Jury's reasoning One of the things that strikes one about Jan Erik Mikalsen's orchestral music is its unpredictable lushness. "Parts II" is written in a way that shows both a strong grasp of the orchestral medium and at the same time an urge to dissolve it into its connections and look for new possibilities. In this way, a multifaceted whole emerges. On […]
/ 31/03/2014 / codexOne of the things that strikes one about Jan Erik Mikalsen's orchestral music is its unpredictable lushness. "Parts II" is written in a way that shows both a strong grasp of the orchestral medium and at the same time an urge to dissolve it into its connections and look for new possibilities. In this way, a multifaceted whole emerges. In a breathtaking way, Mikalsen manages to conjure up a deep breath from the great orchestral beast. The sound unfolds, colors spread out like a rainbow, the light shimmers and constantly changes. Through what is apparently a complex mass of sound in motion, flashes of melodic poetry arise. "Parts II" has a great emotional and dynamic range, and builds to a frenetic climax before dissolving again. There is no simple conclusion: the work is at the same time both refined and raw, polished and unfinished.