Sebastian Fagerlund

Sebastian Fagerlund (born 6 December 1972) is a Finnish composer. He is described as “a post-modern impressionist whose sound landscapes can be heard as ecstatic nature images which, however, are always inner images, landscapes of the mind”.Susanna Välimäki: CD booklet BIS-SACD-1707.
Echoes of Western culture, Asian musical traditions, and heavy metal have all been detected in his music.

His output covers a wide variety of genres, ranging from chamber opera to chamber music and works for solo instruments. The most prominent are his concertos and his works for orchestra.

Together with clarinettist Christoffer Sundqvist, Fagerlund is Artistic Director of the RUSK Chamber Music Festival in Jakobstad, Finland in 2013.

Fagerlund was the Composer in Residence of the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam for the 2016-17 season and in 2018 was the invited guest composer at the Aspen Music Festival. In the 2021-22 season, Fagerlund was Artist in Residence at the Tapiola Sinfonietta.

Early life

Fagerlund was born in Pargas. He began his musical studies with violin lessons at the , where his teacher was Simo Vuoristo. After a year spent studying in the Netherlands, he applied for the Sibelius Academy to study composition and graduated from the class of Erkki Jokinen in 2004. He has also attended master classes with Michael Jarrell, Magnus Lindberg, Ivan Fedele and others.

Compositions

The ''Clarinet Concerto'' (2006) marked a turning point in Fagerlund’s career as a composer, and was followed by the tone poem ''Isola'' (Island, 2007), another major orchestral work. Both works were premiered at the Korsholm Music Festival. His surrealistic chamber opera ''Döbeln'' (2009), constructed around hallucinations, won the Record of the Year Award of the Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle) and was a commission from the West Coast Opera Kokkola. Further works include ''Ignite'' (2010) and the violin concerto ''Darkness in Light, written'' for Pekka Kuusisto and immensely successful when premiered in Tampere in September 2012. The concerto was partly inspired by the literature of Haruki Murakami. The guitar concerto
Transit
' (2013), commissioned by Yle and premiered by Ismo Eskelinen has continued Fagerlund’s series of concertos.

Fagerlund has said: “A sort of primitivism is present in many of my works. As a result, rhythm, in particular, has become very important. I am fascinated by relentless drive and energy.”. Salient features of Fagerlund’s music are his interest in large-scale forms and details of them, and a view of music as the expresser of fundamental questions and existential experiences.

Works by Fagerlund have been performed around the world by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, the Gothenburg Symphony and the Dutch Radio Philharmonic Orchestra.

Fagerlund's 2017 opera ''Autumn Sonata'', with a libretto by the composer and , based on the 1979 film by Ingmar Bergman, was premiered at the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki conducted by John Storgårds; Anne Sofie von Otter created the principal role of Charlotte.

Prizes

* 2010 – Nominated for the Nordic Music Prize for ''Sky''
* 2010 – Record of the Year Award of the Yle music editors for the recording of ''Döbeln''
* 2011 – Emma Award for best classical, for the orchestral ''Isola''
* 2011 – Teosto Prize for the orchestral ''Ignite''
* 2011 – ''Ignite'' selected as a recommended work at the International Rostrum of Composers in Vienna
* 2016 – Nominated for the Nordic Council Music Prize for ''Mana – Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra''
* 2018 – Shortlisted in the International Opera Awards 2018 for ''Autumn Sonata''
* 2018 – Nominated for the Fondation Prince Pierre de Monaco Musical Composition Prize with Opera ''Autumn Sonata''
* 2019 – The Grand Cultural Prize awarded by the Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland

Works

Works for the stage

* ''Döbeln (opera)'', opera (2008–2009)
* ''Höstsonaten'' (''Autumn Sonata''), opera (2014–2016)

Works for orchestra or large ensemble

* ''Renergies'' (2003)
* ''Partita'' (2007/09)
* ''Isola'' (2007)
* ''Ignite'' (2010)
* ''Stonework'' (2014–2015)
* ''Strings to the Bone'' (2015)
* ''Skylines'' Fanfare for Orchestra (2016)
* ''Drifts'' (2017)
* ''Water Atlas'' (2017-2018)
* ''Chamber Symphony'' (2021)
* ''Beneath'' (2022)

Works for soloist and orchestra

* ''Emanations'' for solo clarinet, two percussion players, string orchestra (1998)
* ''Höga lågor, stilla vatten'' for solo soprano, solo mezzo-soprano, solo baritone and chamber orchestra (2003)
* Saxophone Concerto (2004)
* Clarinet Concerto (2005–2006)
* Violin Concerto ''Darkness in Light'' (2012)
* ''Stone on Stone'' for amplified cello and ensemble (2012)
* ''Silent Words'' (version for cello and string orchestra) (2013)
* Guitar Concerto ''Transit'' (2013)
* Bassoon Concerto ''Mana'' (2013‒2014)
* Cello Concerto '' Nomade'' (2018)
* Flute Concerto ''Terral'' (2021)

Chamber works

* ''Imaginary Landscapes'' for ensemble (9 players) (2002)
* ''Short Stories'' for saxophone quartet (2002)
* Clarinet Quintet (2004)
* ''Breathe'' for clarinet, accordion and cello (2005–2006)
* Cadenza for clarinet and instrument with low range (2006)
* String Quartet no. 1 (2006–2007)
* ''Scherzic'' for viola and cello (2008)
* ''Sky'' for Baroque ensemble (2008)
* ''Traces and Shadows'' for cello and piano (2009–2010)
* ''Sky II'' for ensemble (10 players) (2009)
* ''Oceano'' for violin, viola and cello (2010–2011)
* ''Rush'' for violin, clarinet, two pianos and cimbalom (2010–2011)
* ''Exhibit'' for ensemble (2010)
* ''Fuel'' for clarinet, cello and piano (2010)
* ''Rounds'' for clarinet and piano (2011)
* ''Rush II'' “Aldeburgh Version” for violin, clarinet, cimbalom and piano 4 hands (2011)
* ''Sonata'' for clarinet and piano (2011)
* ''Silent Words'' for cello and piano (2013)
* ''Transient Light'' for horn, violin, cello and piano (2013)
* ''Stilla'' for violin and piano (2014)
* ''Windways'' for recorder quartet (2015–16)
* Octet ''Autumn Equinox'' for clarinet, bassoon, horn, 2 violins, viola, cello and double bass (2016)
* String Quartet No.2 ''From the Ground'' (2017)
* ''Fuel II'' for flute, clarinet, violin, violoncello, piano (2018)
* ''Woodlands Variations'' for bassoon and string quartet (2018)
* ''Remain'' for piano trio (2022)

Works for solo instrument

* ''Flow'' for clarinet (1999)
* ''Ground'' for alto saxophone (1999/2001)
* ''Environs'' for organ (2003)
* ''Reminiscence'' for violin (2003)
* ''Recordanza'' for tenor recorder (2005)
* 6 Piano Pieces (for young players) (2007)
* ''Licht im Licht'' for piano (2007)
* ''Kromos'' for guitar (2011)
* ''Woodlands'' for bassoon (2012)
* ''Materie'' for solo violin (2019)
* ''Recitativo'' for solo cello (2021)

Vocal and choral works

* ''Liten svit'' for baritone and piano (2001)
* ''Revontulet'' soprano and piano (2001)
* ''Sinnlighetens fest'' for male choir (2002)
* ''Teckning'' (Drawing) for male choir (2006)
* ''Staden'' 3 songs for soprano and piano (2009)
* ''Nocturne'' for female choir (2010)
* ''Dream Land'' for male choir (2019)

Electro-acoustic works

* ''Element'' for 8-channel tape (1998)

Discography

* 2022 – ''Breathe'' – Trio Klangspectrum, GENUIN
* 2021 – ''Nomade – Cello Concerto, Water Atlas'', Nicolas Altstaedt, cello, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, cond. Hannu Lintu, BIS-2455
* 2021 – ''Oceano – Chamber Music by Sebastian Fagerlund'', String Quartet Meta4, Paavali Jumppanen, piano, Christoffer Sundqvist, clarinet, Hervé Joulain, horn, BIS-2324
* 2020 – ''Kromos – 21st Century Guitar Music'', Ismo Eskelinen, guitar, BIS-2395
* 2018 – ''Höstsonaten'' (''Autumn Sonata''), Anne Sofie von Otter, Erika Sunnegårdh, Helena Juntunen, Tommi Hakala, Nicholas Söderlund, Finnish National Opera Chorus & Orchestra, cond. John Storgårds, BIS-2357
* 2018 – ''Stonework, Drifts, Transit – Guitar Concerto'', Ismo Eskelinen, guitar, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, cond. Hannu Lintu, BIS-2295
* 2016 – ''Mana – Bassoon Concerto, Woodlands'', Bram van Sambeek, bassoon, Lahti Symphony Orchestra, cond. Okko Kamu, BIS-2206 (with Bassoon Concerto by Kalevi Aho)
* 2015 – ''Darkness in Light – Violin Concerto, Ignite'', Pekka Kuusisto, violin, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, cond. Hannu Lintu, BIS-2093.
* 2011 – ''Clarinet Concerto, Partita, Isola'', Christoffer Sundqvist, clarinet, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, cond. Dima Slobodeniouk, BIS-SACD-1707.
* 2010 – ''Döbeln'', West Coast Kokkola Opera, cond. Sakari Oramo, BIS-SACD-1780.
* 2010 – ''Short Stories'', The Academic Saxophone Quartet, OPTCD-10007-8.
* 2010 – ''Licht im Licht'', Risto-Matti Marin, ABCD 305.
* 2009 – ''Imaginary Landscapes'', Turku Ensemble, JJVCD-69.
* 2007 – ''Northern Light''s, Anu Komsi, soprano, Pia Värri, piano, ABCD 231.
* 2005 – Saxophone Concerto, Olli-Pekka Tuomisalo, saxophone, Chamber Orchestra Avanti!, cond. Dmitri Slobodeniouk, JaseCD 0042.
* 2003 – ''Imaginary Landscape'', Uusinta Chamber Ensemble, UUCD 101.
* 2002 – ''Sinnlighetens fest'', Polytech Choir, cond. Juha Kuivanen, PKCD 19.
* 2001 – ''Ground'', Olli-Pekka Tuomisalo, alto saxophone, FSSCD-01001.
* 2001 – ''Ground'', Olli-Pekka Tuomisalo, alto saxophone, Risto-Matti Marin, piano, OPTCD-01003-4.
* 2000 – ''Emanations'', Turku Conservatoire Orchestra, Christoffer Sundqvist, clarinet, cond. Sauli Huhtala, KACD2001-2.

References

External links

Sebastian Fagerlund @ Edition Peters

Entry at Music Finland (Finnish Music Information Centre)

Sebastian Fagerlund profile at BIS

Sebastian Fagerlund – full speed ahead. Article in the Finnish Music Quarterly 2/2011

Sebastian Fagerlund, composer. Interview in ResMusica 13.2.2014

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fagerlund, Sebastian
Finnish classical composers
Finnish male classical composers
1972 births
Living people
People from Pargas
21st-century classical composers
21st-century male musicians
Sibelius Academy alumni
21st-century Finnish composers