"Sweet Pieces" is constructed as an unheard-of fusion of two archetypes – a tonally languishing orchestra and a monophonic analog synthesizer. The work has thrilled both the audience and the press, and communicates well far beyond the initiated company. The work sometimes has an almost romantic expression, but at the same time nothing like it has ever been heard. This is a piece of music […]
/ 22/12/2017 / codex"Sweet Pieces" is constructed as an unheard-of fusion of two archetypes – a tonally languishing orchestra and a monophonic analog synthesizer. The work has thrilled both the audience and the press, and communicates well far beyond the initiated company. The work occasionally has an almost romantic expression, but at the same time one has never heard anything like it. This is a piece of music that fascinates and surprises.
Torvund offers lush string chords, and is virtuoso in his use of broken expectations. The composer revels in the orchestra's toolbox without losing his tight grip. The synth soloist adds an extra layer of color to the orchestral palette, and the combination of Moog solos dancing on top of the orchestra's effervescence is very elegantly crafted. The work is both humorous and seductive in its lush orchestration.
"Sweet Pieces" is repetitive and episodic, and in its formal structure the work has no intention of getting anywhere. In other words: To start in one place and move towards another. This work is just meant to be, and this very conscious compositional choice means that the experience of the work is turned away from what you actually hear. Instead, you start to think: "What is this work trying to show me?" We don't need to know - the wonder is often the whole point. We congratulate Øyvind Torvund on a well-deserved EDVARD prize!