoernwarwas.de): Dreamscape, oil on canvas, 2018.

 

 

Beatnik (2016)
Gehrmans Musikförlag 

“Beatnik” is an orchestral version of the short and intensive piece “Sputnik” for piccolo trumpet and orchestra, written for Håkan Hardenberger and the inauguration of the concert hall Malmö Live in 2015. Both titles are redolent of the 1960s and while Sputnik has a musical connection via the piccolo trumpet part that soars off to great heights, specially designed for Håkan Hardenberger’s virtuosic capacity, the other title alludes to music’s rhythmic activity, with odd and varied time signatures. It is a fast and virtuoso piece, almost – as the composer himself says – ”like a mini-concerto for conductor and orchestra”.

Crimson Seas (2007)
Gehrmans Musikförlag

The earliest piece on the record, “Crimson Seas” for contralto and orchestra, was composed already in 2007 during Broström’s period as composer-in-residence with the Gävle Symphony Orchestra, and is a setting of Gustaf Fröding’s poem ”Atlantis”,  in an English translation by C. D. Locock. The work was composed for the Royal Court Singer Anna Larsson, and is the only piece composed during Broström’s residency in Gävle that has not been recorded until now. In this work it is not so much the rhythm as the melodies which stand out. The text is a graphic vision of doom that according to the composer was an irresistible invitation to be set to music. Regarding his attitude toward setting texts, Broström says that ”even if there are certain descriptive, key words that are given special treatment, it is mainly a matter of free musical associations rather than conscious, concrete tone painting. I appreciated the narrative story-telling element, the fairy-tale atmosphere in the poem, and there are latent music-dramatic gestures and tendencies”. The text follows an inherent rhythm and a regular metre. Setting it to music, Broström aspired both to follow it but at the same time to create free melodies with a vocal part that rested on and issued from the sound world of the orchestra. From the viewpoint of compositional technique this was a major work in Broström’s production. ”Here I developed my own harmonic style, my own tone”, he says, ”an exploration that has yielded results in how I work today”.

Stellar Skies (2015)
Gehrmans Musikförlag 

“Stellar Skies” for flute and string orchestra is a tranquil and lyrical piece, and even though the solo part has virtuoso features it is of another type than those one finds in Broström’s larger concertos. As usual, Broström did not write a work for a solo instrument in general, but for a special musician, in this case the flutist Malin Nordlöf. ”Collaborating with Malin was a new experience”, says Broström. ”I knew her as an orchestral musician, we hadn’t worked together before, but it turned out to be fun and stimulating” and they began, he says, a rewarding creative process in the working-out of the solo part. While a number of Broström’s works build on clear-cut rhythms, we encounter in Stellar Skies more fluid, almost intangible structures. As in “Crimson Seas” harmony and sound constitute a central point of departure where the string orchestra creates a shimmering background with trills, tremolos and figurations, against which the livelier phrases and the free declamation in the solo part are outlined.

Theatron (2014/2015)
Gehrmans Musikförlag 

The soloistic, virtuosic element in music has always interested Broström. Already his first large-scale work “Arena” was a concerto for percussion, after which there followed a number of solo concertos, e.g. the double concerto “Theatron” for two percussionists and orchestra, composed in 2014-15. ”It is simply much more fun to work with the concerto form”, Broström says, ”both for the collaboration with the musicians, but also because the soloist creates a ‘common thread’ in the orchestral texture. The solo part becomes a point of reference, it has the fundamental musical material and the orchestra can follow like a shadow or engage in a dialogue with the soloist”, he says.  Nor are the works just solo concertos in general but in most cases concertos for certain persons, a number of whom Broström has worked together with for a very long time, not only in these pieces but also in solo and chamber music contexts, such as here in ”Theatron” with Johan Bridger and Patrick Raab.

The title ”Theatron” evokes associations to the same sphere as the title of his first percussion concerto, ”Arena”. ”The theatrical element is present in both”, says Broström, because ”percussion always also has something physical and visual about it; you notice it in both works”. But the compositions are moreover – very concretely – musically related and have some rhythmical ideas in common. However, the differences between the works are of vital importance. In ”Arena” the soloist was in complete focus and the orchestra was more backstage – which was in line with the idea of the piece – while the orchestral texture in ”Theatron” is more fluctuating and has different functions. ”Generally speaking, the soloists and the orchestra this time form a more integrated unity”, says the composer. The concerto consists of three movements. ”I wrote the second movement first”, says Broström, ”a ten-minute-long tranquil movement with a simplicity that I sought, where the soloists are almost of secondary importance”. This calm is surrounded by more extroverted, virtuosic outer movements.

When asked what he thinks about virtuosity, a concept that has been interpreted differently in different periods throughout history, Broström replies that it isn’t a question of the Paganini type of virtuosity, just to show off, but that he likes a ”furious, hectic virtuosity that provides focus, especially when it comes to creating rhythm”. Moreover, rhythmical structures often create the very backbone in Broström’s music; it is around these that the musical flow and form are built up: ”The rhythm and the flow can in many cases come before both harmony and melody, even though timbre and dynamics are also central elements” – something that not least characterizes this double concerto.

Staffan Storm 2019

Posted in: Tobias Broström
Tagged:
Orchestral Works, Tobias Broström

PERFORMANCES

  • 21/04/2023, Samsara – Concerto for Violin, Marimba & Orchestra performed in Estonia
  • 20/04/2023, On Urban Ground performed at Musikverein in Vienna
  • 19/04/2023, On Urban Ground performed at Musikverein in Vienna
  • 08/04/2023, Stellar Skies performed in Australia
  • 02/04/2023, Arena – Solo Version
  • 02/04/2023, Piano Quintet (World Premiere)
  • 02/04/2023, String Quartet No. 1
  • 02/04/2023, Fantasia for piano
  • 01/04/2023, Arena – Percussion Concerto No. 1
  • 01/04/2023, La vocation from Le fils des étoiles by Erik Satie (arr. Tobias Broström)
  • 01/04/2023, Violin Concerto
  • 01/04/2023, Transit Underground
  • 31/03/2023, Symphony No. 1 ”Albedo”
  • 31/03/2023, Lucernaris, concerto for trumpet, live electronics and orchestra
  • 31/03/2023, Rubedo – The Red Chapter
  • 30/03/2023, Violin Concerto
  • 30/03/2023, Transit Underground
  • 30/03/2023, Symphony No. 1 ”Albedo”
  • 30/03/2023, Lucernaris, concerto for trumpet, live electronics and orchestra
  • 30/03/2023, Rubedo – The Red Chapter (World Premiere)
  • 29/03/2023, Crimson Skies for chamber orchestra
  • 29/03/2023, Scene for Wind Quintet
  • 29/03/2023, Distant Horizons
  • 08/10/2022, Symphony No. 1
  • 07/10/2022, Symphony No. 1 (World Premiere)
  • 11/02/2021, Theatron
  • 02/09/2022, Sputnik
  • 07/08/2020, Dream Variations
  • 25/04/2020, Sputnik
  • 24/04/2020, Sputnik
  • 15/02/2020, Arena – Percussion Concerto No. 1
  • 26/01/2020, Arena – Solo Version
  • 08/12/2019, Santa and the Christmas Belly
  • 07/12/2019, Santa and the Christmas Belly
  • 06/12/2019, Santa and the Christmas Belly
  • 05/12/2019, Santa and the Christmas Belly
  • 05/12/2019, Suite Orientale by Melanie Bonis/Tobias Broström
  • 30/11/2019, Nigredo: Dark Night of the Soul, double concerto for two Trumpets & Orchestra
  • 28/11/2019, Nigredo: Dark Night of the Soul, double concerto for two Trumpets & Orchestra
  • 30/08/2019, Sputnik
  • 28/08/2019, Sputnik
  • 25/07/2019, Nigredo: Dark Night of the Soul, double concerto for two Trumpets & Orchestra (UK premiere)
  • 14/03/2019, Nigredo: Dark Night of the Soul, double concerto for two Trumpets & Orchestra (world premiere)
  • 14/02/2019, Schattenspiel II with MalleusIncus
  • 28/11/2018, Cello Concerto with Amalie Stalheim & Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
  • 29/11/2018, Cello Concerto with Amalie Stalheim & Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
  • 06/10/2018, Mirage for string orchestra
  • 22/09/2018, Transit Underground with Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
  • 20/09/2018, Transit Underground with Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra (season opening)
  • 13/09/2018, On Urban Ground – a comment on Beethoven’s 6th Symphony (new version for wind orchestra)
  • 01/09/2018, Signaler premiered at Dalhalla
  • 03/08/2018, Beatnik
  • 14/07/2018, Arena – Solo Version
  • 21/07/2018, Mirage for string orchestra
  • 27/06/2018, Dream Variations
  • 06/06/2018, Beatnik
  • 03/06/2018, Dream Variations
  • 08/05/2018, Arena – Solo Version
  • 29/04/2018, Skuggspel
  • 15/04/2018, Arena – Solo Version
  • 25/05/2018, Theatron
  • 13/04/2018, Dreamscape
  • 16/03/2018, Arena – Solo Version
  • 10/03/2018, Nordic Peace
  • 10/03/2018, Twilight
  • 02/03/2018, Cello Concert
  • 01/03/2018, Cello Concerto
  • 01/02/2018, Distant Horizons
  • 21/01/2018, Once upon a time…
  • 19/01/2018 -, Beatnik on US tour with Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra
  • 15/11/2017, Dream Variations
  • 11/11/2017, Dream Variations (UK Premiere)
  • 11/11/2017, On Urban Ground (a comment on Beethoven’s 6th Symphony)
  • 10/11/2017, On Urban Ground (a comment on Beethoven’s 6th Symphony)
  • 12/10/2017, Theatron
  • 08/10/2017, The Open Secret (Interludes)
  • 16/09/2017, Stellar Skies
  • 15/09/2017, Stellar Skies
  • 14/09/2017, Stellar Skies premiered by Malin Nordlöf/Malmö Symphony Orchestra
  • 24/08/2017, The Open Secret (Interludes)
  • 11/08/2017, String Quartet No. 1
  • 05/08/2017, String Quartet No. 1
  • 22/07/2017, Skuggspel
  • 22/07/2017, Twilight
  • 09/07/2017, Distant Horizons
  • 02/07/2017, Distant Horizons
  • 10/05/2017, Distant Horizons
  • 21/04/2017, Distant Horizons
  • 08/04/2017, Genom svindelklara rymder
  • 05/04/2017, Twilight
  • 27/03/2017, Distant Horizons performed in Gothenburg
  • 26/03/2017, Distant Horizons premiered in Gothenburg
  • 25/03/2017, En liten blåsa i Guds andes glas performed in Germany
  • 25/03/2017, On Urban Ground performed in Germany
  • 24/03/2017, On Urban Ground performed in Germany
  • 23/03/2017, On Urban Ground performed in Germany (German premiere)
  • 19/03/2017, Twilight
  • 17/03/2017, Twilight performed by Gong Percussion Ensemble
  • 16/03/2017, Twilight performed by Gong Percussion Ensemble
  • 15/03/2017, Twilight performed by Gong Percussion Ensemble
  • 14/03/2017, Twilight performed by Gong Percussion Ensemble
  • 12/03/2017, Transit Underground performed in Germany
  • 12/03/2017, Transit Underground performed in Germany
  • 12/03/2017, Genom svindelklara rymder
  • 10/03/2017, Transit Underground performed in Germany
  • 09/03/2017, Genom svindelklara rymder (premiere)
  • 09/03/2017, Transit Underground performed in Germany
  • 09/03/2017, Transit Underground performed in Malmö
  • 08/03/2017, Transit Underground performed in Gothenburg
  • 07/03/2017, Twilight performed by Gong Percussion Ensemble
  • 05/03/2017, Suite for Strings performed by Meta4 & Musica Vitae
  • 04/03/2017, Suite for Strings performed by Meta4 & Musica Vitae
  • 03/03/2017, Suite for Strings premiered by Meta4 & Musica Vitae
  • 25/11/2016, Theatron performed in Finland
  • 25/11/2016, Theatron performed in Finland
  • 24/11/2016, Theatron performed in Finland (Finnish premiere)
  • 24/11/2016, Piano Concerto No. 1 “Belle Epoque” performed by Per Tengtrand
  • 20/11/2016, Twilight
  • 19/11/2016, Theatron performed by Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
  • 18/11/2016, Theatron performed by Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
  • 10/11/2016, Skuggspel performed by MalleusIncus
  • 09/11/2016, Skuggspel performed by MalleusIncus
  • 08/11/2016, Skuggspel performed by MalleusIncus
  • 07/11/2016, Skuggspel performed by MalleusIncus
  • 06/11/2016, Twilight
  • 05/11/2016, Skuggspel performed by MalleusIncus
  • 04/11/2016, Skuggspel performed by MalleusIncus
  • 03/11/2016, Skuggspel performed by MalleusIncus
  • 02/11/2016, Bridging the World
  • 02/11/2016, Skuggspel performed by MalleusIncus
  • 28/10/2016, Transit Underground performed by Orquesta Sinfónica de Navarra
  • 27/10/2016, Transit Underground performed by Orquesta Sinfónica de Navarra
  • 27/10/2016, New piece for solo flute & orchestra premiered by Malmö Symphony Orchestra
  • 23/10/2016, Twilight
  • 22/10/2016, Twilight
  • 21/10/2016, Twilight
  • 21/10/2016, En liten blåsa i Guds andes glas
  • 20/10/2016, Twilight
  • 17/10/2016, Bridging the World performed in Vienna
  • 17/10/2016, Arena (solo version) performed in Vienna
  • 16/10/2016, Twilight
  • 15/10/2016, Twilight
  • 14/10/2016, Twilight
  • 12/10/2016, Twilight
  • 11/10/2016, Twilight
  • 10/10/2016, Twilight
  • 09/10/2016, Twilight
  • 08/10/2016, Twilight
  • 07/10/2016, Twilight
  • 23/09/2016, “En liten blåsa i Guds andes glas” premiered at Malmö Chamber Music
  • 08/08/2016, Sputnik performed at the BBC PROMS
  • 06/08/2016, Sputnik performed by Hardenberger/St Martin in the Fields
  • 24/07/2016, Sputnik performed by Hardenberger/St Martin in the Fields
  • 23/07/2016, Sputnik performed by Hardenberger/St Martin in the Fields
  • 22/07/2016, Sputnik performed by Hardenberger/St Martin in the Fields
  • 21/06/2016, Arena – Solo Version performed by Johan Bridger
  • 22/05/2016, 6&8
  • 22/04/2016, Nordic Peace performed by Koremos Quartet
  • 15/04/2016, Arena – Solo Version/Berlin
  • 09/04/2016, Mirage premiered by Greater Bridgeport Symphony/Eric Jacobsen
  • 02/04/2016, Stellar Horizons performed by the percussion section from the Copenhagen Opera Orchestra
  • 30/03/2016, New piece performed by Malleus Incus
  • 20/03/2016, Stellar Horizons premiered by the percussion section from the Copenhagen Opera Orchestra
  • 17/03/2016, Nordic Peace performed by Koremos Quartet
  • 17/03/2016, Twilight performed by Koremos Quartet
  • 14/02/2016, Arena – Percussion Concerto No. 1 performed the US
  • 20/01/2016, Arena – Percussion Concerto No. 1 performed in Germany
  • 10/01/2016, Beatnik performed by Wermland Opera Orchestra
  • 09/01/2016, Beatnik performed Wermland Opera Orchestra
  • 08/01/2016, Beatnik performed by Wermland Opera Orchestra
  • 07/01/2016, Beatnik performed by Wermland Opera Orchestra

Posts

  • Watch: Tobias talking about his new piece “Rubedo” March 20, 2023
  • Watch: Conductor Johannes Gustavsson on trumpet concerto “Lucernaris” March 20, 2023
  • Broadcast from Swedish Radio from the premiere performance of Symphony No. 1 March 9, 2023
  • Seven questions for Tobias Broström for the upcoming Stockholm Concert Hall’s Composer Weekend Festival 2023 February 14, 2023
  • Symphony No. 1 – Albedo premiered by Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra on October 7 February 14, 2023

Copyright © 2023 Tobias Broström.

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