Valborgsmässoafton, Walpurgis Night, is an important day of festivities in Sweden and Finland with a history stretching back many centuries. is a particular highlight for choristers and university students – two groups that also often overlap – with plenty of classic choral works associated with Walpurgis Night and various student activities on April 30th in the major… Continue reading One Time, in Finland
Author: David Saulesco
Composer, arranger and songwriter for performance, recording, broadcast and interactive media.
Brio
Year composed 2024 Year revised Duration 10’ Instrumentation 1.1.1.1 – 2.2.0.0 – timp.perc(sd) – str Dedication For Carrie, Aaron and Latrelle Premiere Lynnwood WA, June 29, 2024Octava Chamber Orchestra at Maple Park Church Publisher Programme note In Swedish Brio skulle kunna beskrivas som en övning i återhållsamhet. De två musikaliska idéerna jag använt i verket kommer från ett… Continue reading Brio
A Life Full of Music
Even if you know me only superficially, you might very reasonably assume that my life is always full of music. Inasmuch as that may be true, this weekend ended up especially so, and mostly by happy coincidence. Back in February, following my initial visit to Wermland Opera in Karlstad to hear the world premiere of… Continue reading A Life Full of Music
A Lovely December Morning
This morning, I made the short drive to a nearby mountain to go for a morning walk with the dog. I had checked the weather regularly for the past few days, and it was consistently promising cool, sunny weather. What I did not expect, however, was for yesterday (Wednesday) to offer a full day of… Continue reading A Lovely December Morning
Musical Reminiscence
I have had several experiences in the past few days where different pieces of music have reminded me of other music. One of them teased at my mind for days – I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what it reminded me of. The other was immediately clear as day. And less than an… Continue reading Musical Reminiscence
All Good Things
This Maundy Thursday evening I’m thinking back to last weekend and working at this year’s Sundsvall Guitar Festival. I presented the festival’s three evening concerts – three very different programmes ranging from Irish folk to Renaissance music. The first evening was all about Baroque and Renaissance music, as the concert coincided with the European Early Music… Continue reading All Good Things
A Bright Future for Swedish Opera
Last week, I had the pleasure of seeing two operas, both composed fairly recently, by two Swedish composers. As someone who far too rarely gets out to actually enjoy a performance in an audience, getting two opportunities in the same week was not refreshing and artistically invigorating. First was Mats Larsson Gothe’s The Promise, with… Continue reading A Bright Future for Swedish Opera
Lasting Impressions
Last week, during a visit to Karlstad for a concert at the Wermland Opera, I attended a walking tour at one of the city’s cemeteries. The guide talked about various women buried there who had contributed to city’s development in significant ways, some even earning international fame. I had planned on writing this post about… Continue reading Lasting Impressions
Patience
Year composed 2015 Year revised 2016 Duration 12’ Instrumentation 1(picc+afl).1(ca).1(bcl).1 – 1.0.0.0 – perc – pno – str(1.1.1.1.1) Dedication Premiere Härnösand, April 1, 2015Nordic Chamber Ensemble at Röjås Hall Publisher Programme note In Swedish Att skriva musik med hjälp av tonserier är ett sätt att komma runt – eller ut ur – de vanliga tonarterna som den mesta av vår musik… Continue reading Patience
What’s in a Name
I’m making excellent progress on my brand-new concert piece for the Octava Chamber Orchestra set to be premiered by them this summer. Pretty soon, the only thing left will be the hardest thing to figure out of all: the name of the piece. Working on this composition has also turned into kind of an exercise… Continue reading What’s in a Name