Idar Torskangerpoll

Under Spanstind

This piece of music is a commissioned work for Lavangen School band and their band music convention in 2019. The piece was performed under the mountain Spanstind (located far north in Norway) by a band consisting of approx 400 amateur musicians. The mountain Spanstind is 1457 meters high and drops into the valley Spansdalen below, an especially scenic venue.

The composition is inspired by the sami joik (folk song) Ruŋgučohkka, the song to Spanstinden. It is also inspired by the nature of the surroundings. Mvt 1 'Ro' (calmless) describes the feeling of calmness in the midnight sun. Mvt. 2 'Uro' (unrest) describes a scene of wind, snow, avalance and the big forces of nature. Mvt 3 'Storhet' (greatness) describes the feeling of greatness the nature has, and how we experience it as majestic and exalted.

The piece can be played with the movements alone, or one can add the signals played by soloist(s) off-stage or in the back of the hall. The signals are to be played before, in between, and after the 3 movements. All instruments can be soloists. The soloist performs the signals rhythmically aleatoric, where each soloist repeats the signal 4 times in his or her own tempo. Signal 1 is played before Mvt 1, signal 2 is played between Mvt 1 and 2, signal 3 is played between Mvt 2 and 3, and signal 4 is played while the band holds the last note (long, use stagger breathing). after a while, all the soloists end on the same note and the music fade out.