Riffs and Interludes was written in Autumn, 1997 and commissioned by the Stavanger Brass Band with support from Norsk KuIturrd for the 1998 Norwegian Brass Band Championship. This is a perfect contest piece for Brass Bands in the top level. The composer says: "Riffs and Interludes is a book of memories from the time as a band musician. Riffs, tunes and sounds which has influenced my own music-writing." 1. "ABa funk - from Heaton to T.O.P.x. The first movement is very rythmic and energic. You will may recognize a motif from Wilfred Heaton’s Contest Music, camuflated in rythmical funky patterns.
2. Songs from a singing Mountain (Lento ma poco rubato) The songs are short and simple, sometimes only a few notes. The mountain is massive and consists of strong chords.
3. Mechanical Dance Sequence (Vivace) Episodes from the opening bars are repeated troughout in different variations and transpositions. A short but lively coda makes a brilliant conclusion.
Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen (1964) Aagaard-Nilsen’s production bears witness of an un-dogmatic and playful approach to composition. After having established himself in the Bergen area by the end of the I 980s, he started composing music for brass band, for which he obtained a quick success. Gradually, his contact with the contemporary music scene in Bergen resulted in commissions from the Norwegian section of ISCM, the BIT 20 Ensemble and festivals Music Factory and Autunnale.
