In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Kim André Arnesen.
Kim André Arnesen
b.1980
Kim André Arnesen is one of the most frequently performed classical composers from Norway today. He grew up in Trondheim, and at age of 10, he played the piano at the music school and was a chorister in the Nidaros Cathedral Boys´ Choir; he was educated at the Music Conservatory in Trondheim. With a big interest in baroque music, contemporary classical music, and popular music, Kim could have taken many roads, but choral music became his greatest passion. As a composer, he had his first performance at the age of 18 with the boys´ choir. Since then, he has written music that has been performed by choirs all over the world. In 2010, his first large-scale work, Magnificat was commissioned and premiered by the Nidaros Cathedral Girls´ Choir. Among his most popular works are Even when He is silent, Cradle Hymn, and Flight Song. In 2016, Cradle Hymn was performed at The White House for President Barack Obama. In 2019, Voices of the Silenced was commissioned and premiered by the New Hampshire Master Chorale and Nordic Christmas by VocalEssence.
Suggested choral pieces:
- Even When He Is Silent (Walton WW 1579)
- Child of Song (Santa Barbara Music Publishing SBMP 1271)
- Nordic Christmas (Boosey & Hawkes 104072)