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I'm looking forward to perform with Jan Akkerman & Wiek Hijmans at Het Bimhuis on the 08th of September 2016 in Amsterdam.
Photo of Odd-Arne by: Aliona Pazdniakova |
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From a NRK TV session 1990 with my Roland G707 guitar conroller (kind of underrated as an electric guitar ) and Roland GR 700 guitar synth. |
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Finally the work with the composition is done. I both hope and believe that John Dowland look with mercy upon me from where he is now. I hope and believe in it.
For two years I've worked with his music and I've tried to put his music into our time. His compositions seek to us today and has become my driving force. I will always have his beautiful melancholy and contemplation with me. Later this fall Sempre Dowland will be presented at Tromsø International Church Festival and for students at the Art Faculty Academic / Music Conservatory at the -University of Tromsø. |
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Composing music for string quintet-songoctet and guitar has of course been very challenging. John Dowland's songs are untouched. My job is to put them into 2013 with reharmonization. That showed that several of his tunes are almost timeless. I find John Dowlands compositions both modern and timeless at the same time. Several texts has Shakespeare's qualities. They lived at the same time in the same country, at times, there may be a link here - I wonder!! |
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From the newspaper ``I Tromsø``
``Strike in Norway in June 2012 –unable to reach the concert `` I will be back`` |
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I often think of the Celtic and British ability to create incredible beautiful melody lines.
It's probably no coincidence that British artists / musicians go to their roots such as Sting & Edin Karamazov (Lute) - John Dowland - Come Again - YouTube The music in England around year 1600 reached an artistic level where the written word (Shakespeare), and composers / lutenists as John Dowland, brought the English music to a level that we still consider to be modern / timeless. I envy the Norwegian officials who heard John Dowland in the palace of the Danish / Norwegian king Christian IV. |
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It was a special experience and play `` Project Obstfelder Tore Morten Andreassen Ord og stemninger (feat. Prosjekt Obstfelder) CD Baby together with Tore Morten Andreassen 41 years after I presented the project for the first time in NRK’s studio Tromsø in 1970 with Bjørn Adrian Andreassen (Tore Morten's father)on bass.
.OAJ Band with Lyrikk of Sigbjørn Obstfelder-Voice John Ytteborg. Musikk OAJ Sigbjørn Obstfelder was a lyrical musician in `` heart `` . He carried on giving poems / poetry that was decades ahead of its time. Edvard Munch saw early his talent. |
![]() Did all the guitars get of the plane? |
This summer, I spent a lot of time to practice to use different registry's on my guitars.
Guitarists often overlook the deep part of the guitar register. There are many opportunities for guitar solos in that register, for example,with tenor sax / baritone sax. I have also listened a lot to Mary Blige version of Harold Arlens immortal composition Come Rain or Come Shine. I look forward to seeing her role in the film about Nina Simone. Ray Charles would have embraced her - The lady has a huge potential as ... yes, a jazz performer. (Come on Mary) Mary Blige - Come Rain or Come Shine Yolande Bavan singer/actress with a past in Lambert, Hendricks and Bavan, Shakespear etc. I had the pleasure of knowing her for many years. Together with Lambert/Hendricks she did an outstading vocal performence. Here's a fantastic live recording with the trio: Lambert, Hendricks and Bavan `` This is Jazz History.`` Yolande about Odd-Arne Interview: Yolande Bavan Yolande Bavan on Google |
![]() Holtekilen collage of further education 2009/2010 ( Music class ) |
Almost all music has its place. Many times I wish for a wider variety concerning
instrumentation. More viola, violins, bassoon, upright bass, oboe cello, english horn, trombone and some saxophones please !
My dream: A string Quartet. Guitarists should sooner or later play with a string quartet, (Music for the silence minorithy) or spend a few sessions where the timing of the music is not ruled by bass and drums. ( Georgia on my mind ) Also to follow a conductor is often a shock to the guitarists who love Fermat and apeggio chords. When Im playing with Thomas R. Larsen, who I am supervisor for at the University of Tromsø, I am greeted by my past. The theater where we're playing is located right near the house I grew up in. The theater is built on what in my childhood was a landfill. Sometimes culture can be built on garbage. |
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Since my nice trip to New York in october/nov I've almost constantly play on my Gibson Birdland. A fantastic guitar with the caracter of a feminine mezzosopran. Im
forever greatful to Hank Garland og Billy Byrd who had the
visions already in 1955. Gybson Byrdland is a slim Gibson L-5 made
after these gentlemas wishes.
The guitar world has so many different personalitys. When it comes to guitars there is one leading star Les Paul, who passed away 13/8-09. He's life work as a guitarist, composer and innovator with his Les paul guitar will always light up they who seek electric guitars. He was a great inspiration for me in my younger days. When he played I was sure the guitar was a unique instrument. http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/News/les-paul-passes-away-at-94-813/ A diamond is gone. Thank you Les for all you have meant to me as a musician. ![]() |
Oslo (October, 2008) | ||
Oslo (June, 2008)
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Oslo (February, 2008) | ||
Oslo (December, 2007)
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Tromsø (November, 2007)
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Faroe Islands (June, 2007)
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Drawn north (May, 2007)
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Shifting Horizons (March, 2007)
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Nordlysfestivalen (January, 2007) | ||
Full Circle (November, 2006)
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Summer Reflections (July, 2006) | ||
Festival Meditation (June, 2006) | ||
I Wonder As I Wander (Dec, 2005) | ||
The Art Of Duo Playing (Autumn, 2005) | ||
Third Russian Norwegian JazzFestival (Oct, 2005) | ||
Convicted - Acquitted
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For Four (Feb, 2005) | ||
Gratitude (Dec, 2004) | ||
Robert Johnson (Dec, 2004) | ||
Joni Mitchell (Dec, 2004) Some artists you just take for granted. They are there, good, better or best One artist that has risen for my inner ear (and outer) is a lady from Canada (with norwegian roots), Joni Mitchell. Her "Both Sides Now" album with beautiful orchestration and arrangements by Vince Mendoza has filled my little music room for quite some time now. When Joni sings "A Case Of You", I believe what she says. She has conveyed her life in music and written so painfully beautiful about .... Canada? |
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Kathleen Ferrier (Dec, 2004) | ||
Chinese Culture Festival (Sept, 2004) When I participated at the concert in Oslo 25. september 2004 I noticed that I was announced as "one of the leading guitarists in Norway". I also noticed that a prominent representative from Rikskonsertene were present. "Artistic consultant" was his title. In 1998 he was consultant and adviser for NORAD (foreign aid development) and thought I couldn't go to China because, as he said (about me and my music), I weren't successfull in all aspects. Personally I have never in my short life (56 years) met anyone who is. I got to go to China anyway, and finally, I weren't asked by norwegian norwegians to participate in this chinese culture festival, but by chinese musicians. The music survived power hungry bureaucrats who tried to control something they never will come close to grasp. They neither hears nor sees. They only have their power, and that is something one grows poorer and poorer from. I have clear opinions about people that should keep away from the norwegian culture scene, and I remind you of this article I wrote in norwegian in 2000. Many people ask me what I myself do about this. The answer is that I do something about it every time I play. |
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Music For The Silence Minority (June, 2004)
And then, "Music For The Silence Minority" belongs to the infinite sea of tranquillity, like so much other music does. Like all things you cherish and love, there is an empty space in your soul after they are gone. I am presently totally reset, and don't have many oppinions. I mostly sit and improvise, waiting for some chords or lines to show me a way. In august I will start writing for four guitars, bass and drums. It will be neither "For Brothers" nor "For Others". Maybe "For Mothers" |
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Solorecital in Lommedalshallen (April, 2004)
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Villagers And Villains In The Town Of Cardamom (January, 2004) After having worked with the music for this play (which every adult should look at as for adults), I have reflected on how difficult this music is. Most people would say "easy childish music". But the fact is that everything that shall be done professionally with the heart requires about 167%. My oppinion is that everything requires max guts. There is much snobbishness among socalled "topp musicians". They should sit down in the orchestra pit for a while and think ensamble. In case you on the spotcannot accompany "happy birthday" in all keys to satisfaction, you have not payed attention at school. |
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Romerike College Of Further Education Project (January, 2004) I appreciated my project at Romerike College Of Further Education 9. january 2004 a lot. To meet and work with musicians in their novice years is a big challenge. Not least in the border district between crushing dreams and encurraging those with talent. I always become wistful after my concerts, in many ways meeting myself with very good musical qualities and those sides of my musical carreer that clearly tells me what I shall drive home and work harder with. Lately I have listened a great deal to Maria Callas and Eva Cassidy, two appearently different artists. But they had in my oppinion much in common both in musical expression and in destiny. We needes them both. They both went far beyond what was considered common, and they both paid a prize for shielding something that should be cheered. There is only one of each of us. |
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Wood-Winds and Strings completed (September 7, 2003) I have now finished writing Wood-Winds and Strings for a woodwind and guitar. As I chose to use an earth-flavoured sound on this piece, I hope it will sound good with alto flute, clarinet, guitar, englishhorn, horn and bassoon. Right now I'm looking forward to some time solely dedicated guitar playing. |
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On confidence and expectation (June 6, 2003) When I relize that a lot of people place a lot of confidence in me, such as letting me play at the Munch museum in close proximity to the spirits of Edvard Munch and Gustav Vigeland, I am suddenly overwhelmed by a familiar feeling. It's a feeling composed of both creative anxiety and heavy expectation, very much like the feeling I had when playing at my very first gig in Folkets Hus in Tromsø, Norway. At that time, I played together with my uncle and accordeonist Harald Hemingsen, at a wedding. This first experience with all the magic and surprise that music as an artform has to offer, has ever since become one of my guiding stars as a musician living in a country very scarce on musical commitment. Let's hope the future holds as more than it would seem at the moment. |
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Views and opinions continued (March 16, 2003) Working as a musician in Norway is a great challenge. Few, if any, of our politicians advocate cultural spendings, and it seems that all our political parties are careful to confine their cultural ambitions to the paper these are written on. Last year I mentioned that it took Japanese currency to revitalize the neglected and disrepaired Munch museum in Oslo. As it happens, my 15 year old son Jonas plays soccer on the same team as Kristin Halvorsen's (leader of SV - Sosialistisk Venstreparti) son Håvard. The other day I met her in connection with both of our sons leaving for a soccer camp in Denmark, and I gave her the following challenge: If SV get's the minister of culture at the next election, the money recieved from Idemitsu Petrolem Norge AS for renovation of our musem, should be paid back with interest. These last days since the burglary I've spent filling out forms and sending them to Sparebank1 and the police. After being lifted of all those instruments, the case has now been dismissed by the police, and the insurance company has made me doubt the very concept of "insurance". The damage was estimated to NOK 84.000, but Sparebank1 has offered me 20.000, less than one fourth of the actual sum! After many years with insurance premiums, I was now attempted humiliated by an entirely ungifted executive. Needless to say I am no longer their customer, and will go another round of paperwork in order to appeal the decision. I fear that the outcome would have been more favourable had I been a financial tycoon or somesuch. But, on the other hand, being a musician in a long and scanty cultural nation this far north, does believe it or not, have it's moments. Maybe just not in moments like this. I still keep trying to find a Norwegian choir for Tir`d With All These. But it seems to me there is a widespread anxiety in Norway towards accepting composers who are not "in". If anyone out there in the rest of the world would like to do something for mixed choir-guitar, I'd very much like to hear from you. Meanwhile I spend my days trying to become a better musician: Practice! I'm very happy that I havn't reached my "peak" as a musician yet. In fact, that's a feeling I sincerely hope to avoid all together! |
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Views and opinions on the Norwegian music life (September 3, 2002) In April 2000, I wrote the article Convicted - Aquitted (Norwegian only), for NOPA, Norwegian Society of Composers and Lyricists. It's a critique of the way the Norwegian music business works. The article will soon be translated into English, and put on this page. |
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Most special session (September 1, 2002) Saturday August 24 was one of the special sessions of my life. I was playing in my daughter Alise's wedding. First together with Londonderry Air in Sagene Church. Then, at the wedding party, the bride sang three jazz standards with her proud father on his ES 175. The songs: I am so Lucky to be Me (Leonard Bernstein) Love is Here to Stay (George Gershwin) Come Rain or Come Shine (Mercer/Arlen). |
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Writing (July 2, 2002) After I started writing my new piece for Fagotto & String Quartett & Guitar, most of my days are spent composing. The process is moving along well. I find it rewarding to collaborate with the performers during writing, and be chance Sigyn Birkeland (Fagotto) lives next door. I don't think there exists any music for this instrumentation, even worldwide. If you are interested, please email me on o-jacobs@online.no. After writing Tir'd with All These for Mixed Choire & Guitar, I saw how insufficient the music litterature is when it comes to orchestration including guitar. I feel that I've started trying to remedy this situation. Even though I've written for string quartet before, I'm back to zero when starting to write each new piece. Likewise, when I do my daily spell on my guitars. It makes me wonder if I ever get the feeling "I know how to do this". Japanese Yen saved the Edvard Munch Museum. I dream at night that our Minister of Culture (actually Church and Culture), will grant the money, sending it with interest back to her Japanese collegue, saying thank you for the loan. I would like to thank all you people who visit my site. In the beginning of August I'll be back from Portugal. |
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My beloved family, at Christmas Eve 2001. From left: My wife Kari, daughter Alise, son Jonas, and me. ![]() |