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STRÅKKVARTETT EKMARK playing Orrr… (video)
”Orrr…” in a version for string quartet (1996/2015)
STÅKKVARTETT EKMARK: Ekaterina Spitsyna – violin; Anna Sundborg-Dodelinger – violin; Jessica Strid – viola; Lisa Ekmark – cello.
Sound & Video: Stefan Klaverdal
Listen on YouTube
Other versions of ”Orrr…”
version for organ (1996/2001) – listen on YouTube
(Carson Cooman playing)
version for piano (1996/2020) – one pianist – listen on YouTube
(Thomas Åberg playing)
version for piano (1996/2019) – two pianists – listen on YouTube
(Karin Hellman Geworkian & Thomas Åberg playing)
Thomas Åberg about his first version for organ:
”’Orrr…’ is a fantasy piece I wrote after a radio interview in 1996. The reporter was very prepared and knew a great deal about my music, even from my early years. He called me three times before the broadcast and begged me to provide him with some material from the 1970s. After I began writing more traditionally in the 1980s, I no longer performed or published my more experimental works from those early years. At first I kept saying ”no” to him, but after three calls, I gave up and gave him a recording of a piece from 1978. Before I gave it to him, I re-recorded it at double speed so that it sounded almost like electronic music. I remember I was very anxious before the broadcast, but when I finally heard it, I thought it came off surprisingly well. Then the idea came to me—what would it sound like if I wrote a piece today (1996) but with just a bit of the more experimental spirit I had when I was younger? The result of this is called ’Orrr…’—since a fantasy piece must also have a fantasy title. But of course ’Orrr…’ has something to do with organ….”
Fun stuff:
The organ version can be performed on two organs by ONE organist!
Interwiev with composer JOHAN-MAGNUS SJÖBERG (with subtitles in English)
Recorded in Allhelgonakyrkan i Lund, 1 oktober, 2021. Recording: Stefan Klaverdal
Special thanks to Jonathan Howard for his help with the English translation!
CD: ”ORGUE EN CARAÏBES” Cathedral of Basse-Terre in Guadeloupe
”ORGUE EN CARAÏBES” – DOMENICO SEVERIN at the great organ of the cathedral of Basse-Terre in Guadeloupe. With ROSELYNE QUÉMIN, saxophone
(Åberg: Fantasy A-Minor)
Link to the website of Roselyn Quémin
Link to the website of Domenico Severin
ARTIS WODEHOUSE on her 1901 Kotykiewicz harmonium
Thomas Åberg – Legend No. 6
Artis Wodehouse performs Thomas Åberg’s Legend VI on her 1901 Kotykiewicz harmonium. Video recorded 7/1/2020 in South Hero Vermont. Kotykiewicz harmonium restored by Hans Herr.
Visit the website of Artis Wodehouse
Published by: SVENSK MUSIK – Swedish Music Information Centre
”Thank you so much dear Artis for this wonderful interpretation!” /Thomas
The Swedenborg House Organ
Swedenborg expert JONATHAN HOWARD and THOMAS ÅBERG at the museum Skansen in Stockholm to visit Swedenborg’s gazebo and his house organ.
Photos by Nida (Sept. 2018)
How does it sound?
Listen from Skansen digital museum
Commissioned for the Swedenborg organ: Thomas Åberg’s Swedenborg pieces Nos. 1 & 2 (Published by Svensk Musik – Swedish Music Information Centre). Several recordings on YouTube (Artis Wodehouse, USA) or with Karin Strid on CD with the original instrument.
Karin Strid plays at the three organs of Skansen
Including Åberg’s Seglora Kyrkmarsch (Swedish Wedding Music #2) & Swedenborg Pieces
Label: NOSAGCD 116
Order from Nosag.se
Special:
Thomas Åberg playing a special version of Seglora kyrkmarsch at the Ekengren organ (1777) in Seglora church at Skansen.
ARTIS WODEHOUSE on a vintage Yamaha reed organ/harmonium
Thomas Åberg – Swedenborg pieces No 1: ”The clock”
Thomas Åberg – Swedenborg pieces No 2 – ”Time goes…”
Recorded at Richmond Free Library in VT.
Sheet music published by: SVENSK MUSIK – Swedish Music Information Centre
”Thank you so much dear Artis for these wonderful interpretations!” /Thomas
Visit the website of Artis Wodehouse
Originally written on commission for Swedenborg’s house organ at the museum Skansen in Stockholm – Link here
Praeludium (2020) premiered by MANFRED GROB
Praeludium (2020)
The piece is written for Manfred Grob, organist at Marienkirche, Dortmund, Germany.
Listen to recording from premiere (YouTube)
”Dear Manfred, thank you so much for this excellent interpretation!” /Thomas
Published by SVENSK MUSIK – Swedish Music Information Centre
New edition: ”Dreams” for organ (1980) graphic score
Editor Carson Cooman and composer Thomas Åberg have collaborated on entirely new editions of 30 organ works by Åberg spanning his entire composing career. These new editions are optimized for ease of playing: larger print size, easy page turns whenever possible, and many notation clarifications.
Latest edition in the project: ”Dreams” for organ (1980). Music engraved by Jeffrey Grossman, March 2020 .
Listen to Carson Cooman playing the organ version
Published by SVENSK MUSIK – Swedish Music Information Centre.
The original piano version from 1976
In 2019 Thomas Åberg converted the original graphic manuscript for piano (1976) to traditional note writing.
Listen to Thomas Åberg playing the piano version
Published by SVENSK MUSIK – Swedish Music Information Centre.
Link to the complete list with new editions
KEVIN KISSINGER plays music of Thomas Åberg
Pipe Organ compositions by Thomas Åberg played on the 103 rank Casavant Organ at the Community of Christ Temple (World Headquarters) on February 25, 2018
Toccata XVI
November Music
- ”Short Introduction”
- ”Misty Fields”
- ”At the Beach”
- ”Rain”
- ”Intermezzo”
- ”Winter at Last”
Special thanks!
”Dear Kevin, Thank you so much for this wonderful recording with my organ music! I also love many of your works – like ”Rotations” for example. Theremin is a really ”cool” instrument!” /Thomas
Link to Kevin Kissinger’s website
Listen to Rotations by KEVIN KISSINGER on YouTube
Toccata No.17 played by EVERHARD ZWART
EVERHARD ZWART plays Thomas Åberg’s Toccata No. 17 (2018)*
*The piece is dedicated to Everhard Zwart.
Link to Everhard Zwart’s website
”Dear Everhard, thank you so much for this excellent performance!” /Thomas
Published by SVENSK MUSIK – Swedish Music Information Centre