Exposition

Interpreting Finn Mortensen’s Piano Music in an International Perspective (2023)

Kristian Evjen
open exposition

About this exposition

Finn Mortensen (1922-1983) was one of Norway’s most central composers and influential modernists in the decades following the Second World War. Nevertheless, his music is little studied among both researchers and performers. The dominant contemporary view that Mortensen was, as the renowned Norwegian musicologist Finn Benestad put it, “[t]echnically competent and emotionally cold” (Benestad 1959), and a composer more occupied with the constructivist than the expressive and emotional sides of music has largely remained a prevailing paradigm. This perception was not improved by Mortensen’s tendency to always talk about his music in purely technical, compositional terms and to remain silent about the stylistic, aesthetic and emotional content on the few occasions he reluctantly commented on his music. In addition, his scores, characterised by an ascetic notational style, contain very few expressive marks, dynamic nuances, tempo modifications, or other signs that could reveal aesthetic or emotional intentions. In my PhD project, which focuses on the performance and recording of Mortensen’s complete piano music, my starting point has been the opposing view that his music has dynamic power, flexible gestures, colourful harmonic language, and what I perceive as strong and varied emotional content. By juxtaposing Mortensen’s piano compositions with some of the most iconic music of the twentieth century, including music by composers that heavily influenced Mortensen’s development and fuelled his search towards an internationally oriented modernist style, I hope to expose a broader range of viable ways of performing Mortensen’s music. This way, I intend to challenge the view of Mortensen as merely a cold constructivist and instead shine a light on his other sides, the impulsiveness, expressivity and emotionality I have always perceived as inherently present in his compositions. The project could thus significantly impact the understanding of his music and enable performers to make artistic choices based on a broader and more nuanced frame of reference, facilitating a deeper insight into his musical intentions. My main goal with this project has been to explore some of the music’s interpretational possibilities and, as an extension of this, disseminate and discuss the knowledge, methods and processes that can lead to new and personal interpretations. Through this project, I hope to contribute to a new assessment of the aesthetic, stylistic and expressive aspects of performing Mortensen’s piano music, and that way, challenge and nuance history’s judgment of one of Norway’s most central modernists. Benestad, Finn. "Ny Musikk." Vårt Land, December 8th 1959.
typeresearch exposition
date30/05/2023
published03/10/2023
last modified10/06/2024
statuspublished
share statusprivate
copyrightKristian Evjen 2023
licenseAll rights reserved
urlhttps://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/778684/778685
published inNorwegian Artistic Research Programme, University of Stavanger
portal issue2023. 2023
connected toUniversity of Stavanger


Copyrights

nameLykkehjul ny detalj
copyrightMortensen 1964
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagespicture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture, picture
nameFerdig Refleksjon 30.05.2023
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseAll rights reserved
usagespdf
nameSonatina No. 1, Op. 1 I. Allegro.wav
copyrightKrisrian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameSonatina No. 1, Op. 1 II. Adagio.wav
copyrightKrisrian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameSonatina No. 1, Op. 1 III. Fuga a 3 voci. Allegro vivace.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameSonatina No. 2, Op. 2 I. Allegro.wav
copyrightKrisrian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameSonatina No. 2, Op. 2 II. Andante.wav
copyrightKrisrian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameSonatina No. 2, Op. 2 III. Allegro vivace.wav
copyrightKrisrian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameSonata, Op. 7 I. Quasi una fantasia.wav
copyrightKrisrian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameSonata, Op. 7 II. Fuga.wav
copyrightKrisrian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameFantasy and Fugue, Op. 13 I. Adagio molto.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameFantasy and Fugue, Op. 13 II. Fuga.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameTwelve Small Twelve-Tone Pieces for Children, Op. 22, No. 1 1. Canon.wav
copyrightKrisrian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameTwelve Small Twelve-Tone Pieces for Children, Op. 22, No. 1 2. Melody with Harmonies.wav
copyrightKrisrian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameTwelve Small Twelve-Tone Pieces for Children, Op. 22, No. 1 3. Mood.wav
copyrightKrisrian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameTwelve Small Twelve-Tone Pieces for Children, Op. 22, No. 1 4. Waves.wav
copyrightKrisrian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameTwelve Small Twelve-Tone Pieces for Children, Op. 22, No. 1 5. Signal.wav
copyrightKrisrian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameTwelve Small Twelve-Tone Pieces for Children, Op. 22, No. 1 6. Bells.wav
copyrightKrisrian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameTwelve Small Twelve-Tone Pieces for Children, Op. 22, No. 2 8. Basso ostinato.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameTwelve Small Twelve-Tone Pieces for Children, Op. 22, No. 2 9. Waltz.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameTwelve Small Twelve-Tone Pieces for Children, Op. 22, No. 2 10. March.wav
copyrightKrisrian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameTwelve Small Twelve-Tone Pieces for Children, Op. 22, No. 2 11. Scherzo.wav
copyrightKrisrian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameTwelve Small Twelve-Tone Pieces for Children, Op. 22, No. 2 12. Fugue.wav
copyrightKrisrian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameNocturne, Op. 22, No. 4.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameSonata for Two Pianos, Op. 26 (Full Length 1).wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameSonata for Two Pianos, Op. 26 (Full Length 2).wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameSonata for Two Pianos, Op. 26 (Half Length).wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameSonata No. 2 In one Movement, Op. 47.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameBoulez Troisieme Sonate Formant 3 Constellation.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameBoulez Troisieme Sonate Formant 3 Constellation Miroir.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameBoulez Troisieme Sonate Formant 2 Trope.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameUiS Kristian Evjen Version 1
copyrightKristian Evjen 2020
licenseAll rights reserved
usagesvideo
nameUiS Kristian Evjen Version 2
copyrightKristian Evjen 2020
licenseAll rights reserved
usagesvideo
name2018-04-23-LKS-Boucourechliev-p1
copyrightKristian Evjen 2020
licenseAll rights reserved
usagesaudio
name2018-04-23-LKS-Boucourechliev-p2
copyrightKristian Evjen 2020
licenseAll rights reserved
usagesaudio
nameMortensen: Twelve Small Twelve-Tone Pieces for Children, Op. 22, No. 2 7. Lullaby ny2.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
namePiano Piece, Op. 28.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameLykkehjulsonaten hele partituret.jpg
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagespicture
nameBoucourechliev piano II.png
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagespicture
nameOp. 13 Fuge slutt.jpg
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagespicture
nameMelange.jpg
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagespicture
nameTexte first line.jpg
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagespicture
nameTexte first line squellette only.jpg
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagespicture
nameBoulez2.jpg
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagespicture
nameBoulez.jpg
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagespicture
name2018.10.09.Kristian Evjen.LKS.Opptak 1.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2018.10.09.Kristian Evjen.LKS.Opptak 2.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2018.10.09.Kristian Evjen.LKS.Opptak 3.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2018.10.09.Kristian Evjen.LKS.Opptak 4.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2018.10.09.Kristian Evjen.LKS.Opptak 5.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2018.10.09.Kristian Evjen.LKS.Opptak 6.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2018.10.09.Kristian Evjen.LKS.Opptak 7.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2018.10.09.Kristian Evjen.LKS.Opptak 8.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2018.10.09.Kristian Evjen.LKS.Opptak 9.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2018.10.09.Kristian Evjen.LKS.Opptak 10.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2018.10.09.Kristian Evjen.LKS.Opptak 11.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2018.10.09.Kristian Evjen.LKS.Opptak 12.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2018.10.09.Kristian Evjen.LKS.Opptak 13.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2018.10.09.Kristian Evjen.LKS.Opptak 14.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2018.10.09.Kristian Evjen.LKS.Opptak 15.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2018.10.09.Kristian Evjen.LKS.Opptak 16.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2018.10.09.Kristian Evjen.LKS.Opptak 17.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2018.10.09.Kristian Evjen.LKS.Opptak 18.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2018.10.09.Kristian Evjen.LKS.Opptak 19.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2018.10.09.Kristian Evjen.LKS.Opptak 20.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2018.10.09.Kristian Evjen.LKS.Opptak 21.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2018.10.09.Kristian Evjen.LKS.Opptak 22.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2016.10.01_Mortensen_Sonatina_No_1_I.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2016.10.01_Mortensen_Sonatina_No_1_II.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2016.10.01_Mortensen_Sonatina_No_1_III.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2016.10.01_Mortensen_Sonatina_No_2_I.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2016.10.01_Mortensen_Sonatina_No_2_II.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2016.10.01_Mortensen_Sonatina_No_2_III.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2016.10.01_Hindemith_I.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2016.10.01_Hindemith_III.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2016.10.01_Hindemith_IV.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2016.10.02_Mortensen_Opus_7_I.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2016.10.02_Mortensen_Opus_7_II.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2016.10.02_Berg.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameMortensen op. 13 2017.08.10.mp4
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesvideo
nameTolvtonestykker for barn (Live) 2017.26.09.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
namePiano Piece 2017.08.10.mp4
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesvideo
nameBoulez Douze Notations 2017.08.10.mp4
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesvideo
nameSchoenberg op. 11 2017.07.10.mp4
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesvideo
nameWebern op. 27 2017.07.10.mp4
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesvideo
nameValen Intermezzo (Live) 2017.26.09.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
nameLykkehjulsonaten Lang versjon 13.11.18
copyrightKristian Evjen 2020
licenseAll rights reserved
usagesaudio
nameLykkehjulsonaten Kort versjon 13.11.18
copyrightKristian Evjen 2020
licenseAll rights reserved
usagesaudio
nameLykkehjulsonaten spesiell versjon 13.11.18
copyrightKristian Evjen 2020
licenseAll rights reserved
usagesaudio
name19.06.29 Valen.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name19.06.29 Webern.mov1.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name19.06.29 Webern.mov2.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name19.06.29 Webern.mov3.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name19.06.30 Schoenberg.mov1.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name19.06.30 Schoenberg.mov2.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name19.06.30 Schoenberg.mov3.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name2016.10.01_Hindemith_II.wav
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagesaudio
name1 app - timer selection.png
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagespicture
name2 app - chord generator selection.png
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagespicture
name3 app - initial summary.png
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagespicture
name4 app - countdown.png
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagespicture
name5 app - largo.png
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagespicture
name6 app - presto with chord generator.png
copyrightKristian Evjen
licenseCC BY-NC-ND
usagespicture

Comments are only available for registered users.