Alf Hurum: Complete Works for Violin and Piano
— The Hurum Collection Vol I
Violin: Stephan Barratt-Due
Piano: Øyvind Aase
Sponsored by Norsk Kassettavgiftsfond

«Vigorous chamber music ...
The recording shows artistic temperament and enthusiasm. There is every reason to listen to it because it brings to life music that is seldom played. The fact that someone brings music from this period to our attention, is of vital importance ... When they [the pieces] are rendered with enthusiasm, they create a remarkable effect.»
Idar Karevold, Aftenposten July 26th 1999

This CD was selected as one of ”5 favourites” by Hans H. Rowe in Bergens Tidende, July 11th 1999.

Sonata for violin and piano in D minor op. 2
1. Allegro animato
2. Andante espressivo
3. Allegro ma non troppo
Exotic Suite for violin and piano op. 9
1. Rektah
2. Tsin-tsin-fa
3. Rektah
4. Ma-ma hau ming-pai
5. Rag Darbari Kandra
6. Cheu teu
7. By the Entrance to Confucius` Temple
Sonata for violin and piano in A minor op. 8
1. Allegro risoluto
2. Andantino doloroso
3. Scherzo – Allegro vivace
4. Andantino patetico – Allegro appassionato

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Click to see a bigger coverpicture. Cover from Alf Hurum — A Musical Painter

TH 201-2

Alf Hurum: A Musical Painter - Piano Works
— The Hurum Collection Vol II (2CD)
Piano: Øyvind Aase
Sponsored by Fond for utøvende kunstnere and Norsk Kassettavgiftsfond

«There is a connection between Grieg and Hurum. Grieg was a master of tone colour, and this aspect is also present in Hurum`s music. ...
The piano works on this double CD give an impression of the wide range of Hurum`s oeuvre for piano. ... The pianist Øyvind Aase has made Hurum´s music his own ... Aase understands the uniqueness of Hurum`s musical language and displays both the poetic and dramatic sides of the pieces.»
Idar Karevold, Aftenposten, July 26th 2000

«The long life of the Norwegian, Alf Hurum, encompassed two careers: first, as a composer; then as painter. It is intriguing that at least in his piano works, he first tried to create sonic pictures, invariably conceived on a small scale, and subsequently concentrated on visual images. ... Many of the titles are pictorial, evoking a wide range of images, but others reflect the kind of genre pieces which were popular in the 19th and early 20th century. Accordingly Hurum`s piano works can be regarded as a link between Grieg`s Lyric Pieces, and the piano music of more recent Norwegian composers.»
John Warnaby, Nordic Sounds, 4/2000

«Beautiful and essential.
Musical life in Norway owes a lot to Øyvind Aase for his dedication to the chamber music of Alf Hurum. ... Aase`s interpretations are exquisite. He is thoroughly at home with this music and does the music justice with his masterly playing. ... Aase makes this music come alive. This double CD is both beautiful and important.»
Trond Erikson, Øvre Smaalenene, June 22th 2000

CD 1:
- Impressions. Pour le piano op. 4
  1. Notre-Dame
  2. La Fontaine
  3. Chanson
- Romance (From ”Three piano pieces” op. 1 no. 2)
- Watercolours op. 5
  1. The Water Lily
  2. Miniature
  3. Watercolour
- Pastels op. 10
  1. From an old Monastery garden
  2. Poem
  3. Saga
  4. Morning by the statue of Memnon
- For Piano op. 3
  1. Melody
  2. The Brook
  3. Idyl
CD 2:
- Fairyland op. 16
  1. In the Enchanted garden
  2. The Princess is playing with the Golden Apples
  3. The three Trolls
  4. It is snowing and snowing
  5. Goblinparty
  6. The Daughters of the Northern Light
- Nordic Suite for piano op. 18
  Seven short pieces inspired by the folk poem ”Kjersti and the Mountain King”
  1. Moderato e espressivo
  2. Allegro
  3. Moderato e espressivo
  4. Allegro ma non troppo
  5. Moderato e patetico
  6. Tempo di valse
  7. Andantino e espressivo
- Rose and Butterfly (From”For piano” op. 7 no. 2)
- Silhouette (From ”For piano” op. 7 no. 3)
- Roccoco. Two piano pieces
  1. Gavotte
  2. Rigaudon
- Gothic Pictures op. 17
  1. Monk`s Choir in St. John`s Monastery
  2. The bells of St. Thomas
  3. Gargoyle
  4. Dim light through a Rose-window
  5. Ethereal ornamentation against an Evening sky
  6. Mystery

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Click to see a bigger coverpicture. Cover from Alf Hurum — Fandango

TH 202-2

Alf Hurum: Fandango - Complete Songs with Piano
— The Hurum Collection Vol III
Mezzo-soprano: Marianne Beate Kielland
Piano: Øyvind Aase

Op. 11

We will meet again ( V. Rydberg)
A flower (V. Rydberg)
Gloria in excelsis (Theodor Caspari)

Op. 12

Little Kirsten (Vilhelm Krag)
Why do the black dogs howl (Vilhelm Krag)
Cry, pale child (Vilhelm Krag)

Op. 13

Fair Nights (Vilhelm Krag)
Rendezvous (Vilhelm Krag)
Period piece (Vilhelm Krag)
The delicious Rooster (Vilhelm Krag)

Op. 14

Fandango (Vilhelm Krag)
To my Wallflower (Henrik Wergeland)
Nocturne ( Sigbjørn Obstfelder)
Rain (Sigbjørn Obstfelder)

September (H.V. Kaalund)
The Birch (Theodor Caspari)

Op. 19

Evening ( Rabindranath Tagore)
I will lift up mine eyes (Psalm 121)

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Click to see a bigger coverpicture. Cover from Two Composers — Two Generations

TH 196-2

Two Composers — Two Generations
Selected chamber music by Gunnar & Bjørn G. Gjerstrøm
Soprano: Turid Nordal Haavik
Violin: Peter Herresthal
Piano: Øyvind Aase
Sponsored by NOPA

«Music with atmosphere.
This is a recording for those who adore melodious music. Gunnar Gjerstrøm and his son Bjørn G. are true romantics. The oeuvre of Gunnar Gjerstrøm is small but ... exquisite. His Piano Suite is justly an evergreen in Norwegian piano music ... For years the listeners to the programme ”The Melody Hour” in NRK was enchanted by the inspired ”Arie”. ... Both father and son are strongly inspired by nature. This is obvious in ”Camara de Lobos”, with its broad waves and nocturnal moods. It is equally obvious that this composer is a painter as well. The song ”Landscape with snow” is picturesqe in every sense of the word with its suggestion of a barren winter landscape.»
Jarle Søraa, Verdens Gang, February 8th 1997

«The oeuvre of Gunnar Gjerstrøm had a great impact. An example is the splendid Piano Suite in four movements – one of the main works in the piano literature of its time. ... The son, Bjørn, born in 1939, is remarkably expressive. ... His songs are often distinguished by a delightful piano accompaniment ... and his ”Aria appassionata” for violin and piano has a strong appeal – just to mention a few of the works.»
Kjell Bækkelund, Kulturelt Perspektiv, 5 / 1997

Gunnar Gjerstrøm

Two pieces for violin and piano
1. Caprice norvégienne
2. Berceuse
Six songs for soprano and piano
1. The Lord`s Prayer
2. Lullaby (Elsa Gjerstrøm)
3. Nocturne (Elsa Gjerstrøm)
4. In the Seraglio Garden (J.P. Jacobsen)
5. Nocturne
6. By the sea (Elsa Gjerstrøm)
Piano Suite
1. Prelude
2. Arie
3. Minuet
4. Dance

Bjørn G. Gjerstrøm

Aria appassionata op. 20 for violin and piano
Three songs for soprano and piano
1. Landscape with snow (Stein Mehren)
2. Foreboding (Peter R. Holm)
3. In a strange night (Peter R. Holm)
Camara de Lobos op. 8 for piano solo
1. Early morning
2. The song of the sea
3. Night mood

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Click to see a bigger coverpicture. Cover from Expressions of the Piano Sonata

PDR01/91

Expressions of the Piano Sonata
Piano: Øyvind Aase
Sponsored by Fond for utøvende kunstnere

The title ”Expressions of the piano sonata” refers to the great diversity in expression among piano sonatas from different periods of the history of piano music. This recording shows how this diversity has been expressed by great composers from three different centuries.

This is Øyvind Aase`s debut CD . It contains one of the few available CD recordings of the Stravinsky Sonata (1924).

Joseph Haydn

Sonate in C-minor, HXVI:20
1. (Allegro) Moderato
2. Andante con moto
3. Allegro

Igor Stravinsky

Sonata (1924)
1. Comodo
2. Adagietto
3. Finale

Robert Schumann

Sonata in F sharp minor op. 11
1. Introduzione – Allegro vivace
2. Aria
3. Scherzo e Intermezzo
4. Finale: Allegro un poco maestoso

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Click to see a bigger coverpicture. Cover from H.C. Andersen — Det er helt sant!

TH 197-2

It is perfectly true!
- Stories and poems by H.C. Andersen.
Reading: Sidsel Ryen (IN NORWEGIAN)
Piano: Øyvind Aase,

A considerable number of composers have been inspired by H.C. Andersen`s texts, with operas, ballets and songs as a result. The great number of instrumental works related to the poet indicates the versatility of Andersen`s literary universe. This recording shows several examples of this tradition. Some will be surprised to learn that the opposite took place in connection with the pieces by Hartmann. In this case it was the poet who found inspiration in the music.

«There is a need for new executants. Like Sidsel Ryen. ... One has resisted the temptation to mix the music with the stories or vice versa, and has refrained from infusing the storytelling with sound effects. For me this is the right thing to do. The stories and poems of H.C. Andersen stands firmly on their own feet. The pianist Øyvind Aase performs convincingly short pieces that are inspired by the recital. The listener will find euphonious music that comments and underlines the texts.»
Jo Wangen, Arabesk, 1 / 1998

H.C. Andersen
- The princess on the pea (story)
- The butterfly (poem)
- The rocking horse (poem)
- The steadfast Tin Soldier (story)
- From the depths of the ocean (poem)
- The Nightingale – excerpt (story)
- It is perfectly true! (story)
E.W.Korngold
- The princess on the pea (piano)
J.P.E. Hartmann
- The butterfly (piano)
- The rocking horse op. 50 no 3 (piano)
Andersen/Hartmann
- Novellette: Six small pieces op. 55b (poems and piano)
E. Hagerup Bull
- The Tin Soldier op. 6B no 1 (piano)
E. Horneman
- From the depths of the ocean (piano)
- The Nightingale (piano)
F. Henriques
- It is perfectly true! (piano)

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TH 200-2

Paddington Bear`s first concert
Herbert Chappell / Michael Bond
The story of Babar, the small elephant
Francis Poulenc / Jean de Brunhoff
Reading: Sidsel Ryen (IN NORWEGIAN)
Piano: Øyvind Aase
Translation Paddington: Bjørn Alex Herrman
Translation Babar: Jo Ørjasæter
Sponsored by Norsk Kassettavgiftsfond

Sidsel Ryen and Øyvind Aase was invited to perform a Poulenc programme at the International Chamber Music Festival in Stavanger in August 1999. The story of Babar was part of that concert, and was given unabridged.

Paddington and Babar are old favourites, and have given pleasure to several generations with their adventures and delightful attitude to the world in general. The two musical stories on this recording are here presented for the first time in Norwegian.
Paddington Bear is a well-known figure with his red hat and sticky paws. He always ends up in unusual situations, and in this story he is attending his first concert. It ends, of course, in a mess as Paddingtom gets lost in the orchestra just as the ”Surprise -symphonie” by Haydn is starting!
Babar is a small elephant that is constantly involved in adventures that are unusual for elephants. He lives with human beings for a long time and learns a lot of new things. But in the end he realises that it is best for a small elephant to be with his friends and to feel truly at home.

«Here we have Francis Poulenc`s music to The story of Babar, the small elephant – sparkling music and a sparkling performance by the two artists. It is of great value that this music now becomes available with Norwegian text. It does the producer and the artists honour.»
Astrid Holen, Arabesk 1/ 2000

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Click to see a bigger coverpicture. Cover from Nordic piano music for children

TH 195-2

Nordic Piano Music for Children
Piano: Øyvind Aase
Sponsored by Nordisk kulturfond and Norsk Kassettavgiftsfond

«The subtitle ”Great music for small ears” tells us exactly what this is about. Aase has picked 41 short pieces by well-known Nordic composers. ... The pieces portray situations, moods, fairytales and toys in a manner that makes us hear both the sunshine and the jumping jacks!»
Elin Prøysen, Foreldre og Barn 6/7 1995

«We start with a new dimension: educational music. ... The majority of the pieces have descriptive titles, and Øyvind Aase plays them convincingly. He has a substantial reputation as a pianist, but never suggests that he is merely performing simple exercises.»
John Warnaby, Nordic Sounds 4 / 1995

«His performance reflects a thorough preparation. Øyvind Aase characterizes each individual piece in superb ways – rhytmically, ingratiating, elegant, simple and beautiful. ... The pieces are very descriptive in regard to titles and should inspire activities of great diversity. The recording is also valuable as a cultural-historical document in disclosing parts of the educational repertoire for piano in the musical tradition of the Nordic countries.»
Bjørg Julsrud Bjøntegaard, Musikkfokus 6 /1995

Carl Nielsen / Denmark
Humoresque-Bagatelles op. 11

Good Morning! Good Morning!
The Humming Top
A little Slow Waltz
The Jumping Jack
Doll`s March
The Musical Clock

Johan Kvandal / Norway
Eight Folk-tunes for piano op. 70

Comic song
Early morning
The peasant and the fox
Love song
Dance
Greeting song
Little Ola Finndal
The Rooster sat on the beam

Oskar Merikanto / Finland
From the World of Children op. 31

Prayer
Sleep, sleep my doll
Minuet in the Nursery
The train hurries by
The boys on the warpath
Musti`s funeral
The fiddler in town
Barcarole
Grandmother`s tale
In the whirl of the game

Leifur Thórarinsson / Iceland
Children`s pieces

Preludium
Carelessness
The Humming Top
Encore
Teasing

Alf Hurum / Noway
Fairyland op. 16

In an Enchanted Garden
The Princess is playing with the Golden Apples
The three Trolls
It is snowing and snowing
Goblinparty
The Daughters of the Northern Light

Adolf Wiklund / Sweden
From my window (six small summer pictures for the young)

In the Evening
Play
In the rowing-boat
In the Trapeze
Sun over the fjord
Reverie

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Click to see a bigger coverpicture. Cover from Mother's Songs

TH 198-2

Mother`s Songs. Norwegian Children`s songs.
Soprano: Åshild Skiri Refsdal
Piano: Gunnar Flagstad
Sponsored by Norsk Kassettavgiftsfond

«Splendid quality ... The well-known song ”Eventide” by Agatha Backer Grøndahl is performed in the most beautiful and noble fashion possible. ... This recording has got all the qualifications needed to reach a large audience.»
Kjell Bækkelund, Kulturelt Perspektiv, 5/99

«The cover reads: ”Norwegian Children`s Songs”, but this is music for adults as well ... With her deeply moving voice she conjures expectation and pleasure and masters the whole range from the lightest timbre to darker colours ... The pianist Gunnar Flagstad accompanies her with musical assurance through all the varied musical pranks and supports Refsdal`s expressive interpretation.»
Anne Myhre, Glåmdalen, February 19th 1999.

«This new CD proves to be an interesting musical pioneer work, with children`s songs and nursery rhymes composed by four of our most distinguished composers. ...
With the exception of the Grieg – songs this is a world premiere recording. ... The voice suits the songs very well and she manages in an admirable manner to vary the expression in accordance with the texts within each song and between the songs as a whole – and the number of songs amounts to 39 on this CD ... The pianist Gunnar Flagstad accompanies her in an irreproachable and sensitive manner.»
Martin Bækkelund, Oppland Arbeiderblad, March 11th 1999

Agathe Backer Grøndahl
A child in Springtime op. 42 (Anders Jynge)

A chirping Lark
Spring morning in the forest
Blue anemone
Picking flowers
Father Bumblebee
Dewdrops
Eventide
Cradle song

Ludvig Irgens - Jensen
Fables and nursery rhymes vol. I

Master Bruin
Lullaby
Big bear and little bear

Edvard Grieg
Children`s songs op. 61

The ocean (Nordahl Rolfsen)
The Christmas Tree (Johan Krohn)
Farmyard Song (Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson)
Fisherman`s song (Petter Dass)
Good-night song for Dobbin (Nordahl Rolfsen)
The Norwegian Mountains (Nordahl Rolfsen)
Hymn of the Fatherland (After Runeberg by Nordahl Rolfsen)

David Monrad Johansen
Ten Norwegian nursery rhymes op. 14

Olav`s cow is dead
Gyple valley
Twelve men with swords
The troll woman
Olav Trondsson
My child is spinning
Row to Relteland
Shepherd`s song
The Haymakers
Lullaby

Ludvig Irgens - Jensen
Fables and nursery rhymes vol.II

Goose and Gander
The cat and the mouse
The debate

Agathe Backer Grøndahl
Mother`s songs op. 52 (Andreas Jynge)

At dusk
Dandle on the knee
Tell my fortune, little oxeyed daisy
Chasing a butterfly
Mother`s songs
Magpies
Broiling sun
In the sun and the rain

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