Ensemble playing in both the chamber orchestra and smaller chamber groups, along with individual lessons, gave the young instrumentalists under 13 years old a small taste of what awaits them at the gathering during the Valdres Summer Symphony at the end of June.
A newly composed piece by Henning Kraggerud
During the weekend time was spent preparing a brand-new and recently composed piece by Henning Kraggerud, which will have its premiere at the Valdres Summer Symphony in 2025. It will be exciting to see whether Henning will make any adjustments or changes after hearing the tonal possibilities and nuances in the same orchestra that will perform the piece in a few months. From what we’ve heard so far, we can still promise the audience beautiful and atmospheric music.
Henning Kraggerud øver inn en polka av Smetana med en kammergruppe på 9 elever.
Alle foto: Arina Karbovskaya
"5-Minute Chamber Music with Instrument Swap"
A small side project throughout the weekend was that the violinists would try playing viola in the chamber groups.
With borrowed violas from both Nord-Aurdal Cultural School and the orchestras at Barratt Due Music Institute, the violinists each had their own violin and viola, and everyone received a viola in the appropriate size.
Alf Richard noterer på spilletime med Leo, som spilte Kreisler’s «Preludium og Allegro» på konserten.
Noah under øvelsen med Natallia Papova.
Viola teacher Beatrice Bjørnsen drew a parallel to the Ski World Championships, which were happening at the same time in Trondheim:
– In the Ski World Championships there is a distance called the "20 km mass start with ski swap," and we’re now trying the new musical event, "5-minute chamber music with instrument swap!"
The Concerts
At the weekend’s first concert at Trykkeriet on Saturday afternoon, 13 participants performed various pieces from their own solo repertoire. This is music they play with their regular teachers at home and that they may have received some final polishing on from the Gnist teachers before the concert.
At the piano was our faithful pianist Natallia Papova, who, in about an hour, took the audience on a journey through music history, performing pieces by Vivaldi, Saint-Saëns, Wieniawski, and Shostakovich, among others.
Pianist Natallia Papova i samspill med cellist Noah. De spilte fra en cello-sonate av Vivaldi.
Frida spilte Sarasate’s «Introduksjon og tarantella» med Natallia Papova ved klaveret.On Sunday afternoon the closing concert was held. It started with an open rehearsal or a run-through of the orchestral piece to be performed at the Summer Symphony. The formal concert then began, and all the chamber music worked on throughout the weekend was included in the program.
Both Boccherini and Mozart were represented with several works, and in addition, Borodin and Smetana were on the list of composers.
The polka from Smetana's String Quartet No. 1 in E minor was performed by a small ensemble, which was slightly larger than the original four-person arrangement. Henning Kraggerud led this group, which consisted of the nine oldest participants of the gathering.
Preparations for Summer Symphony 2025
The theme of the weekend was preparation for June and the Valdres Summer Symphony. It was not only about preparing some of the music, but also about getting to know each other better.
A reliable source (who was a mother) later shared with us that, on the drive home, her daughter wiped away a tear and asked herself, 'How am I going to survive over three months before I get to see everyone again!?'
Kurs- og prosjektledere Ole Rasmus Bjerke og Ingvild Loen er svært fornøyde med vårens samling.
