Henning Kraggerud: 24 Postludes in all keys for Violin and Chamber Orchestra

Kraggerud, Henning (b.1973)

1. Equinox – 24 Postludes in all keys for Violin & Chamber Orchestra, Afternoon – Concerto in C, Major (Greenwich)
2. D Minor (Prague)
3. F Major (Alexandria)
4. G Minor (Baghdad)
5. B flat Major (The Aral Sea)
6. C Minor (Jaipur)
7. Evening – Concerto in E flat, E flat Major (Dhaka)
8. F Minor (Lake Baikal)
9. A flat Major (Hangzhou)
10. B flat Minor (Kyoto)
11. D flat Major (Sydney)
12. E flat Minor (New Caledonia)
13. Night – Concerto in F sharp, F sharp Major (Taveuni)
14. G sharp Minor (Mary’s Igloo)
15. B Major (Tahiti)
16. C sharp Minor (Whitehorse)
17. E Major (Santa-Barbara)
18. F sharp Minor (Puerto Vallarta)
19. Morning – Concerto in A, A Major (New Orleans)
20. B Minor (New York City)
21. D Major (Manaus)
22. E Minor (Hvalsey)
23. G Major (Flores)
24. A Minor (Horn)
25. C Major – Overture

Alongside a distinguished career as a soloist with some of the world’s greatest orchestras, Norwegian star violinist Henning Kraggerud is also a composer. On ‘Equinox’ he combines these two roles in a collaboration with Jostein Gaarder, author of ‘Sophie’s World’, playing the solo part and also directing the Arctic Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra.

Kraggerud’s composition comprises four concertos – Afternoon, Evening, Night and Morning – each of which consists of six postludes. These 24 postludes are written in 24 keys and depict 24 hours and 24 time zones, taking the listener on a kaleidoscopic tour across the world and time, and journeying musically through the circle of fifths, beginning in C major. The postludes are by turn joyful, mournful, effervescent and heart-wrenching.

Bestselling author Jostein Gaarder has written an original accompanying narrative, ‘24 keys to a world before it slips away’, charting a man’s journey through time from the Meridian Line in Greenwich, which features in live performances but not on this music-only CD. As he awaits a potentially serious medical diagnosis, the protagonist decides to make the most of his 24 hours of freedom by visiting every time zone. Kraggerud and Gaarder were inspired by centuries’ worth of discussions about the intrinsic properties of musical keys by theorists, philosophers and composers.

Henning Kraggerud is well-known with an increasing profile as a performer at festivals, including the BBC Proms, and at venues such as the Wigmore Hall. The Brodsky Quartet and Britten Sinfonia are among ensembles that have recently commissioned works from him as a composer. For Simax he has also made recordings of the Ysaÿe Sonatas for solo violin (PSC1293) and ‘Munch Suite’, 15 new pieces inspired by the paintings of Edvard Munch (PSC1322).

Reviews

BBC Music MagazineDecember 2015

“The Arctic Philharmonic strings of Tromsö are as evocative as their leader – Norway now has a great school of string-teaching – and while there’s nothing radical here, the music is also never backgroundy and the variety, from meditation to lopsided dance, is extraordinary. I can’t wait to hear the whole thing in action – 5 out of 5 stars

Gramophone MagazineOctober 2015

“The writing is streamlined…resolutely tonal, peppered with neo-Baroque gameplay and some obvious geographical signposting but generally neat and secure…Kragerrud’s playing is evocative (his violin sounds almost like an oriental flute)…and the Arctic Philharmonic provide a warm, capable cushion underneath him.