Kjell Samkopf

Kjell Samkopf (born 6 June 1952 in Bærum, Norway) is a Norwegian musician (drums) and composer, married 1993 to the dancer Mona Walderhaug (b. 21 December 1956–).[1]

Kjell Samkopf
Born (1952-06-06) 6 June 1952
Bærum, Norway
GenresContemporary music & jazz
Occupation(s)Musician and composer
InstrumentsDrums, timpani and percussions
WebsiteOfficial website

Biography

Samkopf is a central figure on the Norwegian contemporary music scene, with a varied career as a composer, musician and educator and had an extensive background from various music genres. He was for many years associated with the Norwegian Academy of Music, where he attended the diploma program in composition in 1973 without any formal musical education. Here he worked as a musical teacher from 1979 and later as professor and head of the percussion department.[2]

From the mid 1970s he was an active performer as drummer and he stepped in as timpanist in Trondheim Symphony Orchestra (1974–75). He was for many years associated with Oslo Filharmoniske Orkester and worked as regular drummer in the Orchestra of Den Norske Opera for some years. He worked within "Ny Musikks Ensemble" and later in contemporary music ensemble "Octoband".[3]

Samkopf's compositional output comprises nine full-length dance performances. He was also selected as the 1985 composer in residence for the Arctic Arts Festival. Smakopf's list of works features chamber music, orchestral works, electro-acoustic works, music for dance performances, soundtracks, TV-scores, educational works and a number of compositions for percussion. To date, Samkopf has received more than 40 commissions from institutions, ensembles and performers such as Harmonien, the Swedish Radio, Bergen Wind Quintet, NRK, Arts Council Norway, Collage Dance Company, Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival, NorDans Productions, the Arctic Arts Festival, Eirik Raude and Kjell Tore Innervik.[4]

Compositions for dance constitutes a substantial portion of Samkopf's production. The composer has written the scores for nine full length dance productions. His artistic partnership with choreographer Lise Nordal is a cornerstone of this compositional vein. In addition to a number of shorter ballets, Samkopf and Nordal have created five full-length productions Aqua (1986), Tidevann (1990), Til Elise (1996), Entré (2000) and Silent Gliss (2004).[5]

Samkopf's compositional career has seen him evolving from writing for traditional instrumentation to gradually expand his tonal palette to include electronics and more unconventional sonorous objects. His two outdoor concerts held in Sandvika on 8 September 1991 and in Oslo on 3 October 1992 featured ten, large sound sculptures created by artist Sverre Hoel as the works´ main instrumentation. Samkopf's next developmental step is displayed on his two sonographic CD releases Mårådalen Walk (1994) which features field recordings made by the composer in the Norwegian mountains, and Mountain Listening (1998) which is made up of five sonographic portraits of humans listening. These works also serve as a testament to Samkopf's focus on man's relation with nature. Additional key Samkopf releases includes 2002's Music for large Mountain and Vibraphone and 2010's Listening Ahead – Marimba & Town Hall.[6]

Honors
  • 2012: Edvardprisen in the "Open class" for the album Burragorangian Stones

Production

Selected works

Orchestral works
  • Konsert for vibrafon og strykere (2008)
  • Assosiasjoner (1984)
  • En ouverture (1976)

Chamber music
  • Chimes of transition (2010)
  • Eit ord (2007)
  • Bergen (1995)
  • After you've gone (1989)
  • Dobling dance (1981)
  • Illusions (1979)

Solo works
  • E 5 S (2005)
  • Solo piece for tuba (1979)

Works for percussion
  • Amelioration Études 1 – 9 (2015)
  • A Book Of Études (2014)
  • 369 For Percussion Trio (2013)
  • Music for two marimbas - One playing softer than the other (2010/2011)
  • 12 Orchestrations and interludes on Rachmaninoff (2008)
  • Ingoma intro (1996)
  • Selvportrett (1984)
  • Oppfinnelse NR. 5 (1981)
  • 10 Kvartetter for slagverk (1974)

Discography (in selection)
  • 1983: Music For Solo Percussion And Electronics (Simax Classics)
  • 1993: Har Du Sunget Den For Grieg? (dBut)
  • 1994: Mårådalen Walk
  • 1994: Kjell Samkopf
  • 1994: Søyr, Bussene Lengter Hjem
  • 1996: Kjell Samkopf, Triztan Vindtorn, Nattkonsert med lydskulpturer: Sandvika 8. september 1991
  • 2012: Burragorangian Stones (Mere Records)
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gollark: A ITS NO BTS CTUALLY, IT'SCHARACER
gollark: BYTS.NT BTS. THEY RDIFFERENT.
gollark: IT I BTES NDNOT BTS
gollark: Is this clarer

References
  1. Nesheim, Elef. "Kjell Samkopf Biography". Norsk Biografisk Leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  2. Kolberg, Kåre (23 September 2002). "Kjell Samkopf: An Idea of Sound". Listen to Norway. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  3. "Kjell Samkopf – Biography". Listen to Norway. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  4. "The Oslo Philharmonic on the premiere of Just for You". ofo.no. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  5. "The Oslo Philharmonic on the premiere of Just for You". ofo.no. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  6. "The Oslo Philharmonic on the premiere of Just for You". ofo.no. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
Awards
Preceded by
Johan Sara		 Recipient of the open class Edvardprisen
2012		 Succeeded by
Helge Sunde
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