Sunleif Rasmussen

Sunleif Rasmussen conducting the Olavsoka Cantata 2009, which he composed. The photo was taken on Tinghúsvøllur in Tórshavn.

Sunleif Rasmussen (born March 19, 1961 in Sandur in the Faroe Islands) is the foremost Faroese composer of classical music.

Biography

Rasmussen studied in Norway, then returned to Tórshavn in the Faroes as a music teacher and jazz pianist. From 1990 to 1995 he studied musical composition at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen under Ib Nørholm and electronic music under Ivar Frounberg. In 1992 he received grants from the Leonnie Sonning Foundation and the Danish Composer's Society.

He also became familiar with spectral music, which has its roots at the IRCAM in Paris, and the work of composers such as Tristan Murail. Rasmussen has produced a number of works combining electronic and acoustic instruments, some produced in co-operation with DIEM (the Danish Institute for Electro-Acoustic Music).

In 1997 he was awarded a three-year grant from the Danish State Arts Foundation.

In 2002 he won the Nordic Council Music Prize for his Symphony no. 1 - "Oceanic Days", which, in the NOMUS committee description: "derives its inspiration from Faroese nature and from age-old Faroese hymns, from which Rasmussen has created a work of comprehensive dimensions. It radiates a natural artistic integrity, combining tightness and structure with lyric feeling."

In 2004 he was visiting composer at the prestigious Korsholm Festival in Finland.

In 2010 he received the Faroese Cultural Prize from the Faroese Department of Culture.

In 2013 he participated in the residency and concert series Other Minds in San Francisco.

Music

Rasmussen speaking at a pre-concert panel discussion at Other Minds 18 in 2013

Rasmussen’s music always has a natural complexity, combining his jazz background with a rich tradition of Faroese folk music and electroacoustic and spectral music. He transforms folk music themes using spectral and serial techniques, using intervals in the original melody to generate rhythmic segments and harmonic overtone spectra to determine the melodic and timbral material; the result is an abstraction from Faroese traditional music, even though none of the original melodies can be discerned in the finished composition. He also draws much inspiration from the Faroese author and artist William Heinesen (1900-1991), using both the text and the mood of Heinesen's poetry in his music.

The result is highly evocative, beautiful, and not difficult to listen to. The power and complexity of his music often reflects nature, shimmering with energy and movement.

Works

His works include:

Orchestral works:

Solo instrument and orchestra/ensemble

Large chamber ensemble

Chamber works

Solo instrument

Vocal works

Recordings

Recordings of Rasmussen's music include:

References

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