Áskell Másson (*1953)

Name: Atelier Bim
Price range: $

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“...ethereal in sound and has an expressive character that is withdrawn yet full of intensity” (Okto November for strings)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 Iceland

“.. 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

Works

Áskell Másson

3 Bagatelles

for clarinet solo

Áskell Másson

5 Pieces

for trumpet and trombone

Áskell Másson

A voce sola

for viola solo

Áskell Másson

Aeolus

for tuba solo

Áskell Másson

Alfasteinn

for piano

Áskell Másson

Alu Dream

for aluphon (4 players)

Áskell Másson

Alu Song

for aluphone

Áskell Másson

Aura

for percussion solo

Áskell Másson

B2B

Back to Basics

for snare drum solo

Áskell Másson

Blik

for clarinet solo

Áskell Másson

Boreas

for tuba solo

Áskell Másson

Cadenza

for trombone solo

Áskell Másson

Canto Nordico

Trombone Concerto

for trombone and orchestra

Áskell Másson

Cosmic Tree

for marimba and 3 percussionists

Áskell Másson

Crossings

Double Concerto

for 2 percussions and orchestra

Áskell Másson

Derrière le miroir

for 10 brass instruments

Áskell Másson

Duettino

for 2 clarinets

Áskell Másson

Elja

for chamber orchestra

Áskell Másson

Fantasia

for clarinet and harpsichord

Áskell Másson

Fantasiestück

for piano

Áskell Másson

Fo(u)r Mallets

for 4 solo mallets on any surface

Áskell Másson

Frón

for symphony orchestra

Áskell Másson

Frum

A Drum Song

for solo percussion

Áskell Másson

Glacier

for baritone saxophone and vibraphone

Áskell Másson

Hrim

for cello solo

Áskell Másson

Ima

for 1 percussionist

Áskell Másson

Impromptu

for marimba solo

Áskell Másson

for snare drum solo and 3 percussions

Áskell Másson

Kammersinfonia

Symphony N° 2

for chamber orchestra

Áskell Másson

Kím

for snare drum solo

Áskell Másson

Konzertstück

for snare drum and piano

Áskell Másson

Konzertstück

for snare drum and orchestra

Áskell Másson

Konzertstück

for snare drum and brass band

Alan Gout

Áskell Másson

Konzertstück

for snare drum and symphonic wind band

Alan Gout

Áskell Másson

Konzertstück

for snare drum and percussion ensemble

Áskell Másson

Lament

for flute solo

Áskell Másson

Larghetto

for organ

Áskell Másson

Maes Howe

Tuba Concerto

for tuba and chamber orchestra

Áskell Másson

Marimba Concerto

for marimba and orchestra

Áskell Másson

Melodie

for viola and marimba

Áskell Másson

Monologue

for trombone solo

Áskell Másson

Music for Brass Quintet

for brass quintet

Áskell Másson

Northern Lights

for horn, strings, harp and marimba

Áskell Másson

Októ Nóvember

for string orchestra

Áskell Másson

Ora

for 6 percussionists and orchestra

Áskell Másson

Partita

for guitar and percussion

Áskell Másson

Pianotrio

for piano, violin and cello

Áskell Másson

Prím

for snare drum solo

Áskell Másson

Quatrain

for 4 saxophones solo, tubular bells and string orchestra

Áskell Másson

Seasons

Fantasy on a Chinese Poem

for clarinet and hand drum

Áskell Másson

Shadows

for solo trumpet and brass quintet

Áskell Másson

Sindur

for 4 percussionists

Áskell Másson

Sinfonia Trilogia

Hyr - Ra - Hvel

for symphony orchestra

Áskell Másson

Sonata I

for marimba solo

Áskell Másson

Sonatina

for clarinet and piano

Áskell Másson

Teikn

for violin solo

Áskell Másson

Toccata

for chromatic tom-toms

Áskell Másson

Tromma

for 2 percussions

Áskell Másson

Tryst

for trombone and tuba

Áskell Másson

Twilight

for cello and darabuka

Áskell Másson

Violin Concerto

for violin and symphony orchestra

Áskell Másson

Woodwind Quintet

for woodwind quintet

Áskell Másson

Ymni

for chamber ensemble

Áskell Másson

Ymur

Quiet Music

for contrabass solo

Audio

Northern Lights
for horn, strings, harp and marimba

Northern Lights - extract 1

Northern Lights - extract 2

Northern Lights - extract 3

Frum A Drum Song
for solo percussion

Frum

Duettino
for 2 clarinets

Duettino

Twilight
for cello and darabuka

Twilight

Tromma
for 2 percussions

Tromma

Sinfonia Trilogia Hyr - Ra - Hvel
for symphony orchestra

Hyr

Shadows
for solo trumpet and brass quintet

I. Andante Moderato

II. Lento

III. Comodo Ma Deciso

Quatrain
for 4 saxophones solo, tubular bells and string orchestra

Quatrain

Prím
for snare drum solo

Prim

Októ Nóvember
for string orchestra

Okto November

Marimba Concerto
for marimba and orchestra

Marimba Concerto

Maes Howe Tuba Concerto
for tuba and chamber orchestra

Maes Howe

Larghetto
for organ

Larghetto

Konzertstück
for snare drum and percussion ensemble

Konzertstück

Konzertstück
for snare drum and symphonic wind band

Konzertstück

Konzertstück
for snare drum and piano

Konzertstück

Konzertstück
for snare drum and brass band

Konzertstück

Konzertstück
for snare drum and orchestra

Konzertstück

Hrim
for cello solo

Hrim

Elja
for chamber orchestra

Elja

Crossings Double Concerto
for 2 percussions and orchestra

Crossings

Cosmic Tree
for marimba and 3 percussionists

Cosmic Tree

Canto Nordico Trombone Concerto
for trombone and orchestra

Canto Nordico

Aura
for percussion solo

Aura

Alfasteinn
for piano

Alfasteinn

A voce sola
for viola solo

A Voce Sola