Publishing
This month's featured work
Reminiscence
Reminiscence is mvt. 2 from
Flute Concerto No.1 Op.70
- dedicated to Emily Beynon.
Composer: Fred Jonny Berg
- Berg is one of a handful of composers who are able to create the rare experience of enchanted silence in their music – Berg's Flute Concerto No.1 Op.70 contains several such moments. Even though his tools are a "conventional" orchestra using "conventional" instruments, an unreal atmosphere of calm and celestial flight arises. One of the most fascinating aspects in this regard is that he does not use any minimalist or modernist devices at all; he simply allows the music and its inner qualities to speak in full. In our current age of constant hectic activity, where it is barely permitted to think a complete thought, music such as this is of the greatest importance: it gives the listener the chance to experience time as a benefit and not as a punishment. The concerto is dedicated to the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra's eminent flautist Emily Beynon, and it received its premier performance in London in February 2009.
- Wolfgang Plagge
Reminiscence - Information page
Not really Gone
Ragnvald Jacobsen (1905-1997)
Composer: Fred Jonny Berg
Not really Gone is a part of the four movements symphonic poem About my Grandfather Op.37 - written in memory of the composer´s grandfather who was a semi-professional athletic. Hence the titles of the movements. He often trained athletics with his grandson.
This work has appeared in the movie Montagna con Forza as well as on the CD with the same name, About my Grandfather.
Not really Gone - Information page
Concerts & Events - a brief history
From 1997, Symbiophonic Events did organise several domestic concerts.
Earlier contributors at Symbiophonic Events contains Wolfgang Plagge, Harald Aadland, Tom Ottar Andreassen, Geir Henning Braaten, Knut Erik Sundquist, Roger Arve Vigulf, Joachim Knoph, Håvard Daae Rognli, Arvid Engegård, Frøydis Ree Wekre, Ørnulf Lillebjerka, Erling Riibe Ramskjell, Gaute Vikdal, Fred Jonny Berg, Tormod Knapp, among others.
A selection of previous concerts:
THE GAMBA CONCERT
Mini tour with Ralph Rousseau Meulenbroeks, viola da gamba
13th of August 2009 kl. 19:30 - Saltdal kirke, Rognan
14th of August 2009 kl. 19:30 - Tromsdalen kirke, Tromsø (Ishavskatedralen)
The program consists of baroque music, in addition to Berg´s work Lying on a Ledge Op.29 - in a version for viola da gamba.
- Advertisment
- Program
- Review Saltenposten 11.08.2009
- Review Saltenposten 15.08.2009
- Alt Om Rognan 19.08.2009
- Source and further information: Ralph Rousseau Home Page
- Article Voixhumaines.com
Fred Jonny Berg and Ralph Rousseau Meulenbroeks after the world premiere
of Lying on a Ledge Op.29b - in a version for viola da gamba solo.
Ralph Rousseau began playing the piano and bass guitar at the age of eight. He later combined his conservatoire double-bass studies with a university physics degree, graduating 'cum laude' in both. His professional career began as a double-bass player, where he performed with, among others, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. He also combined this with pop, jazz and rock music.
In 1996 he changed direction and took up the viola da gamba. He studied with Jaap ter Linden and rapidly became the most prominent Netherlands ambassador for the seven-stringed instrument. He has been soloist with, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Gelders Orchestra, the Residentie Orchestra Bach Ensembles, the North-Netherlands Orchestra and the Krakow Philharmonic Orchestra, with such conductors as Sir Roger Norrington and Ivan Fischer.
Ralph's greatest strength is his interpretation of the works for solo viola da gamba. Various composers have created new works for him and his solo concerts have brought him to chamber music festivals throughout Europe, the United States, Thailand and China. The presentation of his concerts is very personal; he introduces the works himself and his commentary creates an intimate atmosphere even in the largest of halls.
His CD recordings of composers such as Bach and Marais are internationally praised and his cross-over work has also gained exceptional recognition. At the end of 2008 Ralph signed a recording contract with Challenge Records and brought out his CD 'Chansons d'Amour'. This was received with critical acclaim: "Chansons d'Amour is more than flirtation. It is real love." (Klassieke Zaken)
Ralph plays an original instrument by Georg Aman (1705), a seven string bass by Reinhard Ossenbrunner and a copy of a division viol by Floris-Jan van der Voort. Bows by Gerhard Landwehr.
Ralph is an devout practitioner of t'ai chi and macrobiotic cooking and has a very broad scope of interests, ranging from history, astronomy, and astrophysics to aviation. He obtained his private pilot licence in 2009. He lives with his partner Josée in Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Rebekka Nystabakk and Fred Jonny Berg after a screening of Vicino alla Montagna in London (2009)
World premiere with flutist Emily Beynon, Vladimir Ashkenazy & Philharmonia Orchestra
Saturday, 7th of February 2009, Flute Concerto No.1 Op.70 had its world premiere. About 500 people attended this concert in St. John's Smith Square, London.
For the publishing company Symbiophonic, this evening will enter history as one of the greatest and most memorable Events ever.
In addition to sparkling performances of Sibelius' Karelia Suite Op.11 & Symphony No.7 op.105, harpist Catherine Beynon, flutist Emily Beynon & Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy gave exceptional performances of Fred Jonny Berg's Flute Concerto No.1 Op.70 (world premiere), Heart Op.27 No.5 (UK premiere) & Flute Mystery Op.66b (UK premiere).
Fred Jonny Berg held a lecture at the Tchaikovsky conservatory in Moscow in March 2008.
Arrangers and participants, Moscow, 2008.
Photos from concerts during Blåfrostfestivalen 2008 and Moscow 2008
Judith Hall, Andrew Ball, Yuri Medianik, Pluri_Art Ensemble and Elisabeth Turmo - all performing music by Fred Jonny Berg in 2008.
Concert in Saltdal church, Rognan & Bodø kulturhus, Bodø - Norway
April 27 and 28, 2003
Performances of several compositions, e.g. Violin Sonata no.2 op.56
Also, a studio recording of Distant Words op.43 and Destructive Network op.10 for the next cd release.
Performed by
Arvid Engegård - fiolin
Håvard Daae Rognli - bratsj
Ørnulf Lillebjerka - cello
Knut Erik Sundquist - kontrabass
Roger Arve Vigulf - klarinett 1
Håvard Lund - klarinett 2
Joachim Knoph - piano
Concert in Saltdal Church, Rognan - Norway & Bodin Church, Bodø
December 18, 2000
Performed by
Wolfgang Plagge - piano
Håvard Daae Rognli - viola
Ingebjørg Kibsgaard - flute
Hazel Eilertsen - soprano
Martha Mikalsen - church organ
Concert at Munch-museum, Oslo - Norway
December 10, 2000
Performances of several compositions, e.g. the first performance of
Distant Words op.43 for clarinet / string trio.
Performed by
Harald Aadland - violin
Håvard Daae Rognli - viola
Katharina Hager - violoncello
Knut Erik Sundquist - contrabass
Roger Arve Vigulf - clarinet
Geir Henning Braaten - piano
Concert at Munch-museum, Oslo - Norway
December 5, 1999
First performances of works, such as Violin Sonata no.1 op.50
Performed by
Wolfgang Plagge - piano
Tom Ottar Andreassen - flute
Håvard Daae Rognli - violin
Erling Riibe Ramskjell - perc.
Fred Jonny Berg - perc.
December 6, 1998
Concert at Munch-museum, Oslo - Norway
World Preimere: The cellist Tormod Knapp performing Lying on a Ledge op. 29 ,
at the Munch-museum 1998.
First performances of works, as Flute Sonata no.1 op.40
Performed by
Wolfgang Plagge - piano
Tom Ottar Andreassen - flute
Håvard Daae Rognli - violin
Håkon Jessen - viola
Tormod Knapp - violoncello
Steinar Børmer - contrabass
Erling Riibe Ramskjell - perc.
Fred Jonny Berg - perc.
Composer's Evening in Sofienberg Church, Oslo - Norway
December 18, 1997
Several first performances: Lonely Fryshild op.6, People of Blue Dimension op.4a etc.
Performed by
Lena Kristin Ellingsen - sopranoFrøydis Ree Wekre - corno
Tom Ottar Andreassen - flute
Gaute Vikdal - trombone
Wolfgang Plagge - piano
Fred Jonny Berg´s name is often spelled wrongly: Fred Johnny Berg
