Biography
Played by the best orchestras, ensembles and soloists, his music reflects a powerful sense of drama. The variety of rhythms and sounds, the combination of lyrical and percussive moments, give to his compositions a unique intensity. Áskell Másson (b. 21. November 1953) is amongst Iceland´s leading composers. With a varied background as a woodwind player and percussionist, he was appointed composer and instrumentalist of the Ballet of the National Theatre in Reykjavik in l973 and in his early tventies he worked considerably in the theatre though always composing concert music. His early works were often heard at Scandinavian music festivals from 1974 and onwards, but in 1980 his Clainet Concerto was presented at the Rostrum of Composers in Paris, and being a specially recommended piece by a composer under the age of thirty, this was an important recognition of his compositional work. In the seventies, he was a pioneer in the field of percussion in Iceland and elsewhere, playing and composing, using new methods and instrumental combinations and techniques. In 1978-1983 he worked as a producer at the Iceland State Radio after which he has devoted his time exclusively to composition. He was Secretary General of the Society of Icelandic Composers in 1983-85, and President/Vice President of the Performing Rights Society (STEF) l989-99 being still on the board today. After his childhood studies in music he went to London to study privately percussion with the renowned James Blades and harmony and counterpoint with Patrick Savill. He has worked with some of the finest soloists (Christian Lindberg, Evelyn Glennie, Ole Edvard Antonsen, Roger Woodward) orchestras (New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Wienna Radio Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony, Oslo Philharmonic) and conductors (Esa-Pekka Salonen, Leif Segerstam, Leonard Slatkin, Jerzy Maksymiuk) in the world, often staying periodically in artists´residences worldwide.
His music has been described as:
“...ethereal in sound and has an expressive character that is withdrawn yet full of intensity” (Okto November for strings)
”Extremely unusual sounds reminiscent of both the human voice and of electrical instruments” (Helfro for percussion)
“a gem” (Blik for solo clarinet) Göran Bergendal, New Music in Icelan
“.. an essential lyricism coupled with a seductive, even sensous manipulation of sound” (an all Masson concert in the Wigmore Hall, London) Geoffrey Norris, The Daily Telegraph.
(Masson)”…has extraordinary insight into the unique attributes of each instrument for which he writes…” Hilary Finch, Nordic Sounds.
His music has been heard at festivals all over the world including the Gulbenkian Festival, ISCM World Music Days, Hong Kong Arts festival, Sydney Spring Festival, Nordic Music Days, Blossom Festival, Cleveland and many more.
Biographie
Áskell Másson est né en 1953 en Islande. Il commence ses études musicales à la clarinette à l’âge de 8 ans. Plus tard, il étudiera la percussion au Conservatoire de Reykjavik et en privé avec James Blades à Londres. Il travaille comme compositeur et percussioniste au Ballet du Théâtre National d’Islande de 1973 à 1975 avant de devenir producteur du département musical de la Radio islandaise (1978-1983). A partir de 1983, Áskell Másson s’est consacré essentiellement à la composition. Secrétaire général de la Société des Compositeurs Islandais de 1983 à 1985, il a été président de la STEF (société de droits d’auteur) jusqu’en 1999. Les oeuvres d’Áskell Másson sont appréciées et jouées dans le monde entier par les plus grands orchestres et musiciens.
Biographie
Áskell Másson ist 1953 in Island geboren. Mit 8 Jahren begann er Klarinette zu spielen und studierte dann später Schlagwerk am Konservatorium von Reijkjavik und privat mit James Blades in London. Von 1978-1983 war er Musikproduzent am isländischen Rundfunk, nachdem er zwischen 1973 - 1975 als Komponist und Perkussionist mit dem Ballett des isländischenden Nationaltheaters arbeitete. Seit 1983 ist Áskell Másson freischaffender Komponist. Er war Generalsekretär der Isländischen Komponisten Gesellschaft (1983 - 1985) und Präsident der STEF (Urheberrechts-Gesellschaft) bis 1999. Áskell Mássons Werke werden weltweit von den grössten Orchestern und Musikern aufgeführt.
