Ola Kvernberg is much more than a fiddler, although the general public may primarily associate him with that. But Kvernberg is just as much an outstanding composer. He has written music for both his own solo releases and for film productions, and he can also point to both Spellemannpriser and Amandaprisen for his compositions. The solo album […]
/ 12/12/2018 / codexOla Kvernberg is much more than a fiddler, although the general public may primarily associate him with that. But Kvernberg is just as much an outstanding composer. He has written music for both his own solo releases and film productions, and he can also point to both Spellemann Prizes and Amanda Prizes for his compositions.
The solo album Steamdome, which was released at the very end of 2017, is an impressive work. It oozes energy and compositional knowledge. It pulsates, breathes, rages and rejoices. It is rhythmic, violent, dynamic, open and ecstatic. There are great forces in motion, as if all of life, the whole world, were squeezed into nine compositions. The musical landscape is boundless! We encounter jazz, classical music, funk and folk music – all fused into one large and natural whole. It is an achievement. And what about the lyrics? There are no lyrics here, and they are not needed. Not at one point in the composition does one miss it. The composer speaks clearly enough through the musical.
Ola Kvernberg is a brave composer. We find no easy solutions. Only beautiful, great, life-affirming and well-composed music.