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The Border Woods at CMA:
a conversation with Frode Haltli
& Emilia Amper

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By Mike Telin

Frode-Amper-et-alWhen the Osa Festival in Voss, Norway commissioned Norwegian composer and accordionist Frode Haltli to write a full concert-length work, he knew he wanted to compose a piece that would combine the improvised qualities of traditional Scandinavian folk music with classical, notated music. “From Edvard Grieg on, a lot of Norwegian composers have been interested in traditional music, and used it as a source of inspiration,” Haltli said during a telephone conversation from Norway.

On Wednesday, March 29 at 7:30 pm in Gartner Auditorium, the Cleveland Museum of Art will present Frode Haltli’s The Border Woods (Grenseskogen). The performance will feature Frode Haltli (accordion), Emilia Amper (nyckelharpa), and Eirik Raude (percussion).

“I love the sound of the nyckelharpa,” Haltli said, “and Emilia is one of the great folk musicians in Scandinavia. [Read more…]

Review: CMA Concerts at Transformer Station — Frode Haltli, Norwegian accordionist (April 27)

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by Mike Telin

HALTLI-FrodeOn Sunday, April 27 the CMA Concerts at Transformer Station series concluded its inaugural season with a stunningly beautiful performance by Norwegian virtuoso classical accordionist Frode Haltli.

If you’re wondering about the term “classical accordionist,” you’re not alone. The instrument has yet to be recognized in many parts of the world as one associated with classical music. However by the end of his program that featured music by Hans Abrahamsen, Magnar Åm, Arne Nordheim and Aldo Clementi, Haltli had more than made a convincing case that the term is indeed fitting.

Written in 2006 and dedicated to Haltli, Danish composer Hans Abrahamsen’s Air is a simple atmospheric piece that worked perfectly as an opener to the program. The colors and subtle timbre changes Haltli produced were astonishing. [Read more…]

Preview: CMA at Transformer Station — Norwegian accordionist Frode Haltli

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by Mike Telin

HALTLI-FrodeOn Sunday, April 27 beginning at 7:30 pm, CMA Concerts at Transformer Station presents Norwegian virtuoso classical accordionist Frode Haltli. The program features music by Hans Abrahamsen, Magnar Åm, Arne Nordheim and Aldo Clementi. “Even though this program is classical contemporary music, I think it reflects my interests in different kinds of music,” Haltli said during a telephone conversation from his home in Norway. “It’s not your ordinary contemporary music, it [ventures] out into many different directions.”

If you’re wondering about the term “classical accordion” you’re not alone. The instrument has yet to be recognized in many parts of the world as one associated with classical music. So why is that different in Scandinavia? “It really is because of one person, Danish player Mogens Ellegaard. He was the first accordionist to introduce the instrument to real composers in Scandinavia. He really developed the accordion in a more classical way, although in my view it will never be a traditional “classical” instrument.”

Perhaps not, but if you take a quick glance at Haltli’s repertoire list on his website, you will find many recognizable contemporary composers such as Berio, Lindberg, Pintscher, Gubaidulina and Zorn, all of whom have composed for the instrument. [Read more…]

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